Efforts to squeeze more from every gallon of fuel have stepped up remarkably in the last couple of years. Where 40+ miles per gallon was once the benchmark for an economical car, even larger models can now achieve that easily on the motorway.

Now it is not uncommon to see figures pushing into 60-plus mpg territory while CO2 emissions likewise have plummeted. And Skoda has proved no exception to this trend.

The Rapid Spaceback has been given a few tweaks designed to pull more miles per gallon from every tank of diesel utilising its GreenLine technology most recently seen on the Octavia.

The result is that the car can achieve 74.3mpg while CO2 emissions are as low as 88g/km. As a result, it is aimed squarely at the road tax-averse making it highly attractive for company car drivers.

And just because the car is frugal on fuel, does not mean it is lacking in other areas.

The Spaceback is a nicely proportioned, Germanically stylish car. While it is never going to enjoy the more premium image of the larger and pricier Octavia, what you see here is a return to the days when Skodas represented a whole lot of car for not a lot of money at all.

The hidden beauty of developing internal combustion technologies is that there is nothing added such as a large battery that could steal boot space or cut legroom drastically.

The Spaceback has a luggage bay roughly as large as anything else in the class and several useful additions such as a built-in parking ticket holder and an ice scraper.

What you do not get, to save on weight and precious CO2 points, is a spare wheel — not even a space-saver. In an age where fewer and fewer people change their own wheels after a puncture anyway, maybe it doesn't actually matter that much.

Behind the wheel, the 1.6-litre diesel engine has never been the quietest but lately cars like the Golf and Octavia have silenced it with industrial-spec soundproofing.

The Spaceback does not have that to keep the forecourt price down so the motor does rattle away when you put your foot down.

Put simply, performance is average. It happily sits at just above 2,000rpm at 70mph although, unlike some diesels, it does not feel completely bomb proof.

It is simply functional enough not to disappoint, so it goes about its business with few frills and little fuss. In this test I almost matched the claimed fuel economy figure, too, although I managed to avoid any traffic jams.

The Rapid Spaceback’s biggest trump card is value for money. At £17,195 it is more than £5,000 cheaper than the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion and while it is technically less advanced than that car with fewer fuel-saving measures, it is also more honest and likeable.

There is a catch, of course. The Rapid Spaceback S on which the GreenLine is based is £1,055 cheaper, and aside from a few lost miles per gallon is very similar. So pay your money and take your choice.

The raison d'etre here is low running costs, not necessarily lowest purchase price. Drivers who rate the former as more important than the latter will pick the Spaceback GreenLine because it looks great and is as tax-friendly as diesel cars get. Company car user-choosers will have a field day. On the other hand, parents who just want to keep fuel costs down might consider this model, but in reality they are likely to be better off over three or four years by plumping for a slightly less economical but cheaper Spaceback. Doing the maths is essential.

Skoda Rapid Spaceback GreenLine

Price: £17,195
Top speed: 115mph
0-62mph: 11.9 seconds
Economy: 74.3mpg
CO2: 99g/km