SOMETIMES cars can surprise you.
I wasn't expecting much from the freshly revamped Nissan Almera for instance, yet found myself driving something that felt more like a mini-Primera.
Being realistic; this is not a motor that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and screams Drive Me.
Even the mid-life facelift that saw fresh models wheeled out last month was widely described in the business as being "a doorhandle launch"... except that the doors didn't alter.
Where the Almera was improved came courtesy of sharper front and rear bumpers, honeycombed front grilles and a new twin headlamp system behind smoked lenses.
The Primera was rightly lauded for its bold interior design and N-Form centre console layout, and the same thinking has been applied to its smaller stablemate. So the test car came with vertical controls aimed at minimising the number of switches for CD player, climate control and info system and a generally smarter cabin that on previous models.
There's still a choice of two petrol engines, both with improved performance, and in the case of the 98bhp 1.5 litre version it represents a power hike of 9%. That equates to a 0-62mph acceleration time of 13 seconds, yet average fuel consumption stays at 42.8mpg.
From a company car driver's viewpoint, CO2 figures see the 1.5-litre car cleaner than before with 158 g/km slotting it into the 15% BIK tax band, while the 1.8 is rated at 18% along with the 2.2 litre diesel.
Of course the bottom line has to be whether the car is half decent to drive. The 1.5 is hardly spirited but smooth, comfortable, quiet and adequate for most family motoring.
In fact the chunky steering wheel is one of the car's strongest assets, offering a well balanced feel and reasonable feedback.
On the negative side rear space is tight if the front seats are slid back and some of the fittings are plasticky - like the flimsy central box between the front seats.
The Almera's target market is fiercely contested with the likes of Focus, Civic and Megane all vying for custom. Nissan's tilt at the ring is bolstered by a pricing policy that sees buyers of mid-range SE models, like the test car, being expected to fork out £600 less than for previous models.
Standard equipment levels are also high with all versions sporting twin airbags, air-con, remote central locking, front electric windows and CD player.
And it's definitely worth paying an extra £655 for the SE pack, which adds the N-FORM console layout and display monitor, side airbags, rear parking sensor, steering wheel mounted stereo controls, anti-lock brakes, trip computer and body coloured door mirrors and handles.
Asked what's best about the Almera, I find myself having to think hard without being able to come up with anything specific.
The truth is probably that the Almera is a car that integrates easily into a household - a jack of all trades that gets on with the job competently enough without shining in any one area.
FAST FACTS
Nissan Almera 1.5 SE 5-door
Price: £11,400 on the road
Mechanical: 98bhp, 1,497cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd gearbox
Max Speed: 110mph
0-60mph: 13.1 secs
Combined mpg: 42.8
Insurance: Group 5
CO2 emissions: 158g/km
BiK rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs antirust, 3yrs paint.