You really have to wonder why Volkswagen bothered with the Bora. The company's previous attempts at a compact saloon, the Vento and the Jetta, hardly set the world on fire.

Golf sales outstripped them by such a wide margin that it was almost embarrassing. When you're making the best-selling mid-sized hatchback in Europe and your saloon just isn't taking off it must be tempting to throw in the towel.

But that isn't Volkswagen's way. If at first you don't succeed and all that.

So now we have the Bora. Smaller and sportier than the VW Passat, designed to challenge the Ford Focus saloon and the MG Rover 45.

Being a VW the shape is traditional, conservative almost. The Germans would like us to think of it as a shrink-wrapped Passat, but set alongside some of the exciting designs coming out of Europe and Japan, some buyers may consider it a little boring.

Of course neither the styling of the Vento nor the Jetta exactly set your heart racing. At least what the Bora lacks in visual flair it makes up for where it really counts, on the road.

There are five petrol engines with varying degrees of poke,from 105 up to a scorching 204 bhp, and three diesels - a100 bhp starter model, a 130bhp mid-ranger and a surprisingly sporty 150 bhp version. So the Bora has all bases covered, offering something for everyone.

VW is rightly proud of its diesel range. They are, without exception, superb examples of the breed, with fat torque for easy overtaking and effortless cruising. Even the least powerful 100 bhp version is well capable of keeping up with all kinds of traffic.

All three Tdis displace a mere 1.9-litres and offer the kind of punchy performance you'd expect in diesel a third larger.

In fact, the range-topping 150 bhp version is the world's most powerful four-cylinder oil-burner yet it still squeezes 50 miles out of each gallon.

To make the most of that performance - and to enhance cruising refinement - VW fits a smooth-shifting six-speed gearbox to both the 130 and the 150 Boras.

Inside you'll discover a typically mature fascia made with well-chosen, high-quality materials.

The only blot on the Bora's otherwise impeccable copybook was a radio tuner which seemed to have a mind of its own and VW's multi-function display, which meant too much button-twiddling to accomplish simple tasks like switching on the CD or navigation system.

Strangely, the Sports models have a splash of walnut trim but at least it's kept well in check and doesn't look too incongruous.

There's space inside for the driver and three adult passengers. Despite twin airbags, VW has still found enough room for a glovebox (loved the way it opens on soft-damped struts) and the centre console is big enough for a mobile phone kit.

30/03/2002