There aren’t many cars on the market today with the engine in the back and those that do are often beyond the reach of us ordinary folk.

If you must have the engine in the back and can’t quite stretch to a Ferrari 488 then the Renault Twingo could well be the answer.

Okay, so the Dynamique SCe that I tested would struggle a little in a drag race against Maranello’s finest but despite a top speed of just 94mph (more than enough, wouldn’t you agree?) and taking more than 14 seconds to get anywhere near motorway speeds the Twingo proved to be surprisingly engaging.

It doesn’t need stating that the rear-engined rear-drive set-up is an unusual one, and not just at the city car end of the market. However, that decision has afforded the Twingo’s designers the opportunity to push the front wheels right to the corners of what is a very short, stubby front end.

The big Renault badge sits proudly in the centre of the grille between a pair of handsomely simple headlamp assemblies; below those are circular daytime running lights.

The bootlid is constructed of a single piece of black glass and there’s a small spoiler atop the roof that helps to add some welcome attitude.

The rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillars, giving the Twingo the appearance of a two-door, while the rear windows are of the hinged variety.

The profile is tall, but compact, and if you squint the shape harks back to the dear old Renault 5.

I’m not normally a fan of the splashes of glossy colours that some manufacturers liberally sprinkle throughout the interiors of their city cars in an effort to create a more uplifting environment. Shiny plastics have a habit of looking cheap but Renault have avoided that pitfall by using textured plastics in matte colours.

Those colour accents adorn the doors, air vents, steering wheel and removable storage box, which sits just in front of the gear lever. While useful, I did keep knocking it with my left leg.

I loved the big red door pulls which looked like they’d been taken straight out of a Little Tykes two-door coupe… or something.

The seats are very comfortable, firm and supportive, while the driving position is quite high. Consequently all-round visibility is excellent and, with a turning circle to give a Black Cab the runaround, the Twingo is an ideal urban companion.

Although I found the footwell a little cramped, hence my issues with the storage box, other occupants fare much better. The rear-engined layout has freed up space in the cabin – the passenger space is 22cm longer than its predecessor in a car that’s 10cm shorter overall – meaning that, according to Renault, occupants in the rear enjoy class-leading legroom.

The tall profile means that there’s no shortage of headroom either.

My Dynamique spec test car wasn’t equipped with the R-Link touchscreen sat nav but there is an optional smartphone cradle that, by connecting via Renault’s R&Go app, turns your mobile into a multimedia interface, giving you control over the car’s stereo.

While the idea is a good one, it's implementation could be better. The positioning of the cradle – which can be removed and replaced with a blank – means that some of the dashboard controls are obscured when your phone is in place.

The instrument panel is dominated by a single huge dial. Inside that is a multifunction display.

The engine is positioned under the boot floor. That restricts capacity to 188 litres which leaves it trailing all its main rivals. However, the boot opening is big and square and there’s no lip to negotiate which makes it easy to use the available space.

You can increase capacity to 219 litres by locking the rear seats into an upright position but passengers in the back won’t thank you for it.

Fold the rear seats down and you’re blessed with a very useable luggage capacity of 980 litres which is second only to Hyundai’s i10.

It doesn't take long to figure out that the Twingo is very much a city car. Its front wheels can turn through 45 degrees, giving it a turning circle of just 8.6 metres.

Parking is a doddle – it would be a shock if it wasn’t – thanks to the high seating position and excellent all-round visibility.

The suspension deals admirably with larger bumps and potholes but rough surfaces can unsettle the ride at lower speeds. Pick up the pace and it’s almost as smooth as my dear old’s mum’s homemade custard.

There is an issue with noise from the A-pillars which impacts on the cabin ambience a little but overall, for a car of its size, refinement is very good.

If you’re planning on tackling longer journeys, either cross-country or more direct, motorway routes, the Twingo can prove a little more challenging, especially with just 70hp propelling you along.

Overtaking on motorways, if you can actually be bothered to try, requires some planning so you’re faced with either settling back with a I’ll get there when I get there attitude or constantly striving to avoid stiuations that would require a reduction in forward momentum.

The slick five-speed gearbox means that the lack of power doesn’t completely spoil a sprint – or should that be a jog – through the countryside. The steering is very light, but there’s decent feel, and it’s progressive enough to let you know if you have managed to overestimate the grip available before it’s too late.

The chassis certainly has no trouble coping with all 70 horses which bodes well if Renault ever found the will to produce a hot, or even reasonably warm, version.

The Twingo is built for the city and it shows. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does sacrifice its cruising credentials somewhat to be the ideal urban runabout.

That’s not to say it doesn’t have potential. With a bit more power and meatier steering it could easily cope with life both in and out of the city.

If your life rarely takes you beyond the confines of the city limits, however, right now there are few better alternatives.

Renault Twingo Dynamique SCe 70 Stop & Start

Price: £11,845

As tested: £12,090

Engine: 999cc 3-cylinder petrol engine

Transmission: 5-speed manual driving the rear wheels

Max power: 70hp

Max torque: 92Nm @ 2,850rpm

Max speed: 94mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 14.5sec

Urban: 47.8mpg

Extra urban: 70.6mpg

Combined: 60.1mpg

Emissions (CO2): 105g/km

For more information visit www.renault.co.uk