The Top Gear car review:Nissan Micra

“Micra” has become a bit of a byword for “cheap tat” – mostly because older ones are just that – but this new one changes things. It may be based on a (very) heavily revised version of the ‘V’ platform as used by the old one, but you’d never know because they share virtually nothing.

That was a ‘world car’ built to satisfy the needs and demands of not just Europe, but Asia, South America and so-on – so it was massively compromised. This one’s specifically designed for Europe, so it’s 174mm longer, 78mm wider and 55mm lower, more stylish and better equipped (with tech borrowed from the hugely successful Qashqai).

While the outgoing car competed with Sanderos and the like, this one aims for Fiestas, Polos and Clios. And the price has risen accordingly, from really very little to class-competitive – things kick off at £12,400, and rise to almost £18K. It’s five door only (albeit with a rear door-handle incorporated into and masked by the C-pillar), with a choice of three engines. All come with a five-speed manual gearbox.