HOLDEN TIGRA Review

Summary:

What we like: Styling, Value, Handling.

What we don't like: Engine performance.

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HOLDEN TIGRA review in detail:

The Tigra is a small convertible with the security of a folding hardtop. Its dynamic, exciting design promises pure driving pleasure and the touch of a button transforms the Tigra from a coupe into a cabrio in around 18 seconds. Especially cabriolets that boast a retractable steel roof, making them the ideal all-season car, are enjoying increasing popularity.

Engine performance from a 1.8-litre unit is good without being outstanding. You have to work at the gearbox in action to get the best from the engine, but that's no real difficulty as the shift is nice and light with good precision, all the more so when you remember this is a front-wheel drive based on an everyday hatchback.

The Tigra is a very easy car to drive and enjoy - whatever you throw at the Tigra it remains stable and predictable. Body roll is minimal as is the inevitable scuttle shake that convertibles tend to suffer from. The electric power assisted steering is well weighted and allows for relatively fast crisp cornering. The set up of disc brakes all round, ventilated front and solid rear worked well and the ABS isn't too intrusive.

The little Holden's hardtop is power operated, but you have to manually undo clips at each end of the windscreen header. It folds itself into the front of the boot in a clever bending motion that takes up a minimum of horizontal space.

As a result, the boot is surprisingly large when the roof is closed, though you do lose a lot of boot space when the roof is down.