CHALK and cheese - on the one hand there's a classic, elegantly shaped hatchback, on the other a quirky looking coupe.
Both are dramatically different yet individually stylish in their own right, and come courtesy of French manufacturer Citroen.
And while the C4 hatch is an award-winning rival for the dominant forces of Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, its coupe sibling is much the more interesting car.
The coupe's shape may not be to everyone's taste. Its swooping profile is an eyecatcher, but while the angled rear windscreen looks fresh and different it misses the mark by restricting the driver's visibility.
When it comes to a feelgood factor inside the cabin however, this mid-size Citroen comes bursting with ideas.
A ground-breaking innovation up front is the chunky steering wheel, which turns around a fixed centre, while on either side there are fingertip controls for setting speed limiter/cruise control and radio/CD volume and channel.
And the rev counter housed at the back of the wheel - height and reach adjustable of course - lights up if you hit the 'red line'.
There's also a raised translucent display which automatically adjusts to the ambient light and governs info like fuel, trip, speedo and number of miles to an empty tank, while a subsidiary screen below the air vents deals with radio/CD, time, date and outside temperature.
Not so clever is the awkwardly placed horn, a narrow panel at the bottom of the fixed centre boss. Drivers automatically push the centre part - and nothing happens.
Mindful of the fact that motorists spend millions annually on dangly air fresheners, the C4 boasts a system of its own.
Every car comes with a box of three containers, each the size of an ink cartridge, that simply slot into a hole next to the centre air vents.
The nine fragrances include such exotica as jasmine mimosa, vanilla flower, bamboo and lotus, though to be honest they smell more like toilet freshener.
As for comfort there's reasonable interior space, though it's tight in the back for three, and plenty of storage including a glovebox, semi-circular bins in all four doors, pen holders, coin and oddments box, underseat tray and a holder behind the handbrake. In fact the cabin alone has 16 separate storage areas, plus an ashtray.
With a range of eight engines, 22 models, four levels of trim and prices from £11,195 there's no shortage of choice within the C4 line-up.
The tested 2.0 HDi, most powerful at 138bhp of the three diesels on offer, is allied to a six-speed manual transmission and is ideal for motorway cruising in particular. Driven conservatively, it will top 50 miles per gallon.
In top spec VTS trim, the coupe features a rear sports spoiler plus active safety systems for both stability and traction control, folding door mirrors, a five CD autochanger and directional xenon headlamps that follow the curvature of the road and pivot by up to 15 degrees.
All models, though, offer decent performance and fuel economy, making them enjoyable and refined cars to drive or be carried in.
FAST FACTS
Citroen C4 2.0 HDi VTS Coupe
Price: £17,990
Mechanical: 138bhp, 1,997cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 129mph
0-62mph: 9.7 secs
Combined mpg: 51.4
Insurance group: 10
CO2 emissions: 145g/km
BiK rating: 19%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 12yrs anti-rust