Driving the diesel Micra is fun, even in the city. A short turning radius of 4.65 metres allows the tightest of U-turns (essential if you just spotted a girl in need of a lift) and the engine pulls from almost every gear (crucial to get away from the boyfriend of that girl). The gear throws are a bit clunky, like in the petrol, and make quick shifting a little bothersome.

Ride quality is quite plush, thanks to that soft suspension setup, making potholes a jarring thing of the past. Unfortunately that soft suspension comes at a price: stability. The Micra is twitchy when the brakes are summoned with urgency and around corners; the Nissan tends to step out when driven hard with a bit of body roll. Speaking of brakes, ABS is not available even as an optional extra.

Attractively priced at Rs 5.85 lakh for the XV and Rs 6.33 lakh for the XV Premium variant, the Micra diesel does seem like a very good buy indeed. You may get only a single airbag and no alloy wheels and no automatic climate control, which is a bit of a downer, but the rest of the package is just fine.

Nissan’s after sales service network is growing at a steady pace, and it won’t be too long before there’s a dealership not too far from your residence.

Now, I’m off to look for that girl...