Review
If you can see beyond its boxy looks then you will find that the Charade is one of the best of the current crop of city cars, with its combination of competitive pricing and impressively low running costs making it very cheap to own.
The square-edged styling is certainly not going to appeal to everybody, although it does serve to distinguish the Charade from its blander-looking rivals. Once inside the cabin is basic but well-finished, with impressive room considering the ultra-compact external dimensions. The boot seems small, but it's actually one of the biggest in the segment.
And it drives well, too. The revvy little 1.0 litre three-cylinder engine loves to be pushed hard, and if you're prepared to take it towards the red line then the Charade delivers some impressive performance. Fuel economy is outstanding too - with a combined figure of 58.9 mpg the Charade's petrol engine pretty much matches the performance of the best modern diesels.
Ride quality is impressively pliant as well. And although cornering results in some fairly spectacular angles of body roll, the steering remains accurate and the Charade shows every indication of enjoying being driven reasonably hard.
With standard specification now including air conditioning, the Charade offers excellent value for money.