Micra great in all weathers; JOHN SCANTLEBURY found the Sunderland - built Nissan Micra C+C 1.6 funky and fun when he drove it

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Feb 8, 2008

Byline: JOHN SCANTLEBURY

STORMS, snow and floods... it's enough to make your yearnings turn to summer and open-top motoring, and, lo and behold, here comes the 2008 Nissan Micra coupe-cabriolet to bring some much-needed sunshine into our lives.

Funky and fun is the creative force behind this British-designed and British-built little 'un and a hole in the grim weather allowed me an afternoon learning to appreciate it.

Yes, the very effective heaters were blasting away merrily and the heated seats were adding their welcome bottom line, but it was a warming fresh-air driving experience, too.

The C C is very much its own car, being lower (by a considerable 99mm) than your ordinary Micra and 90mm longer, giving it a sleeker presence, even in hard-roof-on mode. Lower it (a 22-second one-button-push operation) and it's a quite appealing and desirable little car with its gleaming kick plates and side sill spoilers.

What's more, it drives as it looks, with a lot of go-kart-type appeal, demonstrating a very taut build, high grip and responsive electro steering that gives the car a smile-inducing agility. That driving pleasure was abetted in the test car by a high-revving 119mph 1.6-litre engine (the 1.4 from the Micra hatch is a milder alternative) and a crisp fivespeed manual gearbox as standard.

A four-speed auto box is available but the car deserves your involvement and the high-revs demand - max power comes in at 6,000, max pull at 4,400 - means that working the box uphill and down and round dale is all part of the fun.

There's a disconnectable electronic stability programme incorporated in the top models, the car runs on good-sized alloys and there's fine control from the suspension which features torsion beam at the rear. The set-up is sporty, though, so expect some firm reactions.

Nissan, wisely perhaps, has toned down the cabin for this year and, while there are white dials, metal pedals and bits of chrome around, the overall effect is now quite restrained.

Equipment levels are extensive, although with prices starting at pounds 13,550 (1.4-litre Visia) and rising to pounds 16,545 (1.6-litre Active Luxury) perhaps that's only right.

The Visia model comes with 15in alloys, electric windows and door mirrors, six-speaker CD/radio with steering-wheel controls, trip computer, four airbags and front fogs. Acenta trim adds more and the Tekna level includes climate control, CD autochanger with MP3 and Bluetooth, an intelligent key system, parking sensors, alloys and a speed-limit warning system.

For singles and couples it'll be a whole lotta fun for pretty reasonable running costs, marred only by a wince-inducing insurance rating.

Facts and figures

Make: Nissan

Model: Micra C C 1.6 Tekna 2dr

Price: pounds 15,400

Mechanical: 110ps, 1,598cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gear box

Max speed: 118mph

0-62mph: 10.6 secs

Combined mpg: 42.2

Insurance group: 7

CO2 emissions: 159g/km

BiK rating: 18%

Warranty: 3 years/ 60,000 miles, 3 years paint, 12 years anti-rust

CAPTION(S):

FULL OF FUN - the 2008 Nissan Micra coupe-cabriolet