Search Car Reviews:





Renault Twingo 133 Cup vs rivals

Renault’s new hot Twingo meets its Suzuki rival. But is either a better buy than Ford’s entry Fiesta?

The rivals meet at the track

October 2009

Good things come in small packages – that’s what the engineers at Renaultsport believe.

Their magic, motorsport-inspired touch has already been applied to the tiny Twingo, but now the firm has followed the same formula it employs on the Clio, by producing a hard-edged Cup version.

It sacrifices air-conditioning to save weight and is fitted with a one-piece rear bench instead of independently sliding back seats.

To further sharpen the driving experience, it gets the stiff Cup suspension package as standard – this is a £650 option on the regular car – so the hot Twingo puts driving thrills at the top of the agenda.

The Suzuki Swift Sport is a stern rival. Not only is it similar in size, performance and price, but it also comes well equipped. For this test, however, we have thrown an interesting curve ball into the mix.

The Ford Fiesta is one of the best-handling models we’ve ever driven, and our reigning Car of the Year. To see just how much fun the talented Ford is, we’ve included it in this shoot-out.

If you want a Fiesta for hot Twingo money, you’re limited to a no-frills 1.25-litre Edge – so can a run-of-the-mill version of the accomplished supermini really be as much fun to drive as a pair of sporty city models?

>> CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE REST OF THIS WEEKS LATEST NEW AND USED CAR NEWS AND REVIEWS

What Next

For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you six issues for £1 and a free toolkit!

< Previous   Next >

3 Comments

What the hell are they doing here comparing a basic model 1.25 81 hp fiesta against 2 warm hatches? they should be comparing them to the 1.6 zetec S! it may be a bit more expensive but all 3 would be sporty 1.6 hatches and a fair comparison, people who buy the basic Fiesta are after cheap insurance, economy and running costs.

By rogp1 on 21 October, 2009, 1:03pm

The swift here is also a 1.3 mate.

By gem_guy on 26 October, 2009, 11:34am

woops...my bad.
i was confusing it with the older swift GTi.

By gem_guy on 26 October, 2009, 11:36am

You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join.



Sponsored Results

Social Bookmarks

Full Car Reviews

Renaultsport Twingo 133

1st Renaultsport Twingo Cup

Stripped-out baby promises real back-to-basics driving thrills
Suzuki Swift Sport

2nd Suzuki Swift Sport

Our favourite junior hot hatch remains a strong proposition
Ford Fiesta Edge

3rd Ford Fiesta Edge

Is class-leading supermini a better buy than hot city car duo?
- Advertisement -

Sponsored Results

Facts and Figures

Verdict

Can a standard Ford Fiesta deliver enough thrills to match the latest crop of similarly priced, smaller hot city cars?

It’s a testament to the talent of the supermini that, thanks to its beautifully weighted controls and balanced handling, it comes close to taking on performance models for pure driver involvement.

Our current Car of the Year also rides superbly, offers class-leading refinement and a roomy cabin.

But there’s no substitute for power and performance when it comes to putting a smile on your face.

So for thrill seekers, the cheaper, more powerful hot hatches win the day.

Picking between them is tough – when we tested the Swift Sport against the standard Renaultsport Twingo, the Japanese hatch took a very narrow victory.

Its suspension, steering and brakes don’t feel as fine-tuned as its French rival’s, but the Swift has a higher-quality cabin, is well equipped and slightly more comfortable – so this is the stronger everyday choice.

Yet we set out to find the best driving thrills, and if you’re after the most entertaining package at this price, then go for the Twingo.


1ST:
Renaultsport Twingo Cup

The Twingo Cup offers incredible grip, superb body control, strong brakes and punchy performance, and is enormously entertaining.

Renaultsport’s race-bred attention to detail is clear to see, and this goes some way to excusing the cheap cabin and firm ride.


2nd:
Suzuki Swift Sport

A blend of pace, practicality and fun will make the Swift a popular choice.

But it isn’t as sharp to drive as the Cup, and the Fiesta offers more comfort, space and refinement.

The Suzuki doesn’t have the Ford’s feedback, and its chassis isn’t as accomplished.


3rd:
Ford Fiesta Edge

There’s no shame in finishing third for the Fiesta – as its brief is very different to that of our hot duo.

While the 1.25-litre Ford trails on power, the impressive handling and great refinement are still a match for the sporty models.


 
- Advertisement -