I HAD an all too brief experience at the wheel of the new Citroen C4 not too long ago and was pretty impressed.
But having a motor for a week of everyday driving often throws up unexpected problems or niggling design faults.
However, I'm happy to say my first impression was correct - the C4 has a lot of things going for it, including price, size, image, practicality and economy.
The five door hatchback 2.0i VTR petrol version I tested is in a most fiercely competitive sector of the new car market but with Citroen constantly offering money-off deals and other incentives you could probably snap one up for less than the recommended price, which in this case is £15,295.
It has a light and airy interior and is ideally suited for family motoring with good head and legroom, comfy seats and good boot space.
From the outside it has a quirky look with an eye-catching outline, which most people will have already seen on the road or on the dancing robot C4 advert on telly.
The C4's grille is a bold design with the Citroen chevron dominating the front end which also has sleek, boomerang-shaped headlamps.
Another nice touch are the alloy wheels which also incorporate the Citroen logo in the centre hub.
These styling points may not appeal to everyone but I think they continue Citroen's constant drive to make its cars stand out from the crowd.
The cabin is ultra-modern with a neat and tidy dashboard separating radio/CD and air con controls. The steering wheel has a unique feature - a fixed central hub around which are located other key controls. The wheel turns but the fixed hub means you can use the controls even when cornering.
These controls include audio, cruise control and speed limiter, multi-function display and optional controls such as navigation system.
There's a digital display speedometer which is mounted high up on the top of the dash which is very easy to read, even in strong sunlight. This is something other motor manufacturers should copy. The majority seem to go for small dials with red on black, which is almost impossible to read in some light conditions.
The 2.0i VTR petrol is near the top of the range and is no slouch with a top speed of 129 mph and sub-10 seconds 0-62 mph time. The four-cylinder, 16-valve engine gives 138 bhp which offers good mid-range acceleration for overtaking. You should get around 35 mpg on a mixed run.
There's a five-speed manual gearbox which is slick and precise, speed sensitive steering, traction control and electronic stability programme.
Like all cars from the PSA stable, the Citroen C4 has first-class ride quality with stability through the corners as well as pleasant straight line progress over rough surfaces.
Build quality overall is much improved and the C4 has a feeling of solidity which is usually found only in German motors.
There's a good boot which can take up to 320 litres of luggage with the back seats folded. Citroen also claims there are 22 storage areas within the C4, but I didn't bother counting.
My test car was fully loaded with security, comfort and safety features which included cruise control, air conditioning, power steering, tinted windows, one-touch electric front windows, leather steering wheel, heated folding door mirrors and sports seats.
Safety equipment included ABS, emergency brake assist, front, side and window airbags, tyre pressure warning system, remote central locking with deadlocks, laminated side windows and anti-theft alarm.
Overall I think the C4 offers good value for money for the family motorist and fleet buyer. The C4 should keep dancing out of the showroom.
FAST FACTS
Citroen C4 2.0i VTR+ Hatchback
Price: £15,495
Mechanical: 138bhp, 1,997cc 4-cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 129mph
0-62mph: 9.2secs
Combined mpg: 36.2
Insurance Group: 10E
CO2 Emissions: 186g/km
BiK Rating: 23%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 12yrs anti-rust