Motoring: Flying the coupe

Road test: John Simister takes a spin in the Citroen Xsara Coupe

Citroen, as a marque, has taken some flak of late. The cars used to be too odd; now they are thought too unadventurous. The long-term plan is to give Citroen back some individuality.

In the meantime, there's the Xsara, launched a few months ago as a five- door, Escort-sized hatchback. It is a delightful car to drive but visually a frump - which could account for its lukewarm critical reception.

But lo! There comes from the kingdom of Citroen a smarter, faster, tastier Xsara; it's a Clark Kent into Superman scenario. Welcome, please, the Citroen Xsara Coupe.

Except that there's something that doesn't quite ring true here. We shouldn't look at this particular car as part of the Citroen new deal. It's too early for that. We should view it as the company's final attempt to have a tasty coupe in the range because that, nowadays, is what you do. Never mind that it's simply a three-door, slopier-tailed version of the existing car.

There are three versions of this smarter Xsara: two relatively gentle VTR models with either 1.6 or 1.8-litre engines (pounds 13,160 and pounds 15,285 respectively), and the sporty, snorty VTS with 2.0 litres and a pounds 17,515 price-tag. No other Xsara has this engine, a deep-breathing, 16-valve unit able to deliver a deeply impressive 167bhp. The same engine is used in the Peugeot 306 GTI-6, mated to a six-speed gearbox, but the Xsara makes do with just the five forward gears and saves you pounds 950 in the process.

This can be a searingly quick car if your mood and road conditions dictate. The first thing you notice is the instant response to your steering commands, followed by the enormous grip. Then you sense subtler attributes, a nimbleness that will have you turning round after a satisfying series of bends just so you can drive through them all again. The VTS sits lower on its suspension than lesser Xsaras do, which gets rid of that slightly wayward, tip-toe feeling when you go into a corner too quickly.

The price you pay for all this is in the ride comfort, or lack of it. This is an un-Citroen-like failing, but is to be expected in a sporty car of such agility.

Inside the Xsara VTS we find comfortable, sporty-looking seats and a good tally of equipment including air conditioning. Outside, the styling is neat and rakish, but hardly adventurous. We find attractive fabrics, well-finished plastics and an air of solidity. In its identity, we find slight confusion. But if the next crop of Citroens includes some that are as madly entertaining to drive as this one, we'll be too busy having a good time to fret about what a true Citroen may, or may not, be.

Xsara Coupe VTS: pounds 17,515. Engine: 1,996cc, four cylinders, 16 valves, 167bhp at 6,500rpm. Performance: top speed 137mph, 0-60 in 8.5sec, 25-30mpg.

Rivals

Alfa 145 2.0 Cloverleaf: pounds 16,245. A spirited drive and surprisingly well- made.

Audi A3 1.8T Sport: pounds 19,011. More a marcher than a dancer.

Ford Puma: pounds 14,850. Cheaper, wackier, entertaining to drive.

Peugeot 306 GTI-6: pounds 18,465. Mechanical clone of Xsara; prettier to most eyes.

Renault Megane Coupe 16V: pounds 16,640. Lacks rear space. Fast but raw.