Faults:

Front suspension knock, thought it was the rubber bushes (common fault); turned out to be the entire cross-member.

Coil packs required replacement.

Consistently faulty and generally inadequate air conditioning system for the Australian market.

General Comments:

This car is built to a budget, and you really feel it. The interior and general build quality is quite poor, but then again, you get what you pay for. No power windows in 2009!

The engine is legitimately quite surprising, and the stated performance figures don't do it justice. It's not slow, and it pretty much blows everything similar out the water, and its power to weight ratio shows that. Compared to an N16 Pulsar, it lacks torque just off idle, but pulls well through the mid-range and likes to rev. It sounds surprisingly okay, slightly meaty for its size. The 6 speed gearbox is initially annoying for a relatively slow car, but you come to appreciate it as the throw is relatively short and the gearbox in general is relatively tight. If you are a keen driver, you will find that the engine is oddly satisfying for an economy car.

What is less satisfying is the handling. Because the car sits so high (even a cursory glance reveals this) and has primitive rear suspension, it is quite scary to drive at above 50 percent as the car rolls like an SUV. It does not feel predicable or confidence inspiring. As it manages its weight poorly, expect lift off oversteer at speeds where it should not happen, and catastrophic understeer due to its skinny tires and lack of grip. The brakes feel normal, which is a compliment to it, and require no adjustment coming from other cars. The steering is overly light, and while not the worst of its type, lacks the feel of the Mazda 2 or Ford Fiesta.

Additionally, while it sits high and is sprung softly, the poor NVH makes it an unpleasant experience to drive for long periods of time. As a result, your general impression is of a somewhat crashy ride, which is typical of its class. The seats are also relatively poor, which amplifies this problem, although they do have some lumbar support.

In terms of fuel economy, it does 6.8l/100km, so take from that what you will, mostly country driving. Maintenance costs are low, and the car has been reliable, aside from the fact no one should ever have to replace a cross-member on a modern car. Doing maintenance on this car yourself is a drag compared to older cars - replacing headlights should not be as difficult as it is, the location for the air filter isn't where you expect it to be (meaning you break clips) and you need long extensions to change the spark plugs.

Faults:

I bought a 3 years old Nissan Tiida with very low mileage from one of the major European car dealers in Auckland, and I am frustrated with the quality of this car. Within 21 days, I lost $2,500 to trade it in to the same dealer because it kept coming up with some problems such as backdoor plastic panel and airbag.

My Honda Civic had been running 15 years with few troubles.

General Comments:

Powerful, smooth running.

Not a very good looking car.