A 1.6 and 1.8 petrol, with no diesel (although one may be offered sometime in 2005). Both offer lively, if a little coarse, performance. The best engine is the 1.6 – the 1.8 isn’t significantly faster to justify the drop in fuel economy.

Nubira is set-up for comfort with cushy suspension that’s comfortable over most surfaces. But take corners a bit too quickly and you’ll find very little front-end grip and a lot of bodyroll. The steering is light enough for easy parking, but offers little feedback. The gearchange is very clunky.