Road test - Nissan Pixo

Author: Ian Strachan

With the cost of motoring going through the roof, plus the need to look after the planet, a lot of people are thinking small – and that’s where the Nissan Pixo comes in.

This pint-sized Nissan starts at just £6,995 and if you want to leave the family estate or 4x4 at home and nip around town in something not quite as comfortable but fun nonetheless you could do worse than invest in the Pixo.

Unlike a lot of small cars it's nicely styled and doesn't feel cramped inside. Performance from the three cylinder engine could best be described as "peppy".

I test drove the one litre Tekna top-of-the-range specification (at £8,645 - this is serious money!) and was pleasantly surprised by its zip.  This 68 bhp unit takes a bit of winding up, but when it's cruising at 70 mph it does so easily and without the sort of underbonnet screaming you sometimes get in cars of this size. And you get 64.2 miles to the gallon in mixed driving.

The manual gearshift is pleasant to use, and the ride feels pretty stable, with nicely rated suspension and confident cornering.

But the real surprise is the interior space. Nissan has pulled off a clever trick here. Sitting in the Pixo you feel as if you're in a much larger car. 

Legroom and headroom are quite adequate for front and rear passengers. The front seats are big enough to feel comfortable on a long drive, and the rear seat accommodates two adults easily - and they don't have to be really good friends.

Open the tailgate and despite the appearance of a cut-off back end there's still respectable luggage space.

The Pixo has a personality all of its own and at just 3.5 metres long it will slot into the smallest parking space. 

The car is equipped with powered front windows, all round airbags, front fog lamps, central locking, 50-50 split seats and CD player as standard. My car was fitted with alloy wheels at an extra £409. That certainly won't break the bank.

Road test by Ian Strachan Communications Ltd

Ian Strachan is a motoring and business writer and PR consultant. He can be contacted on 01543 490932 or 07949 202596 or via email: ian@strachan13.freeserve.co.uk