Despite consistently going down a storm with cash-strapped parents, driving instructors and motorists of a certain age, Nissan's Micra hasn't really broken through at the top end of the supermini sales charts.

Not in this country anyway. Rather than imitating the big sellers, the Micra has tended to stick to its guns, bringing something slightly different to the party and trying to coax car buyers around to its way of thinking. The latest model looks to be the most persuasive yet.

The Micra has stood apart from the trend in the UK for superminis to grow larger and edgier in their styling. The previous generation car went cute when others were trying to emphasise their sporty side.

It also prioritised nimbleness and manoeuvrability over big car sophistication and long distance comfort.

It's an approach that has won the Micra many loyal followers but ultimately failed to elevate it to the level of popularity that Ford's Fiesta, Vauxhall's Corsa and Volkswagen's Polo enjoy on these shores. Can that change with the latest car? There are a couple engine alternatives open to Micra customers, both 1.2-litre petrol units of a three-cylinder configuration.

A five-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard but there's also the option of a clever CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) automatic.

Enhancing the ease with which this Nissan can be manoeuvred are electrically-assisted power steering, a large glass area and the fact that the nose of the car is visible from the cabin. This is not as common as you might think in modern superminis and helps a lot when parking.

This Mica is still a bit of a lightweight compared to other modern superminis, tipping the scales at 945kg, but it's fractionally longer than the old car and interior space is generous. The cabin is designed around the rounded theme witnessed outside, with circular motifs popping up all over the shop. Rear leg and headroom are generous and the boot is a respectable size but the seat backs aren't split and flip forward in one section.

Nissan designed the Micra to be one of the safest small cars around, with ESP stability control fitted as standard alongside ABS brakes and six airbags. Seatbelt pre-tensioners also make the equipment list on all models, while Nissan's V-platform architecture offers top level impact protection.

Nissan's idea of what makes a world-beating small car haven't always tallied with those of most UK supermini buyers but the Micra has still been consistently successful down the years. The latest model is a development on these existing Micra themes, with a compact, curvy design focusing on fuel economy and manoeuvrability.

In concept, it might appear closer to a city car than a modern supermini but it's not short of space and its safety credentials are up with the very best in the class.