FRUGAL use of fuel combined with family-size carrying ability gives Mazda's Demio first place in CAP's economy chart for small MPVs.

As it's the cheapest car in the top 10 at £7,830, owners of the 1.3 LXi five-door will lose the least in depreciation. And that gives the Demio a running cost of 19.2p a mile over three years and 60,000 miles. The 1.5 version also reaches No 8 among the mini-MPVs.

But overall, CAP's Top 30 chart puts Renault's Clio diesel 1.5 best among mainstream models, at No 4 with a cost of 14.6p per mile.

The Smart takes the top two places, followed by Perodua Nippa.

The Renault is followed by the Daewoo Matiz, Toyota Yaris 1.0 at 14.9p per mile.

The top 10 continues with the Citroen Saxo (seventh at 15.2p) VW Lupo diesel, Peugeot 106 1.1, and Seat Arosa 1.0 (15.6p).