AS you may recall, the last report on our Nissan Almera Tino SVE made the point that gentle treatment during the running-in period had resulted in noticable improvements in the smoothness and refinement of the car's diesel engine.

It also mentioned that I found average economy of about 38mpg something of a disappointment. So it came as a pleasant surprise to discover that only days after the report was published, the Tino's 2.2-litre unit was going further on each gallon of fuel. And by the time the mileage had topped 4,000, it was returning on the better side of 40mpg regularly.

Coupled with the fact that the car seems to be running better the more it is used, this top version of the Japanese company's compact MPV is now proving to be as thrifty as it is comfortable, particularly on long-haul use.

A recent house move has also shown the Tino to be as practical as more recently- designed competitors into the bargain. Because its three rear seats are easy to remove, the car can be converted into a van in a short space of time.

Despite being of robust design and having mechanisms that allow them to be folded or reclined, the seats do not feel over-heavy and are easier to replace than in some rivals.

With the seats back in place the Tino also manages to provide 440 litres of space for regular luggage – sufficient to cope with holiday suitcases and hand baggage for four. Given that this is a compact MPV, it was interesting that no-one complained of lack of room on the way to the airport.

Company car tax bill 2003/04 (22% tax-payer): £73 per month