HOW THE CITROEN VISA SUPER COMPARES

Citroen Visa Super

These small cars are attractive for their low price and good economy but the majority also make a good account of themselves in performance for town driving.
The Citroen, Horizon, Fiesta and Mini all have engines around the 1100 category and are closely priced along with the bigger engined Sunbeam which incidentally, is the only rear wheel drive car. The Colt has the largest engine and this is reflected in its good fuel economy, acceleration and top speed, though it fails to beat the surprisingly high 95 mph maximum speed of the Horizon.
The Visa's performance figures are middling for the group, while the Mini trails behind the Fiesta in the speed and acceleration table only to shine through in economy with a creditable 37.5 mpg. Cars not included in the comparison but also worthy of consideration include the five door Volkswagen Golf 1100 at £3,918, Renault's 5 TL at £3,640, Honda's Civic at a remarkably low £3,190, and of course, the Peugeot 104 GR, which uses the same engine fitted to the Visa Super, priced at £3,599.

The two French cars - the Horizon and the real French car, the Visa, vie for the best ride, with longlegged suspension that is well damped and can take the worst pothole in its - stride. However, the Horizon does not suffer from as much body roll when it is put into a corner, even though the Visa is fitted with anti roll bars at front and rear. As we have said, the roll is very much a national characteristic of small French cars
from manufacturers like Renault and Peugeot. Some people even enjoy the unusual attitude while pushing the cars around a corner, most get used to it after a short acquaintance, and it ceases to annoy or worry. The Mini and Fiesta on the other hand have good handling, but have more of that small car ride quality that tends towards harshness. Both can be described as lively and enjoyable to drive. The Colt lies somewhere between the French and British cars (though the Fiesta should really be labelled international). The rear wheel drive Sunbeam's live axle sets it at a disadvantage behind the others for ride, compounded by being fitted with awfully uncomfortable seats. All tend towards predictable understeer to varying degrees on the corners and all are fitted with accurate rack and pinion steering.

The Citroen Visa, Talbot Horizon, and Colt 1400 GLX are all five door hatchbacks, offering useful third and fourth doors for easy access to the rear seats. The three door Sunbeam has a frameless window tailgate and useful split rear seats to allow for differing combinations of luggage and passengers, but though externally similar to the Horizon, offers far less interior space for both, due to its rear wheel drive configuration. The Mini, naturally the smallest car in our lineup (and therefore easiest to park), lacks a tailgate; and luggage space is therefore rather cramped, as would be the third and fourth adult passengers. Of course, the forthcoming appearance of the Metro will enable BL to be more competitive in this area of the market.

Colt 1400 GLX 5-door

Ford Fiesta 1.1L

Mini Clubman 1100

Talbot Sunbeam 1300 LS

Talbot Horizon 1.1 LS

As we have said in our Road Test, we liked the Visa very much. Experience with our long term test Visa Club underlined the car's potential, but more importantly, the need for a bigger, more powerful engine to make the car a more lively all rounder. The Visa Super realises that potential and offers the customer a practical town car with the ability to make motorway trips quickly and comfortably. There is no doubt that its unique appearance will attract the ladies — secretaries in our building have described it as cute, and the price sets it well into the
small car foray. Only the Mini in our lineup has the same ability to endear itself to the driver and restore fun to driving in traffic. Perhaps the Honda Civic is cheaper, the Horizon more practical and larger, but it is memories of the Visa that brings a smile to the tester's face.