Review of the new Citroen C2 VTS 1.6i 16V - The Day-To-Day Choice

If you're looking for the ideal car for a young driver then you will be searching for something small, something cheap to insure, something with a sporty exterior and a decent amount of go to keep them happy. Enter the Citroen C2 VTS.

Everyone wanted Saxo VTR's and VTS's when I was a teenager. Only a few had them, and they were the ones that had left college to get 'proper' jobs in offices or at the local supermarket. The rest of us had to make do with MK II Ford Fiestas, F reg'd Nissan Micras and the like. They were cheap to insure and you could make them look sporty by nipping down the motorway to the local scrap yard and picking up modifications from models with higher specs.

Nowadays, you see these college students whizzing around in their brand new cars, with many choosing the new Citroen C2 and, if they can afford it, the VTS version. Manufacturers are starting to realise that they need to make cars with the younger generation in mind, something cost-effective that looks good and has an impressive safety record. Young people want sporty cars, they want to be able to race others off at the lights and impress their mates with their spoiler and alloy wheels. Their parents, who may be stumping-up at least part of the cash, want low insurance, low running costs and good safety provision. The C2 VTS is a compromise between these two sets of requirements.

The C2 predecessor, the Saxo, came in a VTR and a VTS version, and young drivers were put off by the high insurance costs. Citroen have recognised this problem and have built the C2 with low premiums in mind. The C2 VTS has an insurance group rating of eight, which is six groups less than the Saxo VTS and when combined with its excellent safety and security as well as its low accident repair costs, the C2 VTS seems to be the ideal choice for any young driver. The price is only £12,895, which is lower than the Saxo VTS at its launch, seven years ago!

"These cars are already popping up at 'cruises' up and down the country"

I have been longing for a fast car ever since I passed my driving test, and the C2 VTS was just what I needed. Yes, I've tested faster cars, but nothing that I would ever consider purchasing for real. The VTS was faster and sportier than my current supermini, the type of car that my parents would have never considered buying for me. I would still consider myself a young driver; I am to the insurance company anyway, so my aim is to see how this little car fares with its target market. The VTS goes from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds and has a top speed of 126mph, making it a lot faster than many of the other superminis out there. The car didn't seem to be very fast at first and I was disappointed. It was almost struggling to compete with my own supermini and I was not impressed. As we got up to an open stretch of road, I attempted to pick up a bit of speed and I was shocked by the pulling power. This little supermini is deceptively rapid.

I was concerned about the amount of room that was in the C2 VTS. Although I have no need for lots of space, I like to have a roomy car, so that I can carry passengers if the situation arises. For example, I had to pick my brother up from a party a few weeks ago, and he asked if I could take three of his mates home as well. It was a tight squeeze in my Punto, and it would have been impossible in the 4-seater C2 VTS.

When driving another car then getting behind the wheel of the C2 VTS, it's important to make a mental note concerning the brakes. It's easy to apply them a little too firmly, in which case take look in the rear-view mirror at the face of the driver behind and that should be an indication enough of how abruptly the C2 has halted. Of course, when it comes to avoiding accidents, anchors this effective could be invaluable and there's ABS, EBA and EBD to ensure optimum stopping power is always applied. The drilled aluminium pedals look the part but be wary on a wet day, because a damp soled trainer could easily slip from the polished surface at an inopportune moment.

Dark grey plastic predominates inside the cabin of the VTS and although it may be dull for some tastes, the quality of the materials is good. The buttons on the centre console are large, chunky and solid to the touch as is the handbrake lever; you get the impression that the VTS will stand the test of time. Storage space is less of a strongpoint with only a seriously confined glovebox and a couple of narrow door pockets to speak of in the cab and just enough room for a large holdall or similar in the boot.

If you are considering the VTS as a family car then you will come across many issues. The amount of space in the VTS leaves something to be desired. If you want to fit the maximum of four people in the car, to have ample legroom you must bring the rear seats back, which limits the amount of space in the boot. This vehicle is hardly suitable for a camping trip, even for a drive down to the seaside with the little ones, as you won't have any space to fit the cool box or your beach gear. Other drivers of this car have told me that you can fit two small children in the rear with no hassle, but anyone over the age of eight would struggle for comfort

If you are a parent looking for the first proper car for your offspring (no, sorry that battered old Nova in the driveway does NOT count) then you could do much worse than the C2 VTS. It will get their approval and you have the reassurance that it is not expensive to run and has a low insurance rating. The C2 VTS is every boy racer's (and girl racer's) dream. It looks sporty, drives fast and gives you definite street cred. These cars are already popping up at 'cruises' up and down the country.