If you look at that Multipla much longer, you'll go blind... even as an engineering graduate with a function over form outlook, I couldn't bear to have something that hideous anywhere near me. Plus, it's a Fiat....
Volvo 340 1.4 is a nice idea, but you'll probably struggle to find one now (and you'd want a manual one). Definitely quirky but very uncomplicated, comfortable and quite economical. We were given one for free about eleven years ago and I liked it, although it was about as uncool a car as it would be possible to have (and beige).
How about a Hyundai Accent? So incredibly bland you'll struggle to find it once parked, but very simple, straightforward, economical and mechanically pretty bombproof (if rather uninspiring to drive!) We were also given one of these for free a few years ago and despite being slightly snobby about it and not treating it to anything more than utterly essential maintenance it's certainly the cheapest car to run we've ever had.