Nissan Pixo (2009 - 2013) 1.0 Visia 5d Owner Review

TLDR: Very cheap, and this is both a positive and a negative.

Context: I bought this car imported-- it was never launched in South America where I drive it. It has only ever had two owners, myself included, and the previous owner treated the engine with care, so I have had no surprised with this 10 year old car. Roads here are definitely not the best, and the hilly terrain + traffic forces me to downshift and brake suddenly far more often than I would like. Still, this is no problem for the Pixo-- it has never so much as complained. Reliable, and parts and wheels are cheap. Mileage is also excellent-- this car is amazingly affordable to drive, even considering the current gas prices.

The car handles excellently and the engine responds immediately (not at higher speeds-- more on that in a bit). Braking, adding gas, and especially turning feels extremely tight and smooth. However, the clutch is quite stiff and the reverse gear has a propensity to not engage on ocassion, which, along with the lack of a tachometer, makes it a bit of an unforgiving car to learn a manual transmission on.

As you may have already be aware, this car excels in city driving. The tight handling and excellent mileage make it perfect for zipping around town, and the cargo space, while tiny, is sufficient for groceries and the ocassional ikea or road trip. Being a compact, parking is an absolute breeze-- this car can fit in your pocket. However, pushing it at higher speeds on the highway is frankly a pain in the ass (or should I say feet). The absolutely tiny engine and stiff clutch do you no favors-- even at top speed, the car is noticeably slow. You can forget about overtaking manuvers right this instant. Also, it becomes quite noisy on high revs/speeds, which I personally dont mind, but to each their own.

Some small gripes:
-Outdated radio, but you can replace that if you want.
- Aircon, even on blast, isnt very cold. Not a problem if you dont live below the equator.
-The hydraulic arm cannot hold up the trunk. Common problem in the smallest Nissan compacts. I wish Nissan would do away with it entirely and just make it a rod to prop it up yourself. At least the trunk lid is light enough to be held up by your head/hand easily as you take your groceries out.
-Car is so low and small that you will be blinded constantly by headlights on the highway. Not a huge problem if youre not surrounded by assholes or are a taller driver.
-Tall people will not have fun in this car-- thankfully at least the front seats go quite a way back.

This car is not better than other similar compacts of its era-- in fact, the rather minimal interior styling makes it feel downright cheap. But its ridiculously cheap price, low MPG, trustworthy handling, and reliable build make it quite the catch if you need to get on the road for cheap. I wouldnt reccomend seeking this car in out by any means, but I also wouldnt hesitate to snap it up if you can get a good deal. If youre already somewhat familiar with a manual, this makes an excellent first car (it was for me). It just toes the line of dependable yet fun, if you dont mind its slugishness. For worried parents, its low top speed might actually be a pro-- no ones teenager is going to do donuts on this tiny thing.