Renault Scala

The new Renault Scala is basically the Nissan Sunny. It's a case of badge-engineering, just like the Pulse and Micra. And, like the Pulse, the Scala looks a lot more appealing than the Sunny thanks to the large, aggressive grille, stylish headlights and new alloy wheels. The rear bumper features a blacked-out section that mimics a diffuser, which helps reduce the car's visual bulk. When viewed in profile, the Scala is exactly the same as the Sunny, save for the attractive new alloys. Overall though, the Scala looks much more balanced and proportioned than its cousin from Nissan.

Engine options for the Scala are the 1.5-litre dCi motor and the 1.5-litre petrol. We drove the diesel model which produces a decent 84.8bhp and 20.4kgm of torque. On urban roads, it is quite good to drive. Half-throttle responses are good and once past the initial turbo-lag, the engine feels quite responsive. It's only when going uphill with a full load that the throttle lag becomes apparent and the Scala struggles to gather decent pace. The car feels best in the mid-range and you have adequate passing power on tap. However, on an open highway you will feel a slight shortage of power and find yourself constantly shifting gears to keep the motor on the boil. And, with power tapering off as early as 3800rpm, it's best to use the gears and keep the engine in the mid-range.