IN THIS FEATURE Diesel dilemma No mistaking that clatter Stylish and practical

Given that just 15 percent of all large MPVs sold in the UK are petrol-powered, Mitsubishi had a bit of a marketing problem when it launched the petrol-only Grandis back in '04. But now, that lucrative other 85 percent of buyers is in Mitsubishi's reach - courtesy of Volkswagen.

The 2.0-litre diesel donated to the Grandis is found in the Golf and Touran amongst others, and has 134bhp and 228lb ft of torque (pulling force) available from just 1750rpm. Strangely, Mitsubishi hasn't used Volkswagen's six-speed manual gearbox, opting instead for a six-speeder from a third-party supplier; no auto option is offered. Mounted high on the dashboard, the gearlever enables quick shifting because of its proximity to the steering wheel. It also frees up space for a storage bin to be fitted below it.

Mitsubishi has de-tuned the 2.0-litre TDi slightly, making it 6bhp and 8lb ft shy of its output in VWs, but the engine still shoves the 1690kg Grandis to 62mph in 10.8seconds and on to 121mph, making it as fast as a 3.0-litre V6 diesel Renault Espace. Combined fuel consumption of 43mpg is impressive for a big MPV. 500-mile trips between fill-ups are no problem either, thanks to its 65-litre fuel tank. CO2 emissions of 176g/km put the Grandis 2.0 DI-D in VED Band E, so you'll pay £160 a year in tax.