If ever an affordable modern sports car captured the lure of the legendary MG Midget/Austin-Healey Sprite it has to be Vauxhall's clever Tigra. Like its nemeses it appeals to women more than men and has the lightweight feel of a car built on a budget, but for all that the new Tigra is a successful low-cost two-seater.Underneath its brash and lightweight body panels is a lithe chassis which blesses this tiny two-seater with balanced handling and excellent roadholding. The floorpan is Corsa, the rear subframe Meriva and the rest of the suspension from the Astra family. It means the French-built metal-lidded roadster has modest underpinnings and lacks the tub and chassis of the world's finest-handling sports car, the Vauxhall VX220/Lotus Elise. But unlike the VX220 and its clone there's nothing to challenge the front-wheel drive Tigra in terms of power.Of its three engine options the new £14,595 70bhp 1.3-litre CDTi turbodiesel is the most interesting, but lacks even the modest punch of its petrol stablemate, the sweet 1.4-litre 16-valver with 90bhp. At the top of the tree there's a 1.8 litre 125bhp flagship model which delivers a little more excitement than the 1.4 but costs £850 more than the impressive £14,500 1.4i Sport I'm testing here.The 1.4 offers the best balance of value, economy and performance. The Sport does have a cheaper sister powered by the same engine - an entry level Tigra costing £13,750. But the Sport wins on the equipment front with a boost in specification which adds to its appeal. Sport delivers dramatic 16" alloys and 45-section low-profile tyres, smart drilled-alloy pedals, a remote control alarm, leather-trimmed steering wheel, a stereo CD and MP3 player, an essential retaining net for a slot-like storage shelf behind the seats, wind break, front foglights and, unfortunately, cheap-looking aluminium-effect cabin trim. Metallic paint and air-conditioning add another £325 and £500 respectively.It adds up to a value package and includes the Tigra's coup de grace - a powered metal roof which tucks neatly away under its bustle-topped bootlid. It's that roof which singles out the affordable Tigra and turns it into a poor man's Mercedes SLK. Dropping the lid involves releasing two simple locking catches and letting the motor do the rest. Up and down takes no more than 20 seconds each way.If Vauxhall had stopped there the powered coupé/cabrio roof would have been perfect. But they've flawed the design by giving the Tigra electric power for the boot lid. It's unnecessary, slow (15 seconds to open and close) and, more worrying, is a finger trapper. It's a superb boot for such a small car, but why is there no anti-trap device on the boot lid? An adult or child could suffer a painful crush if they laid their hands on the lip of the large electrically-powered cover.A friend trapped his hand while I was power-closing the boot. There is no automatic reverse and I freed him only by physically lifting the lid against its electro-hydraulic rams. The crush left his hand badly bruised. A child would have suffered far more. That kind of omission is surprising, especially when motor reversing technology is available.But as a luggage carrier the Tigra is a winner. With the hood stowed in its bin there's still an impressive 250 litres left for luggage. With the hood up, the hinged metal guard which prevents cargo interfering with the folded roof panels can be swung forward to significantly increase boot volume. It's clever and practical and means the Tigra makes a serious mini grand tourer.You'll go a long way on a tankful of petrol - just don't expect the 1.4 to be much good at Alpine climbs. At an average of 46mpg the stylish little roadster delivers an excellent 450-mile range, but it's well down on power. This is certainly not a performance sports car.Top speed is respectable at 112mph but 92lb/ft of torque means rest to 62mph takes an agonising 13 seconds. Go for a mid-speed overtake and the 90bhp unit struggles to propel the Tigra through the vital 50-70mph gap. I tried in varying conditions in third gear and never beat 10 seconds - a long time in the exposure lane. The 30-50mph slot is better at 7.5 seconds while the 30-70mph gap takes 15 seconds to close. That adds up to overtaking being a full throttle affair, with advance planning.On the plus side, its five-speed manual gearbox is slick, its ABS braking system stops the car powerfully without fuss and all Tigras get twin airbags as standard. Despite its cheap-looking aluminium trim the Tigra's cabin and cloth seats are well finished. The car is comfortable, noise levels are low and there's little wind buffet up to 60mph with the roof down. The ride is hard on the Sport's low-profile tyres, but the power steering is light and accurate which makes hustling the little roadster over twisty roads a real delight.Don't be put off by the 1.4's modest power. Apart from overtaking and climbing steep hills, it's perfectly adequate for this well-balanced and neat roadster for the girl about town. Engine 1364cc, 4 cylinders Power 90bhp Transmission 5-speed manual Fuel/CO2 46.3mpg / 146g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 12.5 seconds Top speed 112mph Price £14,500 Details correct at publication date
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