Cute is not the best way to describe the Citroen C1, because it implies that beneath the stylish facade there is little substance to this charming little French hatch. And that couldn't be further from the truth.

Nonetheless, most potential owners will inevitably be drawn to the endearing yet metrosexual styling. The guys won't have a problem tooling around town in one and most gals seem ensnared by its diminutive proportions and airy cabin.

With semi-fixed rear windows and no visible C-pillar, many people are surprised to discover that it is actually a five-door and not three-door hatchback.

The C1 is powered by a 68 hp, one-litre, three-cylinder engine with variable valve timing, co-developed with Toyota. Besides being frugal on fuel, it delivers more than adequate straight-line performance.

Sounding rather sporty when revved, the all-aluminium unit has a broad powerband that generates enough torque for the daily commute and yet doesn't run out of breath at higher engine speeds.

When mated to the SensoDrive five-speed transmission, it proves ideal for city driving. SensoDrive is not an automatic gearbox but rather a conventional five-speed manual gearbox fitted with hydraulic actuators to work the clutch and shift through the gears.

Leave it in E and it does a commendable job of shifting automatically. Or you can slide the lever over to M and change gears manually by nudging the lever forwards or backwards.

On the move, the C1's suspension is supple and the steering has just the right amount of assistance, making it light enough for easy parking while providing a firm helm at highway speeds. But cruising at 90 kmh, the C1's cabin shows its economy car roots - there is more wind and road noise than in, say, a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Still, it's not intrusive, plus the engine is hushed and pulls well enough in fifth gear, although dropping to third gives more useful acceleration.

The driver and three passengers can travel in comfort as long as nobody has any luggage or plans to go shopping at Ikea. The boot space is minuscule but the rear seats feature a 50:50 split so the C1 can switch between cargo or passenger priority.

Safety-wise, four airbags and ABS are standard equipment. There are some complaints though - like the awful-sounding factory stereo (mainly because there are just two speakers), and the lack of powered adjustment of the door mirrors. The air-conditioning also struggles on a hot day due to the vast glass areas letting in the sun.

At $50,000, the C1 is not a 'great' bargain, as one can get something bigger and slightly more luxurious. But if you're looking for something fun to drive with avant-garde styling, and you're willing to overlook its budget car niggles (in Europe, the C1 costs no more than a COE premium here), then the C1 might be for you.

Engine: 998cc 3-cyl
Max power: 68 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max torque: 93 Nm @ 3,6000 rpm
Gearbox: 5-speed SensoDrive semi-auto transmission
0-100 kmh: 14.0 secs
Top speed: 150 kmh
Price: From $50,000 (with COE)
Distributor: Cycle & Carriage France, tel 6473-3122