Skoda Citygo road test: Real pleaser for the driver

So, even when you're driving what is clearly designated a city car these open roads are actually the perfect place to put it through its paces.

This was the latest, and easily the prettiest, version of the Skoda Citygo and even though it is kitted out with the latest technology such as touchscreen and satnav, this actually seemed a bit of a drive down memory lane for me.

It took me back more than 40 years to the quieter roads of rural Shropshire and the sheer delight of driving a classic Mini.

Outright performance just isn't an issue as you tackle bend after bend, revelling in the pin sharp steering, excellent agility and wheel at each corner stability of the small but perfectly formed card.

All good features around town, of course, where the excellent all-round visibility (and lack of big overhangs to catch the unwary) makes it a breeze to manoeuvre and park.

Citygo isn't new, of course, and mechanically it's virtually identical to its VW Group city slicker sibling, the Up! and the Seat Mii.

But my ride for a couple of hours was a new special edition, the Citygo Monte Carlo, named in honour of Skoda's sporting heritage including its win in the famous rally in 1936, which first spawned the badge on the company's Popular Sport Monte Carlo a year later.

It was reintroduced in 2011 as a Fabia special edition, and now, versions of the Yeti have gone the full Monte too.

As for Citygo, it's already proved it's practicality and appeal to the heads of buyers with a city Car of the Year title. The Monte Carlo is an appeal to the heart, with extra, eye-catching red and black colour scheme (inside and out), sports styling, and extra equipment.

As a means of attracting young buyers, it's a shrewd one: for under £11,000 it's affordable, economy is over 50mpg, your tax liability is low and, best of all, there's an impressively low group two insurance rating.

It comes with front and rear spoilers, a rear diffuser and lowered suspension which not only turn the standard Citygo into eye-candy, it also helps to give the Monte Carlo its excellent handling characteristics. It also comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lights and sunset glass.

Inside the red and black theme continues, with a sports steering wheel with red stitching, glass black dash inserts, special badging, bespoke sports-style seats and a comprehensive satnav, trip computer and infotainment system.

These features come on top of the standard Citygo SE specification. A convenience pack - including cruise control and rear parking sensors - were options added to the test car to take the price up to £11,325.

The Monte Carlo's engine is the standard Citygo 60PS petrol version (a 75PS option is available in other versions) which is capable of averaging nearly 63mpg according to official tests, with a low CO2 rating of 105g/km.

The benchmark 0 to 62mph takes 14.4 seconds.

The engine does make itself heard when you're pressing hard to get up to motorway speed, or using the lower gears to set yourself up for corners.

But it's smooth and rather growly - not at all harsh and indeed, an essential part of the experience for the keen driver.

The ride on some of those less than perfect Yorkshire B-roads was surprisingly composed, particularly for a small car with sports suspension: full marks there to the engineers.

The Monte Carlo will no doubt add youth appeal to the competent and cheap to run Citygo range, but from my experience you don't have to be young to appreciate. It still brought a big grin to my face!