IT'S hard to believe that it was a whole decade ago that the Renault Scenic started the mid-sized people carrier trend - and now, the one millionth Scenic II has just rolled off of the production line in Douai, France.
Not bad, considering Scenic II is still not yet three years old, but this milestone is all the more appropriate as 2006 is the tenth anniversary of the launch of the original Migane Scenic.
Trailblazer it might have been, but there has been a rash of imitators since, with even more on the way.
None has - so far - achieved the success of the Scenic, which has topped the European MPV sales charts every year for the last 10 years.
Will the new models unseat the Scenic? Certainly, they look good enough on paper, but only time will tell.
One of the most eagerly anticipated new releases is the Skoda Roomster - and not least because the firm has now established an unrivalled reputation for quality and value.
The Roomster is only the fourth new Skoda to join the firm's line-up since it merged with the Volkswagen group, and the five-seater's well-defined shape will have a strong appeal.
On sale in Britain this September, the Roomster will come with a choice of no less than six engines, a mix of versatile petrols and diesels, and prices will start from just £9,920, and top out at £14,050.
Built at the same plant as the Skoda Superb at Kvasiny, in the Czech Republic, the Roomster is just 4.20 metres long, and movable rear seats mean the compact MPV's boot volume can range from 450 to 530 litres, which is among the largest in this class.
Cabin space has been maximised along `living room' lines, with the rear of the cabin getting large side windows, chairs set higher than those in the front, and an innovative seating system that allows for lots of luggage flexibility.
Space
the rear middle seat can also be removed completely, allowing the outer seats to be moved in slightly to give two occupants much more space.
With the rear seats completely stowed, there's a van-like 1,780 litres of cargo space to go at.
The Roomster's petrol engine range consists of 1.2-litre, 1.4-litre, and 1.6 litre units, with the diesels made up of 1.4-litre 1.9-litre engines. The smaller three-cylinder unit can be had in differing power levels, 70bhp and 80bhp.
All engines employ a manual five-speed gearbox as standard, with a six-gear automatic transmission coming in after the initial launch.
Coming in just a few weeks' time to the UK is the all-new Kia Carens compact MPV, another decent contender for the Renault Scenic's sales title.
The Carens will be longer, wider and taller than its predecessor, and does not share a single panel with the old model.
The exterior styling is smoother, with more elegant detailing, yet the overall aerodynamics have been significantly improved. Prices will be revealed by Kia nearer the launch.
But perhaps the most talked-about five-seater family runabout this summer will be the new Dodge Caliber, due to arrive in the UK in July.
With decidedly stand-out looks, it will be the first right-hand drive Dodge car to come to these shores.
There are four trim levels in the range - S, SE, SXT and SXT Sport - plus a choice of two petrol and one diesel engine.
The range starts with the 1.8-litre petrol Caliber S priced at £11,495 with a five-speed manual gearbox, and goes up to the Caliber 2.0 diesel SXT Sport, costing £15,430.
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