Vauxhall Tigra Coupe 2004 - Present

The Tigra is based on Vauxhall’s tried and tested Corsa.  The second generation Tigra is more focussed than it’s predecessor and unashamedly comes to the showroom as a two seater, something that too many other cars don’t have the bottle to do.  It folds flat quickly and easily, perfect for summer afternoons.

Being based on the underpinnings of a Corsa the Tigra is a small, sporty looking Coupe-convertible.  The fact that it’s a two seater ensures that the front seats offer good levels of room and space for both occupants.  Getting rid of the back seats also frees up more room for the boot and means that there’s storage space behind the seats.  The hard roof gives the solid feel of a regular hard top car, but offers the flexibility of getting the roof down and enjoying the wind in your hair.  The cabin is nicely finished, in a somewhat understated way.  There’s nothing that shouts at you as driver or passenger, but it’s a quietly satisfying car to drive, and presumably own. 

On the road the handling is lively , as you’d expect from a small, light car.  The fact that it’s a front wheel drive does mean that the drive’s not as natural as one may hope but the feeling is pretty neutral and the light weight and sharp steering does compensate.  The Tigra is set up to offer better steering than comfort, being a bit of a bone jarring ride on rougher surfaces.  With this though the transition from corner to straight is excellent and the Tigra is rarely found wanting. 

There are three engine choices; a 1.3 diesel and two petrol units, 1.4 and 1.8 litre.  The diesel option weighs in with stellar fuel figures, 61 mpg, but the performance is distinctively average (well below average really), with 0 -60 in 15 seconds and tops out at 100 mph.  with the sporty looks you’ll feel like a charlatan as you get wasted every time you stop at the traffic lights.  The small petrol engine is slightly faster but doesn’t especially feel it.  The power isn’t as smooth as the diesel and there’s very little low down grunt.  The 1.8 option offers 0 – 60 in 9.1 seconds and a top end of 127 mph.  it’s really the only option to go for as it’s pokey and fun to drive.  Although with 36 mpg fuel figs it’s placed quite a way behind the oil burner which returns 61 mpg.  It’s your choice, performance or economy, but given the sporty looks if you want the car to behave anything like it looks then the big petrol option is the one to go for.

The Tigra has probably got enough to just rise above the crowd but only with the big engine, the others in the range are just too slow.

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