Nissan Almera Sport Roadtest

Close you eyes and concentrate. Think hard about what single image, what photograph you would show a Martian if you wanted him (her?) to understand what being European is all about. Would you whip out a snapshot of a Eurotunnel train? Would you show him a piccy of you and the kids at Disney? Or would you show him a press cutting of the Berlin wall crashing to the ground?

Apparently not. Those wily people at Nissan, who observe us from afar, have decided that the one single image that sums up what it means to be European is a close-up of a takeaway curry. In the opening pages of the brochure for the new Almera we are told, above a large picture of a carrier bag printed with the words Thai Palace, that the new car is entirely designed for Europeans and is built around something exceptional. You .

The carrier bag is hanging on something called a convenience hook which, the copy explains, is perfect for holding takeaways or handbags. In the old days it was called the choke. But it seems the hook is part of what Nissan term intelligent space, a phrase conjured up to describe the process of catching up with Volvo. Apart from the hook, other conveniences include a briefcase strap, special umbrella storage, luggage nets in the boot and a liner for the spare wheel in which to secrete contraband. If that doesnt fool them there is also a secret box beneath the front cupholders. As the brochure declares: Everythings been thought through. Except the English.

But I carp. Its all clever stuff and is succinctly aimed at the gadget-minded car buyer, who, when faced with a choice of half-a-dozen same-only-different cars, might well be swayed by the lifestyle apparatus. In fact, there is probably a dozen or more cars in the so-called C-segment and the Almera needs to be a strong contender if it's to overcome the gravitational pull of the likes of the Peugeot 306, the Golf and the Astra.

Nissan are serious about the European bit and intend to take on the competition on their own turf. Designed at Cranfield and Munich and built in Sunderland, the Almera is the first example of a car built on their global MS platform. This is a new idea which allows a local version to be built that reflects the taste and culture of the market for which it is intended. Other models on the MS platform will be designed and built in North America and Japan and be available only in those places.

Its good news for Sunderland and all credit is due to the workforce. For three years running the plant has been independently assessed as being the most efficient in Europe and now accounts for over 90 per cent of Nissans European production.

But that will be about as much use as a chocolate hammer if the market gives the new car a thumbs down. Its all a matter of taste. If youve got used to the firm-riding, sharp-handling Golf or 306 you will probably find the Almera a touch soft and sedentary. On the other hand, if youve survived thus far on a diet of Rover 400s (now 45) or Honda Civics then the Almera will seem an attractive proposition.

Especially if you opt for the Sport+ version, which is the car I tested. Looking rather like the smaller Rover 25 the 3-door Almera Sport+ has the gently muscular lines that will appeal to an audience who think Carol Vorderman is sexy.

The Sport+ nomenclature is a slight misnomer. The output from the 1.8-litre engine is a bit tardy and the performance differs not at all from the cheaper versions with the same engine. Whether you pay 14,900 for the Sport+ or only 12,100 for the cooking model it will still take 11.1 seconds to reach 62 mph and both models run out of breath at 115 mph. (The automatic version manages just 107 mph). But the styling of the more expensive model makes up for the absence of outright performance and for many people, that is enough.

This is not a latter-day version of the Almera GTi. Instead of lowered and stiffened suspension and a lot of extra squirt from a 2.0-litre engine, the Sport+ package gets you a sunroof, CD autochanger and some mild cosmetic changes to the exterior. These are in addition to brake assist, ABS with brake-force distribution, alloy wheels, twin airbags, fog-lamps, air-conditioning, electric mirrors and so on which distinguish the plain Sport model from the cheaper E and S models. There is also and SE trim level which is similar to the Sport but has side airbags and all the Volvo-esque intelligent space. Confused? I am and so, apparently, are Nissan. The test car wasnt quite a Sport+, nor was it the plain Sport but a slightly hybrid version of both.

But traditional Almera customers, whilst wooed by the new styling and new generation engines, might find themselves disappointed with the ride quality. The new and much stiffer body-shell has added an underlying harshness to the ride. Its fine on main roads and handles much better than the old model, but poorly surfaced roads clearly telegraph their imperfections.

Getting in and out of the rear of the 3-door model calls for a certain amount of dexterity. On some cars the catch on the front seat releases not only the back-rest but also allows the seat to slide forward on its runners. Not so the Almera its two separate operations, which I find intensely irritating and penny-pinching. Once you get there the knee room is a reasonable 7.5 inches (average, behind the drivers seat) and the centre armrest contains a tray and cupholder, which is quite useful. But the rear windows are fixed so any ventilation is whatever is left over after the front-seat occupants have sucked it free of oxygen. Not ideal for kids even allowing for air-conditioning.

The interior styling, or at least the trim and upholstery, is not overly ostentatious, which I like, and the seats offer plenty of support and lateral grip. But the fascia is not going to worry the stylists at Volkswagen. In fact I am not sure it terribly worried the stylists at Cranfield either. The air-conditioning controls belong to the Parkinson-Cowan school of neo-industrialism whereas the integrated radio looks to have been designed by Grace Jones. Nothing matches, not even the various grades of plastic. And the leather-clad steering wheel on the Sport+ does not compensate for the bland instrument graphics. Smarter than most says the heading on that particular page. Smarter than most what we are not told.

The new 1.8-litre engine has variable valve timing which results in peak torque being delivered at just 2800 rpm, which is quite good for a normally aspirated engine and which contributes to a reasonable 37.7 mpg combined fuel consumption, although the larger Primera seems to be marginally more frugal. But, as modern engines go, apart from being low on emissions, there is nothing startling enough to get excited about..

In fact, there is nothing about the new Almera which excites me. The drive is in not particularly engaging and the car lacks any distinct character. It has enough user-friendly credentials to please a certain sector of the market and it is better than the worst cars in its class. But it is more expensive, slower and thirstier than the 1.6 Renault Mgane Sport, which has the additional advantage of being a true European. And since Renault now effectively own Nissan I can see no reason why they should renew the Almera line when the present model reaches its sell-by date. Which it may have passed already.