Learner drivers everywhere have cause to love the Micra. It’s still cute, solid and frugal – you can buy the Nissan Micra at a little under £8k - and there’s a CC cabriolet version now too, albeit at a £5k premium. The boxy Note packs in plenty of space, and is best value in 1.4 Acenta trim (£11k). Gaining popularity in Europe with its mix of practicality and sensible purchase/running costs in a ‘jacked-up station wagon’ skin is the 2WD or 4WD new Nissan Qashqai.
All four Nissan Qashqai engines are easy on fuel but the 1.5 dCi model is especially stingy: its official average of 52.3mpg can easily be bettered. Qashqai starts at £14k, with the three-row Qashqai+2 model kicking off at £17k. New Nissan Cars have leaned towards the 4x4 range in recent times, Nissan’s X-Trail is a highly capable soft-roader in 4WD guise, while comprehensive equipment and radical styling make the 3.5 V6 Murano 4x4 an interesting VW Touareg alternative at just under £33k. The Pathfinder 4x4 offers tough, American-inspired styling and decent offroad ability for up to seven passengers, from £24k. If you spend a lot of time on building sites, the gritty Tonka-toylike Patrol 3.0 diesel should see you right for £25k. Finally, the spiritual successor to the classic Datsun 240Z of the early ‘70s, the 350Z, will give you five-second 0-60 performance in either coupé or convertible versions. It’s not terribly practical, but it’s handsome – and it’s built to last.