08/04/09

• Price6995-£8645
• We like...Ride, space
• We don't...Tiny boot

For £6995 or more, Nissan's new baby car is a whizz. But it's basic and for the money - you can do better This is the Pixo, this Japanese car maker’s smallest yet. And when it begins sale in June, prices will run from £6995.

For that you get a five-door four-seat city car that’s actually pretty roomy: four adults can sit together in fair comfort, although anyone taller than 6ft will find their scalp brushing the roof lining. The boot is titchy, though, and a high floor covering the spare dsn’t help, although you can drop the back seats to improve space.

All up, it’s pretty basic. Go for that entry model, called the Visia, and you’ll wind your own windows, waggle the door mirrors into place using levers and attend to your own locking and unlocking. And the windows in the back pop open an inch or two on catches, rather than winding up and down. It ds, however, have anti-lock brakes, brake assist and electronic brake distribution (EBD: which doles out braking effort to whichever wheel(s) most need it) and airbags in the steering wheel and also in the dash.

But this little car gets the essentials right. The Pixo soaks up the bumps well: you still know that they are there, but they don’t bother you and it is comfortable over journeys of a fair distance. The steering is direct, sensibly weighted and reasonably accurate, and the same is good for the gears and pedals.

The engine is a game little 1.0 litre petrol unit. It’s got just three cylinders – just like the one in the cheapest Volkswagen Polo – and it makes a noise when you rev it. We don’t mind that, though, because it’s an encouraging, sporty sound that adds to the fun of piloting such a little, basic machine. Its emissions of 103g/km of CO2 and a promised return of up to 64mpg is good.

It dsn’t have to be that way, though, because for an extra £750 you can get the Acenta model, which adds side airbags, remote locking, a remote boot opening lever and electric windows. There’s also a top-spec model, the Tekna, that is just over £7600 and offers air conditioning, curtain airbags and electronic stability control.

There'll also be a version fitted with a four-speed automatic gearbox. We've tried it briefly and wouldn't recommend it because it feels breathless and jerky.

We should mention that this car is built in India in the same factory as the Suzuki Alto. The two cars are the same, except that the Nissan gets a different nose, bumpers, wheel covers and seat trim. Compare prices for the two makes and Suzuki’s look dearer, until you clock that the entry-level Alto has more standard equipment – bringing it up to the level of the mid-level Pixo and pitching them within a few quid of each other.

Pixo or Alto, which should you go for? Well, Suzuki has fewer dealers and so in some parts of the country you’ll go for the Nissan. But if you have a choice, try both before buying.

Nissan’s not offered a car this small before so if you’re buying second-hand, there’s no direct equivalent. The Micra is the nearest andis a great buy, with prices starting at under £1000.

The Pixo breaks no new ground but it’s still good if you’re after a no-frills, no-fuss new car. At the price, there’s little else that comes close.

To read the motors.co.uk review of the Suzuki Alto, click here

• Engines1.0 petrol
• Power68bhp
• 0-60 mph14secs
• Economy64.2mpg
• CO2g/km103
• Insurance groups
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags2
• Seats4

Motors.co.uk value verdict: