Roy Lewis road tests the Nissan Pixo Teckna (From Hereford Times)

Roy Lewis road tests the Nissan Pixo Teckna

9:00am Saturday 5th June 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

SOME small, cheap cars do no more than fulfil basic requirements. For Nissan’s stylish Pixo, however, that’s just the starting point as its abilities run rather deeper.

It doesn’t match all the qualities of Nissan’s other small cars but nevertheless it is a modern, thrifty, funto- drive runabout which is well built and affordable.

It looks fresh, too, and possesses aerodynamic efficiency as an important design consideration in improving the car’s fuel economy – 64.2mpg as an everyday average.

Despite exchange rates having had an effect on pricing, the Pixo now retails at £7,150 for the entry-level three-cylinder, 12-valve 1.0-litre with the flagship model with plenty of equipment costing £8,645.

The car is built by Suzuki in India and apart from differences mainly to the frontal area, it is similar to the Suzuki Alto.

The Pixo has a standard five-speed manual transmission with wellspaced ratios or a four-speed automatic available at an extra cost.

The little three-cylinder engine is eager and comparatively smooth and quiet compared with threecylinders of yesteryear. It can be noisy, however, when revved high.

The unit produces 67bhp, manages the sprint of 0-62mph in 13.5 seconds and can eventually reach a top speed of 96mph. However, more impressive, especially with the present hike in fuel prices, is the low petrol consumption which is bound to put a smile on your face.

However, it depends on how you drive. If you drive the car hard for long period you should expect much lower returns.

The CO2 figure for the manual is another bonus – an excellent 103 g/km which puts it in the £35 road tax bracket.

On the road the Pixo handles well with plenty of grip for fairly quick cornering. At speed the car sits down remarkable well for a tiddler with the suspension giving a comfortable ride and dealing with most rough surfaces in an admirable fashion, though riding the abundant potholes will unsettle it.

With judicious use of the gearbox the Pixo offers lively performance for overtaking and is perfectly happy cruising at the legal limit on the motorway.

However, its main strength is in urban areas where its nimble character enables the driver to nip briskly in and out of the traffic.

The driving position is good and for a small car the seating in both front and rear is plush and comfortable.

Three smaller adults can easily be carried in the rear. There is rake adjustment for the steering wheel but no reach adjustment, a possible snag for long-legged drivers.

However, the cabin is roomy, easy to live with and has most controls grouped neatly in a central console.

The only downside is that the plastics covering the dash look on the cheap side although they are probably hard wearing.

As one might expect from a car only 350cm in length, the rear legroom is restricted and the boot is small at 129 litres but extends to 367 litres with the 50/50 split back seats folded. All in all, imaginative use is made of the available space.

The engine benefits from advancements in management systems, the car’s construction boasts high rigidity and there are crushable structures to absorb impacts.

The security and safety measures are also commendable for a small car.

Of the three specifications, the middle and top grades offer manual or automatic transmission. The first grade is fairly basic but the other trims boast good equipment, including keyless entry, remote locking, electric front windows and an MP3 compatible CD player. The top-of-the range model has air conditioning.

Among the dealer-fit options that make the car look more chic are alloy wheels but they add £409 to the bill.

AT-A-GLANCE

Nissan Pixo Teckna 1.0-litre fivedoor five-speed manual.

Price: £8,645 (on the road).

Top speed: 96mph.

0-62mph: 13.5 seconds.

Fuel: 64.2mpg (combined figure).

C02 emissions (g/km): 103.

Verdict: Good fuel economy, driver appeal, modern design and equipment, lively and clean motor.