Vauxhall Tigra

The stunning Tigra makes its showroom debut in October, but we managed to get behind the wheel early to bring you the definitive verdict on Vauxhall's new coupé-cabrio baby.

And compared to its rivals, the Tigra certainly has looks on its side. From its angular beak to its stubby behind, the Vauxhall enjoys well balanced proportions. It's short and wide, but its low waistline and steeply raked windscreen give it a lean and stylish appearance. Inside, it's less impressive. The dash is taken from the Corsa on which the car is based, and while it has some sporty touches, such as aluminium trim detailing, unique door inserts and a leather-bound steering wheel, the cabin could offer more in terms of visual drama.

While the driving position is comfortable, thick pillars at the front and rear hamper the view out. But hit the road and the Tigra doesn't disappoint. Its gutsy 1.8-litre 125bhp engine delivers plenty of low-rev urge, and the only downside is a slightly springy feel to the five-speed gearbox, which lacks the fluidity of rivals such as the MINI Convertible and Ford Streetka. Although it's based on the platform of the Corsa, which isn't exactly renowned for its sportiness, the Tigra has plenty to offer the enthusiastic driver.

The steering is much sharper than on the supermini, while the ride is excellent considering the Tigra's short wheelbase and sporty set-up. With the metal folding roof tightly closed, the chassis is well balanced, showing hardly any body flex. Part of this is due to the car's structure - it's gained a rear bulkhead where the Corsa's back seat would be, providing greater torsional stiffness. However, there's no denying that the driving experience is affected with the roof lowered down into the rear deck. The Tigra might look cool, but it loses much of its composure, and tends to rattle over uneven surfaces.

Overall, though, the Vauxhall is an extremely promising newcomer. It even has practicality in its favour, with a smart electronic tailgate and, when the roof is up, a 440-litre boot, which is bigger than the Astra's.

The most frustrating thing for British buyers will be the waiting list. Numbers will be limited to only 1,000 RHD editions as the Tigra is made by French coachbuilder Heuliez, and demand is likely to outstrip supply for at least the first three years of production.

With a list price of ΂£13,750 for the entry-level 1.4-litre car, rising to ΂£15,750 for this flagship 1.8, Vauxhall's new baby is set to be a surefire hit. But it faces some stiff competition from established rivals, as well as other newcomers. Next to arrive will be the eagerly anticipated Nissan Micra C+C, on sale next year.

For comparison, we got up close and personal with the pre-production prototype first seen at 2002's Paris Motor Show, and most recently paraded at the Birmingham exhibition last month. The newcomer will be produced at Nissan's Sunderland plant, where an annexe is being constructed for experts from German coachbuilder Karmann, which created the C+C's clever collapsible roof.

They'll make the mechanism at the Wearside plant, and convert cars taken directly off the production line. The lid folds in a completely different style to that of the Tigra, lifting away in three stages and disappearing into the boot under the rear tonneau, leaving most of the luggage area free.

Nissan was keen to point out that the production car will have a couple of styling differences, and that the interior will also be revised. But the C+C is still an accurate indication of what the Micra will be like. Inside, it enjoys the standard supermini's retro feel, while the cute looks are guaranteed to turn a few heads - especially if Nissan can keep to the expected ΂£13,500 price tag.

That will be the cost of the entry-level 1.4-litre car, which will be a direct rival to the base Tigra. A 1.6 petrol unit and a 1.5-litre diesel are also expected.

But neither the Nissan nor the Vauxhall will have an easy ride in this sector of the market. The most recent arrival is the MINI Convertible. Fans of BMW's baby have been waiting three years for the soft-top model they were promised at launch, and now it's finally here the topless MINI looks set to be this summer's must-have fashion accessory.

It may not have the folding tin-top mechanism of the Tigra or Micra, but the British baby is definitely aiming for the same market. Its canvas roof operates electrically and can be folded in two stages - either halfway to give the impression of a large sunroof, or all the way down to form a full convertible.

In a market where looks are everything, the cheeky MINI scores highly. It has the same character as its metal-roofed siblings, and while it's not quite as attractive with the top up, once the lid is folded, the car is one of the best-looking cabriolets on the road. Our only criticism is the large chrome rollover hoops, which not only appear awkward, but also restrict rearward visibility.

