WHEN Apollo Creed challenged Rocky Balboa to a rematch following a draw in their first bout, everybody thought the classier, flashier Creed would wipe the canvas with the earthy, honest Italian - but they were wrong.

While the Stallion may have lacked Creed's finesse and flashy trunks, he had more than enough in the tank to compete and his combination of ability and charm eventually won over the crowd.

And so it is with the Vauxhall Tigra.

In many ways its humble Griffin badge seems outclassed by the likes of MINI and Peugeot, but, when it comes to going toe-to-toe, it is more than capable of fighting its corner.

The manufacturer's corporate face and bonnet crease are the first things that strike you. Despite being derived from the humble Corsa hatchback, the Tigra, with its multi-lens headlights and three valance vents, looks more like the larger Astra.

A high, rising waistline ascends gradually from the back of the headlight up to where it joins the base of the folding metal roof, a large section of which is a dusty silver colour. This two-tone effect, particularly when matched to a blue paint job, looks dashing and belies the car's modest asking price.

With the roof concertinaed into the boot - a process that involves four hydraulic cylinders, five electric motors and 20 contact sensors - a wave-shaped roll bar is exposed. This may well be nothing more than a passive safety device and rigidity aid, but French manufacturer Heuliez has managed to make it look like some form of abstract art.

Rather than stuffing an unusable rear bench into the back of the Tigra, Vauxhall has instead gone for the "but it's got a spacious boot" angle - commendable really. And with 440-litres of stowage space with the roof up and a further 70 litres provided in the cabin, thanks to various nets and things, this two-seater is verging on the practical.

On a less positive note, the look and feel of the cabin is markedly below par. "Functional" and "uncluttered" are about as close as one can come to bestowing it with a compliment. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a major issue, but it is important that a convertible car should have an attractive interior for the simple reason that more people can see it.

An enhanced version of the manufacturer's DSA chassis takes the credit for the Tigra's poise and agility on the road. Inevitably, it does lose some of its rigidity and stability with the roof folded, but even with the wind in your hair the little coup/cabriolet feels surefooted.

The 1.8-litre Sport version with its 125bhp and 122lb/ft of torque feels lively and quick. A sports exhaust adds a little extra aural stimulation to the whole affair, but there is enough shove under the bonnet to keep all but the most hardened speed freak entertained.

The only gripe would be that most of the power comes higher up the rev range, forcing you to drive hard in order to eke out the best performance.

Taking on the MINI Convertible and Peugeot 206CC would be an unenviable task for any manufacturer, but the Tigra's chiselled complexion, gutsy performance and reasonable asking price give it more than a fighting chance. Think of it as Rocky in the third film, when he had to face Clubber Lang (played by the ferocious Mr T) - no one thought he had it in him, not even his coach, but in the end his hard work and straightforwardness won a memorably victory.

For more information, call Basingstoke's J Davy Vauxhall on 01256 319450.