IT HAS the looks of a supermodel - but unlike Kate Moss won't cost an arm and a leg to take out for the night.
Citroen's sporty turbo-diesel version of the Xsara is sleek as a mink coat, but with a price-tag more in line with fake fur. However there's nothing fraudulent about this coupe from the French manufacturer's VTR garage.
Its two-litre HDi power unit purrs like a well fed Cheshire cat with the 110bhp oil-burner capable of 121mph. Pulling power Jennifer Lopez would be proud of is combined with a promise of economy of almost 55 miles per gallon in everyday use.
And Citroen are doing their best to give them away, offering a £1,300 cashback deal until the end of this month. For £11,795 you get a car with a great engine that has more kit than Manchester United.
Four airbags, a host of electronic gadgetry to help you stop real quick, air conditioning, a CD player and sporty alloys give better value than a KFC bargain bucket.
It's the little things that make the Xsara easy to live with. It has radio controls on the steering wheel. The switches for the front electric windows are located on the dashboard rather than on the door, making them easier to reach and operate. The steering wheel is adjustable for both height and reach, the seat is height adjustable and there is a nice wide rest for your left foot.
When it rains the smart wipers adjust their speed to suit the conditions and the air conditioning system ensures a comfortable climate for driver and passengers without the need for constant adjustment.
The doors are fitted with double seals leaving the car not only more airtight and therefore quieter, but also free of water and dirt on the tops of the door sills - a constant source of irritation when the wife is splashed with her best togs on.
The Xsara also has pockets in the door with lids on them so you can hide away anything that might attract those of a light-fingered disposition.
On the road the Xsara - which replaced the ZX - feels a lot larger than it is. There is an adequate amount of legroom in the rear and the car has sufficient luggage space. The 408-litre boot is useful and can be extended thanks to split/fold rear seats.
Unlike many of its rivals the Xsara coupe can fit in five people without it feeling claustrophobic.
A trip away for the weekend highlighted the car's plus points as well as its faults. It cruised sweetly down the motorway, but relatively soft suspension for a coupe left it a little uneasy in corners on tight and twisty country roads. The steering, however, is quick and accurate.
Generally the Xsara is a relaxed, quiet drive with a sting in the tail - or rather the accelerator - if the the need arises.
Citroen has given the Xsara's cabin a neat look with nice stylish touches. But the real hook for me was the exterior.
I was brought up on Citroens you wouldn't empty a bin into. Like all oddballs they earned a cult following amongst some deluded souls, but generally you avoided them like a Gary Glitter concert. Now with the rounded bonnet, wide grill and big chevrons, Citroen's Xsara has head-turning good looks.
The French car manufacturer has produced a super model a supermodel would be proud of.
FAST FACTS
Citroen Xsara Coupe 2.0 HDi
Price: £12,995
Mechanical: 110bhp, 1,997cc, four cyl turbocharged diesel, driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 121mph
0-62mph: 10.2 secs
Combined mpg: 54.3
Insurance group: 9
CO2 emissions: 138g/km
BiK rating: 18%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint