ONE of the advantages of being part of a large automotive group is that you get to reap the dividends of some pretty hefty investment in developing new models.

SEAT's Mii is the result of a Volkswagen group project to develop a city car that has produced three models, the VW up! and the Skoda Citigo as well as the Mii.

The three are to all intents and purposes the same car, albeit with different front ends and a few other distinguishing design features.

The up!'s rear window styling sets it somewhat apart but other than that there's not much to separate them.

One could argue it might be nicer to see firms producing more distinct individual models - variety being the spice of life and all that - but the fact that so much time, effort and, perhaps most importantly, money have gone into developing this trio of models, means the finished product is very good indeed.

They might be small city cars but all have the hallmark of quality, both in terms of engineering and design.

While the Mii doesn't have the quirky retro appeal of something like the Fiat 500 it's a car that is exceptionally well put together and proof that good things often come in small packages.

Trim and switchgear are impressive for a small car. The detachable portable sat nav is an optional extra that's well worth paying £275 for. It features a satellite navigation system, on-board computer and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Mii is a small car with a distinctly big car feel - with all four wheels pushed out as far as possible to its four corners it means there's an impressive amount of space on the inside.

The cabin is open and roomy and even rear seat passengers (though it only takes two) are reasonably well catered for.

It might be better suited to younger travellers but it will accommodate adults in a reasonable degree of comfort, albeit for short hops rather than long hauls.

The boot's roomy too, given the car's overall size, with enough space to swallow a family's weekly shop. Amazingly I even managed to squeeze in some cumbersome and lengthy panels from a large wardrobe by folding the rear seats down and reclining the front passenger seat.

When it comes to engine options there's a fairly minimal Henry Ford style selection of one, though it does come in two power variants.

The small three-cylinder engine might not sound like much on paper but it makes a great throaty noise and when worked hard powers the Mii surprisingly pleasingly.

The position of the wheels also adds much to its handling prowess, making it rather an engaging car to drive.

Buyers can choose between 60bhp and 75bhp variants and this higher-powered model is probably preferable but, to be honest, there isn't much between them.

The lower-powered model in Ecomotive guise also has the advantage of producing emissions below the crucial 100 g/km mark, so no road tax or Congestion Charge to worry about.

Both are pleasingly frugal though, offering in excess of 60mpg on the combined cycle.

Overall the Mii is a well-built and well engineered city car that leaves many of its rivals trailing in its wake. And an added advantage is that it's priced a little lower than its Volkswagen equivalent, the Up.