Renault Twingo vs rivals

Every year, more than 2.5 million British cars head through the port of Dover on the way to France. And up until now a trip across the Channel was the only time you would have spotted a Renault Twingo.

Unveiled in 1993, the French firm sold 2.4 million of the cute-faced city cars, but it wasn’t made in right-hand drive, so never reached the UK. However, the launch of the second-generation model has changed that, and the Twingo has finally ‘docked’ in the UK. Available for £8,375 in 1.2 Dynamique guise, or £9,995 for the 1.2 GT tried here, the newcomer aims to be a major player in the cut-throat city car segment. So can the Twingo make an impact on these shores?

The competition we’ve lined up is certainly tough. The Citroen C2 is its top homegrown rival and has been popular in the UK. Citroen recently made its 110bhp 1.6-litre HDi diesel available in VTS trim, and it’s this model we test. However, a price tag of £13,400 makes it the costliest C2 in the range.

For considerably less you could choose the Toyota Yaris SR. Originally only available with a 1.8-litre engine, SR trim is now offered with an 85bhp 1.3-litre unit – and with a £10,645 price tag, it falls between its French rivals on cost. So read on to find out which of these city cars with a sporty edge comes out on top.