It's arguably only the Ford Ka and Fiat 500 that have really carved out a niche in the city car sector as something a bit special; cars that transcend their tiny niche and are attractive because of what they are, rather than because of it. Now with car-buyers downsizing and wallets tightened, the city car sector is in increasing demand - and car-makers are responding. While the Smart Fortwo never really seems to have gelled the package is a strong one. The likes of Toyota and Volkswagen have taken note, with the resulting iQ and Up! taking the basic concept and applying a bit of sheen. The result? City cars that people actually desire. Enter the refreshed Renault Twingo, previously a bit of an also-ran in the mini-car stakes. With a bold and reasonably different facelift, the Twingo now looks the measure of its rather silly Twist, Swing and Tango moniker; the sort of car you can imagine appealing to young car buyers. The exterior gains a few panel tweaks and larger headlamps that actually give the car a very different character while, perhaps as importantly, the 2012 Twingo gets dozens of new colour combinations that give the buyer a lot of choice. The Bermuda Blue metallic paintjob on my test car may have caused an involuntary deepening of my voice but it certainly stands out. Inside not much has changed, but there's a feeling that the Twingo has improved over its rather utilitarian foundations. Renault has cottoned on the fact that multimedia and connectivity are becoming must-haves for buyers, so the single Dynamique trim gets Bluetooth, audio inputs and a CD player as standard, along with a speed limiter, aircon and 15-inch alloys. Something else that female drivers may like particularly is the high seating position. All-around visibility is excellent and there's a feeling of sitting high in the driver's seat. Space upfront is good, though it's understandably a bit tight in the back. There's four seats only, but the rear seats slide back and forth - and extend - to extend the meagre boot space to a more acceptable 285 litres. Fire up the 1.2-litre petrol engine and there's an engine that feels happy, if sedentary, around town. Get it on the motorway and the Twingo's little engine doesn't strain to get up to legal speed limits. However, look to go much beyond 3,000rpm and the Twingo simply can't manage it in fifth gear. If you need some juice for overtaking or climbing a hill you'll have to work the five-speed gearbox hard, with the accompanying engine noise. If you're happy to sit back and cruise it does feel calm and reasonably quiet though and cost-conscious owners will be very pleased with the Twingo's 55.4mpg - an occasion where I'm inclined to believe the official fuel economy figure. The Twingo's handling was never a problem and Renault hasn't fiddled with the chassis. As a result, dynamics are still impressive, particularly while nipping around town and parking the little car. In fact, I'd go further and say that the Twingo is good fun to rag around - there's a bizarre amount of feedback through the gear stick, which is not welcome, but the steering wheel is fairly communicative and the car is balanced at all speeds. Renault has boosted the Twingo where the little car needed it most. It finally has some road presence and some of the toys that the modern city-car buyer demands. At ten grand it's not cheap but it's well-specced and does get the four-year/100,000 mile warranty and four years free servicing and roadside cover. The Twingo can at least now make a case for itself in the increasingly crowded and competitive mini car sector. MILESTONES Renault Twingo Dynamique 1.2 Price: £10,350 Performance: 1.2-litre petrol engine; 74bhp at 5500rpm; 79lb-ft at 4250rpm Top speed: 105mph 0-62mph: 12.3sec Fuel economy: 55.4mpg CO2: 119g/km; road tax is free in first year and £30 annually afterwards
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