There is little doubt that the long-term future of motoring probably lies in the hands of the hydrogen-powered car.

But like so many items that once featured on the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World science programme in the near 40 years that it ran from 1965, hydrogen power dances around tantalizingly on the motoring horizon.

When hydrogen power enters mainstream motoring you can bet it will, initially at least, be horribly expensive and the preserve of the rich and famous.

So what are the options for the average consumer today who wants a car that will reduce their environmental impact, cut emissions, lower their fuel consumption, and yet remain a day-to-day practical proposition?

Electric cars are improving, but still present problems with range and they are not cheap. You could opt for the apparently green option of the petrol-electric hybrid, but they also carry a hefty price tag.

Unlikely as it sounds, how about a small diesel? Small diesel-powered cars tick more than a few of the boxes for drivers looking for a greener option.

Vauxhall’s Corsa ecoFlex model uses a 1.3-litre turbocharged diesel engine that will deliver real 70mpg performance in everyday driving, while its emissions qualify it for £35-a-year road tax.

All this, while pumping out a useful 75 horsepower, which means the little hatchback can cruise as comfortably on motorways as it is happy trickling around city streets.

And that fuel consumption means that this little hatch has a real-world range of more than 600 miles on a tankful of fuel.

The Life specification test model may be near the bottom end of the six-choice trim level, but it comes with a thoroughly modern package, with safety features including anti-lock brakes, emergency brake assist and cornering brake control, and comfort features ranging from air conditioning, electrically-operated windows and CD player, to electrically-adjustable door mirrors and speed-sensitive power-assisted steering.

The only option on the car was a £105 pack that gave seat height adjustment on the driver’s seat and a reach-and-rake adjustable steering column.

The three-door model has a coupé-like roofline, large headlamps, meaty wheelarches and a tapered rear window, giving it a sporty look.

But it is, above all, thoroughly practical, with a neat DualFloor boot, which as the name suggests, offers a double load floor. In normal form, the boot is level with the lip of the rear bumper, making the luggage bay easy to load and unload.

Alternatively, the DualFloor can be lowered to the bottom of the boot to allow larger items to be carried. The rear parcel shelf has also been designed to allow it to be stowed vertically on special clips, against the back of the seat.

All this inventive stuff might not be exactly Tomorrow’s World material, but it is available on a car that can be driven out of a showroom near you today.

Auto facts Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi ecoFlex Life

Price: £12,340

Ins group: Three

Fuel consumption (Combined): 70.6mpg

Top speed: 104mph

Length: 399.9cm/157.4in

Width: 194.4cm/76.5in

Luggage space: 10 cu ft

Fuel tank capacity: 8.8 gallons/ 40 litres

CO2 emissions: 105g/km

Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles