Citroen

If you're looking for an affordable performance car, the C2 VTS could be the answer. It's cheap to buy, comes with free insurance and shouldn't cost a lot to run. The edginess of the Saxo may have gone, but great pace and handling mean the VTS has grown up without losing its sense of fun.

For Britain's youngest hot hatch drivers, there are three little letters that mean even more than GTI. Cheap insurance deals, affordable prices and red-hot looks put the powerful VTS-badged Citroen Saxo at the very top of enthusiasts' wishlists. The original sold by the transporter load, and gave many drivers their first taste of performance motoring.

But as production of the three-door Saxo stopped, so did the VTS supply - and Citroen showrooms have been without the supermini flagship for more than a year. Now, there's a new high-performance VTS range-topper - this time based on the chic C2.

The very first C2 VTS models have gone on sale in UK dealerships, and Auto Express has already put the feisty hatchback through its paces. Can the newcomer repeat the runaway success of its predecessor?

At first sight, you could be forgiven for feeling a bit let down. The hotter model is only set apart by smart 16-inch alloy wheels, a revised grille, lower side skirts, a small roof spoiler and, of course, that all-important badge. Inside, there's additional chrome trim and a leather steering wheel. Designers were torn between giving the VTS the wild bulges and oversized spoilers its target audience craves and making sure insurance companies did not consider the range-topper to be overtly sporty.

So were the engineers equally restrained? Under the bonnet, the VTS is equipped with the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol powerplant as the VTR, but it has been tuned to deliver 125bhp - a 15bhp increase. The unit is mated to a conventional five-speed manual gearbox, which has been adapted with shorter ratios, while the steering is also revised. Most importantly, however, the VTS rides on harder suspension, and has the benefit of stiffer anti-roll bars.

Out on the road, the improvements are clear. Despite the fact that peak power comes at a deafening 6,500rpm, the VTS's 142Nm of torque is spread evenly across the rev range, making this C2 surprisingly punchy in any gear.

Official performance figures suggest 0-62mph is achievable in 8.3 seconds, but it's the way the VTS grips the road and copes with quick changes of direction with very little body roll which is most impressive. The unnerving handling characteristics of the brutally uncompromised Saxo VTS are a far cry from the C2's safe, predictable grip, but the new model is rewarding, if a little uninspiring. Despite the changes, the electric power-steering still feels over-assisted, and the long-throw gearshift seems at odds with the C2's taut characteristics.

That's not to say the VTS is uncomfortable. Despite the firmer set-up, the Citroen remains supple over Britain's worst rough road surfaces. Even if you're not sold on the driving experience or styling, though, it's hard to knock the VTS for value for money. At £11,995, it costs £900 more than the standard C2, but includes air-con, Electronic Stability Control and ABS with EBD. The icing on the cake is a year's free insurance for buyers aged from 21 to 80. The VTS is back, and it's better value than ever.