Micra is refreshing original in its styling. Aimed at the youth market, though the young-at-heart are buying more than their fair share as well, Micra's most standout feature is a pair of headlights that sit on the bonnet/guards rather than simply at the front of the car. So radical is this styling that the headlights are visible from inside the car.

As the top section of the headlights are seen from the driver’s seat they can be annoying on a long-distance night trip, but in suburban driving where there's always a lot of ambient lighting that wasn’t really a problem during our recent week’s road test.

Nissan Micra's body has wide shoulders, a domed roofline and a pert rear end. It all looks great and we reckon many buyers are going for this cute car on styling alone.

But there's a lot more to the little Nissan than just its fascinating shape. The first thing you notice is its huge interior volume. It carries a pair of good-sized adults in the front seats and even the rear-seat legroom is generally acceptable without you having to ask those in the front to move their seats forward.

There's plenty of headroom in the front, but the sloping roof may cause hassles for taller passengers. Take any potential occupants along on your road test, but ask them not to fall into the usual trap of sitting bolt upright to test the seats. Most people, be it right or wrong, tend to slump slightly while seated in a car.

Micra is pleasingly easy to get into and out of for such a small car thanks to large doors that go well up into the roof area and which open wide.

Boot space is reasonable even with the rear seats in their rearmost position and a couple of medium-sized suitcases can be squeezed in. The rear seats have a 60/40 split and not only can slide forward but also fold completely flat to provide good, practical storage space. Naturally, when they are moved forward there's a corresponding loss in rear legroom, but that’s more than acceptable in a compact city runabout.

The feeling of interior space is enhanced by Micra’s light, airy feel, chiefly achieved by large windows. So there's also excellent visibility in all directions. Large windows can create a lot of heat buildup but our test car’s air conditioning was able to pull the temperature down to reasonable levels within a few minutes.

The four-speed auto can be locked out of top gear if you are travelling on hilly and/or winding roads and we found that it generally changed down promptly when extra power was required.

Fuel consumption will generally be in the six to eight litres per hundred kilometers range when driving in the country, unless you are in hilly areas where it could climb substantially if you hunt it along. Around town expect the Micra's petrol consumption to be in the seven to nine litre bracket around the suburbs.

On the road Micra is fun to drive, even in the extreme inner-city areas. A tight turning circle is complemented by excellent all-round visibility that makes it a snack to park.

Country running at the legal speed limit is relaxed and easy, something that can't be said for all small city cars. However, Micra's suspension isn’t over keen on big bumps and potholes and can create a fair bit of tyre/road noise on coarse-chip surfaces.

Steering is light and responsive and the car is willing to change direction when asked to do so quickly.

Around town the little Nissan Micra is a delight to drive, or simply for sitting in as a passenger. Its price advantage is outstanding and this Japanese model should be sitting towards the top of your shopping list if you're an inner-city dweller. All the more so if you like to get out into the country for weekend drives.

AT A GLANCE

MODEL RANGE

Nissan Micra 1.4-litre five-door hatch: $14,990 (automatic)

Nissan Micra City Collection 1.4-litre five-door hatch: $16,690 (automatic)

SPECIFICATIONS (Nissan Micra 1.4-litre five-door hatch)

ENGINE:

Capacity: 1.386 litres

Configuration: Four cylinders in line

Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder

Compression Ratio: 9.8:1

Bore/Stroke: 73.0 x 82.8 mm

Maximum Power: 72 kW @ 5600 rpm

Maximum Torque: 137 Nm @ 3200 rpm

DRIVELINE:

Driven Wheels: Front

Manual Transmission: Not offered

Automatic Transmission: Four-speed

Final Drive Ratio: NA

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:

Length: 3725 mm

Wheelbase: 2430 mm

Width: 1660 mm

Height: 1530 mm

Turning Circle: 8.8 metres

Kerb Mass: 965 kg

Fuel Tank Capacity: 41 litres

Towing Ability: Not supplied

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:

Front Suspension: MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar

Rear Suspension: H-shaped torsion beam, anti-roll bar

Front Brakes: Ventilated disc

Rear Brakes: Drum

FUEL CONSUMPTION:

Fuel Type: Petrol 91RON

Fuel Consumption - Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 6.8 L/100km

GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:

Greenhouse Rating: 7/10

Air Pollution Rating: 5/10

STANDARD WARRANTY:

Three years/100,000km