Compact sedans generally have two main challenges they need to rise to. Firstly, they need to undercut the competition in affordability. And secondly, they need to stretch out every single bit of space within their sheet metal to betray their "compact" labels.

There are perhaps few cars, then, that can attest to this as genuinely as the Mitsubishi Attrage. A facelift last year brought it in line with the rest of its three-starred brethren; it now wears Mitsubishi's Dynamic Shield design language, and quite handsomely too, with the bolder front cohering seamlessly with its smaller dimensions. The rear has also gotten reshaped LED-taillights.

But where the Attrage impresses most is on the inside. The rear bench is unexpectedly accommodating, and can actually seat three-full sized Asian adults decently well. Luggage-hauling is also well within its wheelhouse, with boot space standing at an incredible 450-litres. As its own little quirk, the cabin also comes with lots of usable hooks, while the seat pockets are cleverly separated to hold different-sized items.

Up front, the Attrage now also offers a 7.0-inch infotainment system as standard with a reverse camera, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity to push it confidently forward as a modern offering. Its 1.2-litre MIVEC three-cylinder engine may not be the most powerful, but suffices for our roads, and is geared more towards another important quality anyway: Fuel efficiency (we managed a hybrid-esque 16.1km/L during our drive).

Through and through, the Attrage encapsulates what it means to be a utilitarian, cheap-to-buy and cheap-to-run car. That's why it's our pick for Compact Sedan of the Year.