Alternative review of Nissan Micra

From the moment it was awarded the Car of the Year title at its original launch, the Nissan Micra has showed itself as a supermini to be reckoned with. Now, having reached third generation guise, it's showing signs of growing up nicely. Like the original second generation car did when it was introduced, this latest Micra looks like nothing else on the road and you'll either love it or hate it for that. The domed roof is 100mm higher than the old Micra and the width has been increased a tad, but the overall length is shorter but with a longer wheelbase. The latest Micras feature a revised chrome grille and headlamps with a less bulbous look that incorporate a light blue tint. Meanwhile, the sporty front bumper that was once the preserve of the 160SR is now common across the range.

The practical high-roof shape makes loading and unloading pretty easy and there's ample space in the boot for the 'average family'. It's inside the cabin that I had the biggest surprise, though. The little Nissan looks smaller than, say, a Fiesta, but it's actually just as spacious inside. There's even better headroom, thanks to its high-sided styling. I'd have to admit however, that while two adult passengers would travel comfortably in the rear, three would be a bit of a squash, as legroom in the back isn't abundant. Still, the same could be said of many larger cars.

The compact dimensions and light steering make the Micra quite a bit more manoeuvrable in tight corners than other small cars, while the revised multi-link suspension definitely makes light work of high street bumps - and we have more than a few around my nephew's school. Nissan have a four-way choice of engines for the Micra - 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol units, plus a 1.5-litre dCi diesel with 82bhp. The small 1.2-litre engine I checked out achieves a perky performance, although its top speed on paper is 104mph - 'slower' than some rivals, but the maximum speed limit is, after all, 70mph. I certainly found the driving experience to be quite a bit more pleasant than that of the old Micra, thanks mainly to the efforts made in improving refinement. Both the dashboard and floor areas have apparently been more heavily insulated and it shows. The ride also seemed slightly better. The handling seemed sharper too, though Micras are usually bought by people like me, rather than performance enthusiasts. If you didn't know this already, you could guess it upon learning that 14% of all Micras sold are ordered with Nissan's CVT automatic transmission. The driving position is now very comfortable indeed, thanks to redesigned seats with adjustment controls that are easier to access, although the steering wheel adjusts only for rake and not reach. Underconfident drivers will be relieved by the fact that the headlights are visible from the driver's seat, giving an easy width reference. Otherwise, the dashboard is a little more conventional than the unusual styling had lead me to believe, although the Bakelite-style 'ivory' control switches on the upper spec models are a neat touch. My car came with the 'intelligent key' system. This unlocks the car when you pass within 80cm of it, whereupon you'll merely need to press a button on the door handle, drop into the driver's seat and twist a knob where the ignition barrel would normally be to fire the Micra up. No more fumbling for keys, working out which button is 'unlock' in the dark or stabbing yourself in the leg with the key blade.

The Micra is an enjoyable car for every day use. I'm not sure however, despite the improvements in refinement, that it would be something I'd want to use for long distance driving. Most of the time, however, I'd be very happy to have one. It would get me to work, my son to school and would deal pretty amiably with the weekly shop. And, of course, it's about as simple to operate as a payphone. Just ask any driving school...