ROAD going versions of rally cars are always a recipe for fun and in the case of Suzuki's offering that is spelt with a capital F.
The works prepared Suzuki Ignis in the capable hands of Guy Wilks and P.G Anderson is currently enjoying considerable success in the Junior World Rally Championships.
And the model from which the rally car is developed is a relative snip at £9,999.
The Ignis Sport is a fiery little number and comes with sufficient body kit to look the part. That is not to mention an electric blue paint job on this particular model which made it stand out from the crowd.
Add to that white wheels, colour coded side mouldings, huge front fog lamps and a roof mounted rear spoiler and it is enough to whet the appetite of many a young driver.
So is the interior with Recaro rally seats and carbon fibre trim inserts on the dash and around the gear lever.
Crank it up and the Ignis Sport is a lively performer as well. Working hard the 1.5-litre engine will zip from standstill to 60mph in 8.9 seconds.
The engine is basically the same as that used in the Toyota Yaris T-Sport and uses sophisticated electronically controlled variable valve timing (VVTi) to produce 108bhp.
That is a little bit more than the Toyota which is reflected in better performance from the Suzuki - as well as it being more than £2,000 cheaper than the Yaris.
But there is a hitch and that is with the composure of the Ignis. Its boxy shape means it feels top heavy and despite uprated suspension there will be more body roll when cornering than anticipated.
There is also a question over its robustness and the Ignis sounds decidedly tinny and lightweight when compared to other sporty hatches such as the Citroen C2 VTS and the Renaultsport Clio.
However, once you get to know the limits of the Ignis Sport it can provide plenty of enjoyment - and it is also a car with a few creature comforts which are often missing in this category.
Air conditioning is standard and that is a feature many manufacturers delete when they produce hot hatches.
Other standard equipment on the Suzuki includes twin front airbags, central locking, ABS and electrically operated front windows and door mirrors.
In terms of value for money the Ignis Sport does hit the mark and it is a car with plenty of appeal for young drivers - although it does have quite a high insurance grouping of nine.
That is above some of its more expensive rivals but most sporty hatches of this ilk will set you back at least £4,000 more than the Suzuki.
The main reason for the price difference is obvious and in reality the Citroen C2 or Ford Fiesta ST for example are much better cars.
But if fun and feisty performance are the prerequisites then the Ignis Sport can fit anybody's ticket.
FAST FACTS
Suzuki Ignis 1.5 Sport
Price: £9,999
Mechanical: 108bhp, 1,490cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 115mph
0-62mph: 8.9 secs
Combined mpg: 40.9
Insurance group: 9
CO2 emissions: 164g/km
BiK rating: 19%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs anti-rust