It's not easy for young drivers to get a foot on the motoring ladder. Insurance costs a fortune. So do finance payments. And that's just on cheap little boringly designed cars. If you want something a little sassier, then forget it.

Something like a Citroen C2 perhaps? If this French citycar floats your boat, then there's some good news on the finance front. Rated at insurance group 1 and costing just £7,995 (£400 less than the normal entry-level C2 1.1iL version), new cars don't get a lot cheaper. Or much greener given that this one puts out just 138g/km of CO2. Assuming that you (or more likely your parents) don't have £8,000 to put down or even a substantial deposit, it's also worth knowing that various attractive finance schemes are available

At the time of writing, Citroen tell us that an initial payment of £1,299 secures the deal, followed by 25 low rate 7.9% APR monthly payments of £99 on their Elect 3 finance scheme. And to further help buyers unable to stretch to paying much up front, a separate deal allows them to put down a £149 deposit followed by 25 monthly payments of £149. If the terms of the deal have changed by the time you roll up at your local Citroen showroom, then they won't have done so by much. What you can pretty much guarantee is that the sales person will be able to put you behind the wheel at a price you can afford.

But what of the car itself? Well, let's start with the 'Airplay+' bit first. That designates this car as being a special edition model, the 'Airplay' bit referring to the fact that this car comes complete with a 4GB colour-coded iPod nano, an integrated docking station that charges the iPod and allows music to be played via the head unit and speakers. Available in 'Sunshine Yellow', Black or 'Arctic Silver', this C2 is impressively kitted out with air conditioning, electric front windows and door mirrors, remote control central locking, twin airbags and ABS with EBD and EBA.

"New cars don't get a lot cheaper - or a lot greener "

Performance from the 1.1-litre petrol engine that's fitted to this variant is best described as modest, the 61bhp four-cylinder engine hauling the C2 to 60mph in 14.4 seconds and on to a rather frenetic top speed of 98mph. Fuel economy is, conversely, very good, this Citroen averaging 37.1mpg around town, 57.6mpg on a long run with an overall combined fuel figure of 47.9mpg. It's worth calculating how many miles you drive per year and how many years you plan to own the car before plumping for a pricier diesel version. Chances are the C2 1.1 model will work out as the more economical all-round proposition. The downside of a small petrol engine is that it can feel a little weedy on long inclines and you may need to stir the stick a little to inject some urge.

Although it shares its chassis, drivetrains and a number of body and interior parts with the C3, don't think of this car as merely a scaled down version of Citroen's spherical supermini. The styling marks a different direction with a C3-style bulbous nose allied to a far edgier, angular back end. Although to some it might look like the results of two design studies fused at the door pillars, it's certainly distinctive. The side windows adopt a staggered line while the rear haunches blister out in a purposeful fashion and the latest models can be identified by a clear section in the tail-light clusters.

The C2 maximises its use of available space very effectively. Despite supposedly being a tiny citycar, it's easily able to seat four in comfort. Lessons have been learned from the reception given to the C3 interior and the C2 adopts many of the funkier styling touches such as the ventilation system and the bar rev counter and introduces a few of its own. Interior materials quality has been improved with the introduction of the upmarket dashboard also found in the C3 featuring high-grade plastics and silver detailing.

The steering adjusts for rake and reach and few will have any cause for complaint when it comes to wriggle room, given the amount of space in the front of the cabin, as it feels no smaller than the C3, a car already renowned for its spaciousness. Like the C3, the C2 gets a can holder ahead of the gear lever as well as generously proportioned door bins that can accommodate a 500ml bottle of pop. Access to the rear isn't bad and Citroen have displayed admirable pragmatism in failing to pretend that the C2 is anything other than a four seater. So many small cars cram three belts in across the back and end up trussing occupants up like a leg of lamb but the two rear seats of the C2 are well sculpted and respectable in terms of knee and shoulder room, although taller passengers may feel the sloping roof impinges on their coif.

It's sometimes said that youth is wasted on the young. That may well be true, but looking at the order book for the Citroen C2 shows that this car is definitely appreciated by today's teens and twentysomethings. The Airplay+ will only add to that appeal and it's tough to imagine a better first car for the image-conscious youngster.