Holden Tigra 2005 Review

What we liked
>> Sharply dressed, man
>> Coupe and convertible in one
>> Hardworking engine sounds the      goods

Not so much
>> Interior lacks punch
>> Electric boot is gimmicky
>> Switchgear feels cheap, toy-like

OVERVIEW
Let's be honest here: No one wants to drive an ugly car. We all dream of something sleek, sexy and inspiring, though often the practical needs of daily life temper our desires. The lucky few, however, can indulge their emotions more than most when choosing a new car, and that is exactly where the Holden Tigra comes in.

This diminutive two-door convertible with a folding hard-top roof is one more example of Holden's flexible Barina compact platform which includes three- and five-door hatches, a three-door delivery van and even a tiny tot ute sold exclusively in Brazil.

The Holden Tigra is the latest and by far the sexiest addition to this burgeoning family, and on the surface shares little with its siblings. That's because convertibles sell predominantly on style; performance and value play secondary roles. That's not to say the Tigra ignores those two virtues - Tigra quite cleverly combines all three in a package that'll turn heads as easily as it'll open wallets. And with a pricetag of $34,990, Tigra's also one of the cheapest tickets to the joys of open top motoring.

FEATURES
While we're being honest and open here, let's agree that the Europeans know how to design a striking vehicle. The two-seat, two-door Tigra is styled by Opel - Germany's equivalent of Holden in the General Motors empire - and assembled under contract by boutique French coachbuilder Heuliez. Like it or not, the Tigra's sharp lines and aggressive angles will attract attention - and that's good for a convertible, right?

We like it, because the design gives Tigra significantly more road presence than its compact dimensions would otherwise command. For the record it measures just 3.9m bumper to bumper, and stands a stocky 1.37m tall, marginally longer than a Barina SRi, though not quite as tall.

Tigra's 1.8lt engine is straight from the Barina SRi, and sends 92kW of power to the front wheels through a handy five-speed manual gearbox. Holden does not have an automatic transmission on offer despite Australia's love affair with self shifters.

This little lid-lifter is undeniably well-equipped and therefore enticingly good value. Its electric folding roof offers coupe and convertible in one car, and slides away under the bootlid in 18 seconds once two latches have been unfastened manually. Alloy wheels, fog lights, and body-coloured bumpers and door handles add to the car's visual flair, while air-conditioning, a CD player, cruise control, and electric windows and mirrors ensure occupants have plenty to play with.

COMFORT
You'd be forgiven for thinking the interior a bit drab after the extroverted external design. It's a mix of greys and grains that don't gel with the sporting exterior, and the switchgear lacks a class and tactility expected of such an emotion-driven car.

Still, twin sports seats and a leather-wrapped, height-adjustable steering wheel do their best to buck up the understated cabin, but a splash of colour wouldn't hurt. You sit quite low in the driver's seat beside the door's high shoulder line, which simultaneously provides good headroom and enhances the feeling of speed and agility.

All controls are easy to use and well laid out, there's a couple of nifty storage compartments behind the seats, and a lockable glovebox for carrying, err, gloves. The boot is adequate in a car of such compact dimensions, and hides a steel spare wheel beneath the floor, but don't expect to carry golf bags unless your passenger doesn't mind walking. Oh, and the electric opening/closing boot may be a fun and funky feature at first, but it will not allow quick manual closing - making it annoying when the heavens weep.

SAFETY
Tigra may be one of the least expensive compact convertibles in Australia, but not at the expense of safety. For starters, it enjoys the strong, reliable stopping power of four-wheel discs equipped with ABS anti-lock brakes and BA brake assist.

Tigra features a wave-shaped rollover bar behind the seat-back headrests, and comes with dual front and side airbags to protect occupants in an impact. In addition, the seat belts are fitted with pre-tensioners and force limiters.

MECHANICAL
We mentioned before that Tigra's based on the Barina platform. What that means is the Tigra's all Barina underneath its dramatically different skin. Up front sits Barina's most powerful engine, the 1.8-litre four cylinder unit from the SRi. It produces an impressive 92kW of power and 165Nm of torque, which it sends to the front wheels though a five-speed manual transmission. Holden claims a fuel consumption figure (to official standards) of 7.8 litres per 100km for Tigra, suggesting a touring range of around 500km from its 45litre tank.

The Tigra rides on independent wishbone suspension up front, and utilises a hydroformed torsion beam axle at the rear. The steering is power assisted - the level of help varies according to road speed to make parking easy without sacrificing solidity at speed.

As any engineer will tell you, the roof is a vital structural component of any car, and chopping it off opens the way for all sorts of shakes and rattles. To prevent this happening, the 1250kg Tigra carries an extra 160kg of weight compared to the 1090kg Barina, mostly in the form of additional bracing to bolster body rigidity. It works, but the extra weight saps straight-line performance.

COMPETITORS
Peugeot's 206CC immediately springs to mind, and would appear to have the Tigra covered with its two-model, two engine line-up. The basic 1.6-litre, 80kW 206CC starts at $35,990 and extends to $39,990 for the 100kW 2.0-litre version. Unlike the Tigra, Peugeot offers an automatic alternative, and is 100kg lighter, which could give it the edge in performance. Guess it depends on how important winning that top-down stoplight derby is to you...

The Mini Cooper Cabriolet and Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet both carry a similar $35-37k pricetag, but occupy opposite ends of the competency equation. One rides and handles beautifully but needs more power, and the other is a German car too busy living past glories to offer any useful qualities. At least it has a vase...

There's little else of a roofless nature below $40,000, though the quirky looking Smart Roadster offers stand out styling and - well, little else, really - for $34,900. Those placing equal weight on performance and panache should consider the Mazda MX-5, though it starts the other side of $40,000.

ON THE ROAD
Sometimes a car comes along that you really want to like, but... No buts, the Tigra is an endearing, thoroughly enjoyable car to drive. Niggles aside - like the underdone interior and silly electric boot - and the Tigra's a diminutive drop top that has just enough mongrel in the driving experience to overcome its inadequacies.

The engine is honest and hardworking, and does its best to put a little pep in the Tigra's step. It even gets all growly and aggressive in the top of its rev range, though sadly acceleration doesn't match the soundtrack's urgency. There's enough torque on tap at lower revs to make daily driving a fuss free affair, and the manual gearbox's short-throw lever sharpens Tigra's reflexes. But this drivetrain's best described as peppy and energetic. Those chasing head-snapping horizon fliers should shop elsewhere.

Still, Tigra feels deceptively quick from the low-slung driver's seat, and turns in with the familiar verve and light-footedness of its Barina SRi donor. The Tigra's extra weight adds a degree or two to body roll in corners, and tightly-packaged suspension can struggle on nastier road surfaces, but in general the ride is pretty good. Same can be said of Tigra's power-assisted steering, which is consistently weighted, if a little light for our tastes.

Any reservations about body flex and scuttle shake sometimes found in roofless cars are quickly dispelled by Tigra. It remains tight, taut and terrific at all times.

We doubt Holden will have any troubles finding homes for the 1000 Tigras it intends to sell each year. It's priced to kill, wears a stand out set of strides, and packs enough performance to keep the wind flying through your hair. Just.