Citroen C3 Pluriel 1.6 SensoDrive

Forget convertibles: Citroen's new C3 Pluriel is more like a transformer. For a fraction under ΂£12,000, the French firm is giving you a three-door hatchback, a 2CV- like sun saloon, a cabrio, a full roadster and even a pick-up for good measure. Five vehicles in one - do the sums and that's less than ΂£2,400 per car!

The Pluriel is based on the C3 five-door supermini, but the changes are extensive. It's a three-door, and the rear hatch is split - the back windscreen hinges upwards, the lower part drops down like a pick-up's tailgate. And the cloth roof rolls back under electric power.

Styling front and rear is softer, more youthful and cheerful, with glinting perforated chromed light clusters. Inside, there's body-coloured plastic and rucksack-like fabric. When the roof is fully in place, the Pluriel is as safe and practical as a normal hatchback. And unlike rivals such as the Peugeot 206 CC, it seats four in comfort. There's a good-sized boot, and the rear bench folds down to give extra storage space.

Transformation stage one is to send back the roof as far as the rear screen. Wind down all four windows and, as there are no centre pillars, the effect is far more airy than an ordinary sunroof. But there's more to come yet.

Next, you have to empty the boot. In another sweep, the whole folded roof then slides down to cover the rear window, before doing a neat back-flip to store under the boot floor. And if that's still not open-top enough for you, the next stage is to detach completely the two dark-metallic sidebars. (These can't be carried in the car, so you'll need to be pretty sure of the weather forecast.) And now you're in a true four-seat spider - or, with the rear seats folded, a pick-up.

The windscreen header rail is disconcertingly close to the driver's head, but otherwise it's a real wind-in-the-hair open-top experience.

Our test car was the 1.6 16V, costing ΂£13,595, which boasts a decent 110bhp. It's a sweet enough engine, with above-average mid-rev punch. There's standard SensoDrive, Citroen's version of a competition-style clutchless manual transmission, where you change gear by paddles on the steering column. Changes are brisk, and even if not completely smooth, it's one of the better transmissions of the type. The 0-60mph time is a claimed 11.6 seconds - which is only average for a 1.6 supermini - but the Pluriel is 50kg heavier than a standard C3.

That extra weight is to strengthen the open shell, and for a cabrio it's remarkably free of body shivers and shakes, especially with the sidebars attached. The soft suspension helps, but that means you can't expect a sports car drive - for that you'll have to look to one of the Pluriel's two-seater roadster rivals.

The electric power-steering provides decent feedback, but there's a fair bit of body roll. The Pluriel is a car for bowling along and enjoying the scenery, not for burning rubber.