Nissan Alley

Since Nissan launched the first edition of the Micra in 1983, it has become one of the world’s most popular small cars, which is indicated by the length of time the brand has survived. It is estimated that over five million Nissan Micras have been manufactured since it first hit the roads 28 years ago and, in Britain alone, there are currently around 355,000 in use. This volume of production alone counts for one of the reasons for the Micra’s continued popularity – the number manufactured means that they are readily available, both new and second-hand via online car classifieds networks such as Motors.

The Micra has become known for high standards of safety and reliability, manufacturing quality and user-friendliness. An example of this was the Reliability Supertest undertaken by What Car? Magazine in 2007, in which Nissan came 6th out of the 26 car manufacturers featured, while the Micra K11 edition was ranked Nissan’s most reliable car. These qualities point to a major determining factor in the brand’s long-term popularity – the fact that it became one of the most popular cars among female drivers and has built upon and maintained that profile. This is due to the above-mentioned qualities, as female drivers are more likely to be concerned about practical applications such as a car’s reliability, safety and ease of use, than issues such as high-speed performance, acceleration speeds and size.

The look of the Micra has seen it classed by many as a woman’s car and, in order to try to expand the market for the brand, Nissan recently launched a new model Micra with what was considered a harder, more ‘masculine’ look. This ambition was confirmed by Nissan themselves who stated that the new model of the car was intended to appeal to a wider consumer group.

Driving the new 100% electric Nissan Leaf is certainly a different kind of driving experience. If you are one of those electric car sceptics who can’t see the point in driving something which technologically resembles a milk float, then you will need to think again, The Leaf may be electric, but that is where its resemblance to a milk float ends.

You just get in to the car, press the button marked “Start”, select D and press very lightly on the accelerator and you are on the move. If you want to feel a little zip then depress the accelerator further and the full might of the cars available 108 bhp is delivered almost instantly to its wheels. This equated to a massive torque of 280 Nm which is as much as you would get from a standing start in a 2.5 litre V6; certainly this baby is no slouch.

Within 12 seconds you will be travelling at 62 mph and you can keep on going right up to its top speed of 89 mph. As a town car it is perfect, though of course it is hardly a motorway cruiser.

Handling is surprisingly good, and this is probably due to the car’s very low centre of gravity which is mainly as a result of its heavy battery; again, perfect for zipping around in town. It is quite comfortable even on our potholed city streets and of course it is very, very quiet. There is sufficient room for five occupants too.

Of course there is a big downside. The car’s maximum range is only 100 miles and if you drive too quickly you can reduce that considerably. It takes eight hours to fully charge the car but you can partly charge it in 30 minutes, but what do you do if you run out of juice – just knock on a stranger’s door and ask if they wouldn’t mind if you plugged your car into their electrical socket? The fear of running out of power is known as range anxiety, and it can be painful.

Eventually when the infrastructure is more advanced this problem will be overcome and the 100% electric Nissan Leaf could well be the ideal way of getting around town.

The Nissan Juke fits appropriately under the title of ‘crossover’ vehicle. It is often described as the younger brother of the popular Qashqai with an attractive design that lies somewhere between an SUV and a small car. These cars seem popular as they offer the security of a larger SUV combined with the practicality of a smaller car when it comes to environmental concerns or fuel economy. Where a 4×4 may seem ostentatious, a Juke seems elegant and responsible. There is a choice of 1.5 diesel engines and a 1.6 petrol engine with the former probably being the more popular due to rising fuel costs. The Nissan Juke insurance group goes from group 16 for the basic 1.6 petrol to group 25 for the top of the range models. Endsleigh can offer some of the most competitive rates by searching a range of the companies for the most competitive prices.

The interior is roomy enough for four passengers to sit comfortably due its generous super-mini/crossover interior. For what is basically a small car it offers a slightly higher capacity than your average super mini. The ride quality over bumpier road surfaces is assured with the large tyres and sturdy frame. Cornering is better than expected with the tall chassis engineered so that it doesn’t lurch too much when turning at speed.

The Nissan Juke is looking to cash in on the success of the Qashqai and re-conquer the smaller car market. Prices start at just under £13,000 which offers comparable value to say a Mini which would be a market rival. To get full value you should look for insurance on the net where companies like Endsleigh can help you get the best deals by searching quotes from the UK’s leading providers.
Nissans success looks to be going from strength to strength with their quirky new SUV styled designs and the Juke looks to be just as popular as the Qashqai.