The revamped Micra is here, and Michael McAleer was quite taken with it.
Nissan's new retro Micra made its first appearance in front of the press in true Irish style - amid the crawling traffic of the Naas Road, on a dark and dismal December afternoon. And still it managed to bring a smile to our faces and those of passers-by. It's a happy little motor.
For sheer quirky design it's hard to beat, though undoubtedly it may be hard to be taken seriously in this bug-eyed supermini.
In driving terms, it handled itself more than adequately and caught the eye of many marooned motorists who got the opportunity to study it up close as we sat for hours in the rush-hour traffic.
Once free to take to the open road, well the M50, the 1.2 litre Micra we tested performed more than adequately and demonstrated a very proficient handling and engine characteristics.
While road and wind noise were noticeable at motorway speeds, it proved itself competent for all road conditions. More important, it was comfortable amid the motorway bustle.
Inside the car is surprisingly roomy, thanks to a high roofline. Certainly from the rear, its gait belies its overall dimensions.
The retro fittings may not be to everyone's taste, with some of the dials and switches taking an enamel appearance more in keeping with kitchen appliances.
Then there are the gadgets. First off there is the key. On all but the basic model, the Micra features an intelligent key system which works when the owner is within 80 cm of the car. Simply push a button on the car to unlock the door. No need to take the key from your bag.
It also works when starting the car. While it's a sure-fire winner with the technophiles, it may not go down so well with the more absent-minded Micra drivers.
One potential problem may arise when owners take for granted the presence of the key when they drive the car. They sit in and turn the switch to start the car. One of them has the keys, but who cares so long as the car
starts, right? Wrong.
If sir was to get out at the office, leaving madam to drive off, the car will carry on perfectly well and once arrived at her destination she can turn the engine off. However, if sir has the keys then madam cannot restart the car and is left waiting for the bus. Moral of the story is, while you may not need the key to start the car or open the door, be sure you know where it is.
There are one or two other technical points that may raise a few eyebrows. One is the memory function in the upgraded model whereby you can store three dates in the car's computer - for birthdays and wedding anniversaries - and on the appointed date the car will remind you. Obviously Nissan are targeting absent-minded married couples. Frankly, if you depend on your car to remind you of your wedding anniversary you have some life issues to deal with before you get behind the wheel.
Prices will vary from €14,390 for the one-litre Visia three-door, to €17,490 for the Acenta specified five-door 1.2-litre. There is also a Tekan specification for €16,190 for the five-door.
Nissan expects to hold its 4 per cent share of the market with the new car, though we would suggest this is a conservative estimate.However, it may cost one or two sales among older motorists.
We like the styling and quirky looks, even if close inspection does reveal a closer similarlity to its predecessor than inital impressions may suggest. Once the design and layout had lost its thrill for us the most memorable aspect of this car is the quality of the finish - solid and sturdy.