The 2009 Nissan TIIDA hatchback. Frugally fast, and available at Fidelity Motors for $2.4 million. - Photo by Mario James

MOST PERSONS buying their first car these days are likely to select a subcompact auto. The average buyer is going to be female, believe it or not, and the ladies seem to be very practical. So they don't want sports cars or two-door luxury saloons, they want space inside. They also want vehicles with great economy and versatility. Horsepower? They only need enough for the car to move. Torque? What's that? Cost to own? Now, that's important.

Nissan's Tiida was not the cat's meow when we drove it in '06; the hatchback version had a less than exemplary ride and the look was quirky. But space inside was palatial and the front seat was among the first to be adjustable for height, which means no seat cushions for the short among us. And it came with the HR16DE engine, which produced at that time 100 hp and was fuel efficient. The ladies bought them in droves - and quite a few guys, too.

For '09, not much has changed - on the outside. Under the skin, though, it seems to be another animal. The engine has added 10 more ponies to the corral. We drove the booted version, and the ride didn't seem to be harsh at all. ABS and passenger side airbags are welcome additions for '09. TIIDA comes with only a four-speed automatic transmission - Jamaican ladies seem to hate shifting. I wonder why?

The interior is roomy, with accessible, well thought out storage and comfy seating. The back seat had enough legroom for a six-footer, and the rear bench folds flat to accommodate lengthy objects, opening up a cavernous trunk area. It has lost nothing in the practicality department.

Where the new car shines, though, is the ride and handling department. Revised spring rates and adjusted damper settings have increased the fun-to-drive component of this angular runabout.

Now chuckable

Gone is the body roll that plagued earlier models; the current offering is tight, and now has a much improved steering. TIIDA is now chuckable, changes direction effortlessly and has added power to aid those who want to corner carve.

Wheel-squealing power slides are no longer a problem - the light rear-end imparts a quickness to transient manoeuvring that has to be felt to be appreciated. TIIDA's big 15-inch wheels are big enough for Jamaican potholes. Its handling was a real pleasant surprise to this tester.

What we have here is a bit of a conundrum. It has sports-car balance, but staid practicality. With its engine size, it has the power to keep up with the big boys, but the boot is big enough to sleep in. With an efficiency of just over 30 mpg, it satisfies the most green-thinking driver, and responds when he puts his foot down. The age of OR engineering is out. TIIDA is a product of the AND generation.

mario.james@gleanerjm.com