irishcar.com - Nissan's new Primera

The bold new departures we have seen in car design recently seem more sudden than unexpected. Ford's Focus showed us early on that Mondeo man was in for a treat when his preferred choice was due for replacement. And so it came to pass last year. The others in this all-important medium segment had to follow. First to follow up on Mondeo was the new Opel Vectra which, by all accounts, is not setting the world alight with design innovation. Now comes the new Nissan Primera which, it has to be said, is a car that challenges one's preconceived notions of what the ideal repmobile should be.

Sculpted is the word that perhaps best describes the design of the Primera. Fluid is another. These two qualities are now abundant enough in the shape of the new car to lift it from its previously ineffably boring image. The Primera has not just got a new suit of clothes, rather it has acquired its first decent suit of clothes. The car is for the first time distinguished, capable of turning heads and has for the first time the kind of looks that can do some justice to the car itself.

While the previously capable Primera languished under the tyranny of the blandest possible design, one now feels that being a Primera owner is not going to involve suffering quite the same stigma as it did before. From the moment I saw the apparent coming together of two angled sheets of metal to form the boot lid, I liked the new Primera and, more importantly, was refreshed by it.

When you get inside the car, however, the full scale of the design departure becomes apparent. Instead of the usual dials and boring instrumentation there is a control console clustered within easy reach and which has all the appropriate instruments together. Everything from music control to air conditioning is an easy button push. Topping the dash is then a sequence of three large and easy to read dials with basic information, from time to speed.

But best of all is the space. The Primera is a real winner in terms of head and legroom. I am a tall driver and very few cars in this class, it seems to me, are capable of extending their front seats fully while at the same time avoiding serious discomfort for rear seat passengers. Even the E-Class Mercedes is not beyond criticism in this regard.

The new Primera provides a seriously comprehensive range of cars to chose from, from the basic 1.6 Visia at EURO 22,995 right up to the 2.2 diesel Acenta version, which uses the same engine as the new X-Trail and costs EURO 29,895. In between there are various choices of 1.8, estate and automatic versions. Equipment levels vary on different models, of course, but the basic level of standard equipment on all versions is impressive.

An on-board computer is complemented by a central display that shows, by way of a tiny camera, what is behind you when you are reversing ! You can actually see exactly how close you are to whatever is behind you. Also standard are climate control, power steering, electric and heated front windows, a six-speaker CD system, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, driver, passenger side and front airbags and side curtain airbags. Even the brake pedal will retract in the event of a collision to minimise injury.

The Primera has some stiff competition to meet head on. The Toyota Avensis, the Ford Mondeo, the Volkswagen Passat and the Renault Laguna are all nipping at its heels when it comes to price, specification, performance and dimensions. However, the new Primera is giving its rivals a run for their money in several respects. The Mondeo, for instance, probably looks like the newest competition in terms of appearances. The Passat will look its age and the Avensis won't be too far behind.

Nissan is cleverly offering a 1.6 option on its entry level model, whereas both Ford and Opel have moved on to 1.8 as standard entry level size. In the case the limited option is a psychological one only - the 1.8 petrol in the Mondeo is now more economical than the old 1.6 and even has more power. However, many buyers still want the 1.6 option, not just because it is familiar but also because it may be perceived as having an effect on insurance premiums.

We have not yet had a full test session with the new Primera but initial impressions show it drives almost as well as it looks. Handling, ride and general driveabality are all up to scratch but more anon!