Our – pause for breath – high-tech, all-wheel drive, 184hp, six-speed auto Leon wagon is something of a fleet sector enigma, but play with the multi-driving mode system and it demonstrates potential for police and paramedic use.

Switch from mild-mannered ‘eco’ to ‘sport’ and the car is transformed. It provides a more immediate throttle response, holds on to the revs between seamless DSG changes, albeit a tad harshly, to reach 62mph in a claimed 7.1 seconds, and provides sharper steering input.

For uniformed people needing to intervene in a hurry, the X-perience makes sense, even if, disappointingly, the damper settings are not adjustable below the official combined 57.6mpg tally.

Mileage     1996 miles
Official consumption   57.6mpg
Our average consumption 43.7mpg
Forecast/actual CPM 64.9p/65.7p
P11D price     £30,030
Model price range (X-perience)      £24,385 – £28,870
Residual value                                             29.1%
Depreciation     £20,440
Fuel cost     £5519
SMR cost     £2543
VED       £220
National Insurance   £2624
CO2 tax (tax)                                129g/km (23%)
BIK 20/40% per month £115/£310