It's probably the car-buyer's most challenging dichotomy - how much do you sacrifice style for thrift? Some manufacturers have managed to narrow that gap - think of Mazda's most recent, slinky version of the venerable Mazda3 - while others haven't quite found the right formula - cue Fiat's new, lumbering 500L which hasn't managed to effectively carry over the cute factor from its 500c when it added two more passenger doors.
Stepping into the affordable car fray with a re-introduced model is Nissan which this spring will be bringing back its Micra for 2015 after a 21 year absence from Canada. And from an initial look, it appears the Japanese nameplate has added a little European-inspired performance and flair to its city car for the masses.
And that's a good thing since the Micra was replaced in Nissan's lineup in the early 1990s by a pair of pretty boxy and bland offerings - the Sentra and Versa.
The new Micra looks like it's sheet metal DNA has had some Italian influences from the likes of Alfa Romeo with its sloping snout, pinched in belt line, and gently rising tail. Add in minimal front and rear overhangs, and this is one that could easily earn the "pocket rocket" moniker on looks alone.
But just how it could live up to that classification on the asphalt is not readily apparent since Nissan has not listed the Micra's performance times in the allimportant zero to 100 km/h crucible every car seems to live and die by.
Thankfully, in the Micra's instance, the fact its base model has been equipped with a 109-horsepower, 16-valve, 1.6-litre inline 4-cylinder engine that delivers a mere 107 lb-ft of torque is a clear indication this will not be making Corvette and BMW M3 owners challenge you at stop lights.
What it does mean is you should get decent fuel economy from a tidy little, fivedoor hatchback that can seat five - perfect for the needs of most urban dwellers not keen on public transit or cycling.
But if you do want to get the most out of your Micra, there's the option of forgoing the 4-speed automatic transmission in favour of rowing through the five-speed manual to get the most out of the power plant.
According to Nissan, the Micra has been specially tailored to the Canadian market.
In fact, it will not even be available to U.S. consumers. And to further lend itself to the land north of the 49th parallel Nissan added some extras and tweaks not available in other markets where the Micra will be sold.
One addition comes on the comfort side and is a set of heating ducts for the rear passengers. That may sound like a simple add-on, but is likely welcomed on cold mornings to make sure your passengers' Starbucks lattes don't ice up during the daily commute from igloo to office.
Then there's heated, outside rear mirrors that may sound like a luxury, but once you have them become next to a necessity.
Nissan also adjusted the Micra's front and rear sway bars to improve the car's turning radius - something sure to come in handy on narrow city streets, parkades and parking lots.
And hockey players be advised, Nissan says its 60/40 split rear seats can easily accommodate hockey sticks.
Better still is the fact the 15 and optional 16-inch wheels can be fitted with snow tires without much drama.
Thanks Nissan, for thinking of us here in the Great White North.
In fact, it's commendable of Nissan to consider those touches for this market. After all, production of the new Micra is done at the Aguascalientes 1 plant in Mexico.
"It's very rare to offer a car in Canada that is not also offered in the United States and with Micra, Nissan will be the only mainstream automotive brand to bring a high volume car specifically for the Canadian market," said Christian Meunier, President of Nissan Canada Inc. in a press release. "There has been extensive support from the global leadership team to make this happen, recognizing the potential of the Nissan brand within Canada, and the importance of bringing cars that will resonate with Canadian consumers."
Pricing has not been released for the new Micra which are expected to roll into showrooms in April.