We drove the 1.6-litre Cooper, which offers 113bhp, but as it's weighed down by additional body stiffening, it's noticeably slower than the all-metal MINI with which it shares a platform. The Convertible still feels sporting, though, with the same great handling, rasping exhaust note and superb gearbox as the tin-top.

Unlike the Tigra, the MINI claims to be a four-seater - but we would beg to differ. It may have four seats, but unless those sitting in the back are exceptionally small, there's absolutely no legroom.

Our only other criticism concerns the price - at ΂£14,625, the Cooper Convertible looks reasonable value, but it's poorly equipped, and dipping into the options list won't be cheap. The car we drove had a few bits of extra kit, including an uprated stereo, wind deflector and xenon headlamps, which took the figure beyond ΂£18,000. Compared to the new Citroen C3 Pluriel Exclusive, which costs ΂£13,495 and boasts leather and air-con, the MINI Convertible looks pricey - especially as the Citroen is available with ΂£1,500 cashback until the end of July, making it ΂£11,995.

This top-of-the-range Pluriel comes with steel wheels, which we find a bit odd given the rest of the standard kit. Even so, the latest addition to the Pluriel line-up looks like good value.

And the styling is as attractive as the price, with funky, angular headlamps and a profile not dissimilar to the original Citroen 2CV. Sadly, the Pluriel's appeal is mainly cosmetic. It's nowhere near as sharp to drive as the Tigra or MINI, with a soft, floaty ride and a tendency towards premature understeer.

It also has one of the most frustrating roofs of any soft-top we've driven. Turn the knob next to the rear view mirror and the canvas top slides all the way open to give a full-length sunroof, which is all very well. However, when it comes to full open-top motoring, the C3 Pluriel is simply confusing. First, you have to drop the tailgate and lift the rear hatch; then you fold the back seats down and drop the glass area forwards into the boot - a time-consuming and irritating affair.

You then have the option of removing the side pillars altogether, which is a great idea in concept - but there's nowhere to store them inside the car. Leave them at home, and there's no way of getting the roof back up if the weather deteriorates - which in Britain is a rather important oversight! Still, the Pluriel is at least fresh and funky, and to many the price could be enough to swing this car in their favour.

Soft-top fans on a budget might also like the allure of Ford's Streetka. Kicking off at ΂£12,710, the Ka-based roadster has proved nearly as big a hit as Kylie Minogue, who was used at the model's big-bucks launch in 2002.

If contests were won by looks alone, then the Streetka would have the Tigra and MINI worried. It's an inspired piece of styling that has given a whole new lease of life to the entire Ka range. Neat touches such as the unusual front foglamps and mid-mounted reversing light mark it out as a car with real character.

The Ford is a hoot to drive, too, with a fantastic gearchange and tight handling, even with the roof down. To keep the 1.6-litre engine on the boil, though, you have to work it hard.

But the Streetka really loses out in terms of practicality. The boot is tiny, the cabin cramped and there's hardly any additional stowage space. Ford now offers an optional hard-top, but this isn't an extra we would recommend, as it's tricky to fit and needs to be removed with a spanner. Last but most definitely not least, we can't ignore the Peugeot 206 CC. The French company was the first to introduce an affordable folding metal hard-top to the market, and it quickly established itself as a favourite with buyers. Today, the 206 CC is still one of the most stylish cars in its class and remains Britain's best-selling cabrio.

As with the Tigra, the 206's roof is designed by Heuliez, and folds into the boot at the push of a button, although you have to undo two clips first. Early problems with the mechanism blighted the car's copybook shortly after launch, but most of these have been eradicated and today it's as good as any rival's.

Yet the 206 is blighted by its packaging. It shares the hatch's cabin, which means an awkward driving position and an interior that feels dated compared to more modern supermini-based offerings. At ΂£14,920 for the base 1.6, or ΂£16,420 for this 2.0 SE, the 206 isn't cheap, either, and will have its work cut out to remain at the top of the sales charts when its new rivals hit the road.