1.0 Visia 5dr Hatchback

Cheap and cheerful motoring

I bought a July 2009 '09' Nissan Pixo Visia in December 2012, with 17700 on the clock.

Some early problems included a noisy front wheel bearing at 19000 miles. Another fault - although fixed at the purchase - the rear window washer pipe popped off again after 3 months (a common fault on this car and the sister version - Suzuki Alto).

Since then the car has been reliable over 10 months and 8000 miles. 48mpg around town. £20 a year road tax. More refined than the old Micra K11 I had previously - the Pixo is quiet on the motorway, although the high gearing means it can lose power on steep hills, but it is quick off the mark around town. I believe 60-65mpg is possible on the motorway, I did a 200 mile round trip which included periods travelling at 90mph and 100mph briefly, yet returned 53mpg.

I'd say this is a modern version of the Rover Mini City - cheap and cheerful, basic motoring. The Pixo is slightly bigger, has five doors and is more refined though. I like the high, upright driving position, and the basic spec - wind up windows, no air con - nothing much to go wrong here. Some of the trade offs with this car are the tinny CD player which just has two small speakers on top of the dashboard, although it will play MP3 CD's, also the cheap hard plastics on the doors and facia, although it looks attractive. A problem with mine - not the car's fault - is the aerodynamic, steeply angled bonnet is scratched by cats.

Overall, I'd buy another one. Recently I discovered that Nissan discontinued the Pixo in March 2013. I emailed them and they said they have no plans to replace it. The near identical Suzuki Alto, which was built in the same factory in India, is nearing the end of its life and will be replaced next year. A local Nissan dealer told me the Pixo wasn't selling as well as hoped, but then the car was never advertised - only one 20 second television advert on launch. That is why Suzuki have been recently selling twice as many Altos compared to the Pixo.

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