There's not a great deal of kudos - cachet if you like - to be had in the business of buying a bargain basement runabout. Yet the market is awash with manufacturers keen to persuade you to the contrary. Citroen, for example, who would like small car buyers to register the existence of their C2 Cachet.

Here's a little car with an extra dose of attitude and luxury all wrapped into one affordable package priced from around £9,000. OK, so it's maybe not quite as affordable as the Perodua Kelisas and Daihatsu Charades of this world but the C2 has a far more sophisticated look and feel to it that makes it a car that appeals as much more than lowest common denominator motoring. Sit inside a C2 and you're not constantly reminded of your penny-pinching ways. It feels cheeky, modern and agreeably sophisticated.

In Cachet form, the car is available with a choice of two petrol engines (a 1.1i and a 1.4i) and can be ordered in 4 smart colours; black, arctic steel, poseidon blue and sport red. C2 Cachet special editions come complete with air conditioning and an MP3 compatible CD player, as well as remote central locking, front electric windows, twin front and lateral airbags, Isofix fittings, an aluminium-effect surround on the centre console and (if you go for the 1.4-litre version) alloy wheels. Prices? Well, you'll pay £9,095 for the 1.1i and £9,795 for the 1.4i. Both come in three-door form only: you'll need to opt for Citroen's larger C3 if you need five doors.

Performance from the 1.1-litre version we tried 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, the C2 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 in the standard range. Chances are the C2 1.1i 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.

"Here's a little car with an extra dose of attitude and luxury all wrapped into one affordable package.."

Go for the 1.4i and a top speed of 105mph means that typical motorway cruising speeds aren't going to leave you looking like a shell shock victim after an hour behind the wheel although acceleration isn't that brisk: you'll need 13.9 seconds to hit 60mph.Fuel economy is predictably good, this C2 averaging 35mpg around town, but recording virtually identical extra-urban and combined fuel figures to the 1.1i.

Although it shares its chassis, drivetrains and a number of body and interior parts with the larger five-door C3 (also offered in Cachet form for a premium of around £900 in the case of the 1.4-litre version), don't think of this model as merely a scaled down version of that car. 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.

Whichever trim level you opt for, you'll find a car that maximises its use of available space very effectively. Despite being even shorter than Citroen's old Saxo, 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. There's a wide range of trim choices from sober monotones right up to the most extrovert two-tone designs.

The steering adjusts for rake and reach and few will have any cause for complaint 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. If you haven't tried a C2 before, you'll also probably be intrigued by the tailgate that splits into two sections to ease loading in tight spots.

With a number of safety features that include twin front and side airbags, ABS brakes and power assisted steering across the range, this C2 looks a sensible buy as well as a value-added one. Although the styling may divide opinion and the lack of three rear seats may strike it off the list of some, this Citroen is still a car that is going to suit many buyers in this sector, particularly those on the lookout for, shall we say, a dash of cachet..