A friend's comment about Nissan's new to Europe Tiida was maybe a little unfair. It all depends on what you want from a car. And car designers have to provide for a wide constituency.

Which is why you have esoteric Ferraseratis and humble Daciladas. And a lot of motoring metal in between.

But think for a minute about the design of a matchbox. It has to carry its contents in pockets often shared with coins and keys and other stuff, not to mention the fags they were designed to light. For a pipe man they can get sandwiched against a pouch of Old Weed.

A robust design in a soft material like cardboard needs corners and edges. Access to one of the contents has to be easy and in a form which also protects the remainder of them from elements, loss, and accidental ignition. The sliding aspect of the matchbox is genuine genius for all those reasons. And if the user wants to take the used match home for proper disposal, this can be easily and cleanly managed by placing it inside the same receptacle. The overall shape and concept of the matchbox is nothing short of perfect for the need it meets.

It's all about packaging. As is the Nissan Tiida.

Tiida doesn't have a sexy style.

It isn't powerful. It isn't at the cutting edge of motoring technology. It probably won't ever end up in an automotive hall of fame like the VW Beetle or the Leyland Mini.

But for its time it is one of those cars that does exactly what is said on the tin. It transports. It carries people in comfort.

Reliably. Safely. And in the review car with a high degree of spec.

Ireland is the first European country to get the Tiida. It fits part of what is a composite replacement for the long serving . . . and very successful . . . Almera.

Between the Note, and the Qashqai, it provides the conservative option, and a boot in the sedan version under review.

Tiida provides one real surprise. The accommodation inside gives almost as much room for the occupants as there is in the company's high end Murano SUV. No car in its type and class has as much leg and head room for rear seat occupants. The cabin length of 1839mm comfortably exceeds not just that of its direct competitors, but also of the medium D segment mainstays like VW's Passat and Opel's Vectra.

The seats are very comfortable, with a high hip point that makes entry and egress easy. Some of the dashboard plastics are disappointingly hard, but details like the soft velour door trim add a sense of substance. As does the premium sound and feel when closing the doors or the boot.

Specification at the base SE level includes air conditioning and Bluetooth phone integration as part of the standard package.

SVE adds such stuff as automatic headlamps and wipers, cruise control and fully automatic climate control.

There's an automatic version of the 1.6 litre for just 1,290 extra. Shifting to SVE costs a flat 1,500. The diesel option is 3,840 more.

On the move the Tiida earns an overall tidy rating for its ride and handling, weighted towards the comfort end of things. That's not to say it isn't capable of a thumping tramp through the hills without raising the stress levels. Be aware, though, that you'll feel crosswind on exposed roads.

The car is commendably quiet, reflecting the thought put into soundproofing out both road and engine noise.

In general, car buyers fall into two categories. The buffs and fans who are enthused about technologies and style and performance, and the rest which want comfortable and reliable personal transport. Tiida is for that latter group. And it is very likely to play a good part in sustaining Nissan's place close to the leaders in Ireland's car sales league.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Nissan Tiida SVE
Engine 1.6 four petrol 108bhp
Length 4303mm
Width 1695mm
Height 1533mm
Wheelbase 2603mm
Acceleration 0-100 km/h - NA
Top speed 186km/h
Transmission Five-speed manual
Economy 5.7-8.9 l/100km
Price 22,495