Review of the new Subaru Justy 1.0 Twin Cam

There was a time when you could direct the hard-up yoof of Britain towards a whole range of warmed-over superminis where they could get their automotive kicks without incurring crippling bills. Today, the cost of fuel, insurance and tax combined with the lofty prices of our increasingly salubrious mainstream superminis means that these sporty little numbers come at prices more in tune with the supermarket's middle management than its shelf stackers. So what's the young car buyer with a need for a fun car that won't make them the subject of Facebook ridicule to do? They may need to lower their expectations slightly but the answers are out there. Subaru's Justy 1.0 Twin Cam special edition is one.

Buying and running a car is an expensive business for anyone but younger buyers without an overflowing parental cash machine to fall back on find it harder than most. It's particularly tricky if you're not just after any old car but something with a bit of attitude, maybe something that's fun to drive too. Cars matching that description aren't as common as they once were, especially in the sub £10,000 price bracket. You'll have to haggle like an Egyptian carpet salesman to get anything but the most basic mainstream supermini for that price so buyers looking for a little pizzazz tend to venture into less well charted areas of the market. It's here that they'll encounter Subaru's Justy Twin Cam.

The Twin Cam branding sounds quite impressive, as if there have been modifications made under the bonnet to give this version extra poke in the manner of countless Subaru Impreza special editions. There haven't. It's the same 69bhp 1.0-litre engine as found in the standard Subaru Justy which had two camshafts to start with but that shouldn't put you off. The Justy's compact size and light weight mean the buzzy little 3-cylinder engine has no trouble punting it about, especially at the kinds of speeds you do around town. The 0-60mph sprint takes 13.6s, so pick your traffic light drag races carefully (preferably targeting vehicles towing trailers) but the Justy is actually very nippy up to 30mph or so. There's a claimed top speed of 99mph to be attempted away from the public roads.

"Only 100 Subaru Justy Twin Cam models will be made available in the UK"

All the controls are legibly marked, the steering is light and the ride is surprisingly supple for a small car. The manual gearbox probably isn't as direct as it could be and the windscreen pillars can be intrusive when negotiating tight roundabouts but other than that, this is an extremely easy car to drive. The engine is vocal when you press it hard, as you'll need to in order to make swift progress. The gear lever also has a significant vibration running through it. Despite, or perhaps because of this, the Justy always feels puppyish and alert.

So what is different about the Subaru Justy Twin Cam? It's a question that's only ever likely to be asked by people who haven't seen one yet. The car comes in either Black Mica or Shining Red paintwork with thick stripes down its flanks suggestively bearing the 'Justy Twin Cam' legend and what Subaru refers to as a 'Viper' stripe running right down the middle of the car over its bonnet and roof. This is a reference to the Dodge Viper which does indeed have a similar stripe but in automotive terms, that V10-engined supercar is just about the polar opposite of Subaru's Justy. Still, the stripes look good and so does the darkened rear privacy glass which is the desired effect.

The Justy is basically a rebadged Daihatsu Sirion, not a bad thing by any means as Daihatsu really knows its small cars. There's certainly no shortage of headroom inside the Justy. Six footers should find no issues in either the front or the rear and legroom is also surprisingly good. It's even possible to adjust the rake of the rear backrest. Naturally this abundance of cabin space comes at a price and rear luggage space isn't the best. Like most modern compact cars, the Justy features a multitude of cup holders, stowage spaces, trays and cubbies. Rather surprisingly, the seats are firm and give good support, even to broad shouldered drivers. Materials quality inside the car is about five years behind the current class leaders.

Only 100 Subaru Justy Twin Cam models will be made available in the UK - 50 in red and 50 in black. This will add even more exclusivity to a car that hasn't exactly flown out of the showrooms in its standard guise since being launched. To a base Justy specification that already includes remote central locking, a CD stereo with MP3 compatibility, air-conditioning, electric windows and 14" alloy wheels, the Twin Cam models add the stripes, a twin sports exhaust, a roof spoiler, a leather gear knob and branded floor mats. That's over £1,100 worth of extras but the Justy Twin Cam costs only £690 more than a standard model. That sounds like good business.

The car has been designed to do well in pedestrian safety tests, the deformable bumper and nose cone section along with the ample space below the domed bonnet being a whole lot friendlier than many rivals. Front, side and curtain airbags are standard on all models, there are ISOFIX child seat fixings in the outer rear seats and a trio of three-point seat belts in the rear. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution are also included.

The Justy certainly isn't going to send you to the wall in terms of ongoing running costs, the 1.0-litre petrol engine managing a combined total off 56.5 miles per gallon. Carbon dioxide emissions are pegged at a lowly 118g/km. which will put it onto the radars of canny urban buyers. Pricing is not overly competitive to begin with even on this Twin Cam model. The equipment list makes up for this in some respects but the Justy is still priced uncomfortably closely to the very good Mazda2.

Expect to pay group 5 insurance premiums and costs per mile work out broadly on a par with something like a Ford Fiesta 1.25. Where the Justy might puzzle some buyers is that in many ways, it falls between what we'd expect from a citycar and what we'd see as a supermini.

The Subaru Justy might have escaped your attention until now but the Twin Cam special edition model should go some way to rectifying that, particularly if you're looking for an affordable small car with a bit of character.

Operating at the small end of the supermini sector, in many ways the Justy has more in common with the latest crop of smaller city cars. It's strong on economy, has lots of safety equipment and low insurance costs, all combined with a surprisingly lively driving experience. In Twin Cam form, there's added visual drama too, courtesy of those extrovert bodywork stripes. It's a package that won't be for everyone but those seeking a fun car on a tight budget will like it.