The Nissan Almera has returned to the top of the all-important mid-size category of the local automobile market.

When the tallying of the car sales closed at the end of the first quarter, the Almera had crawled its way back to the top after distributors, Courtesy Garage, had delivered 45 cars to add to the 15 sold in January and 11 in February, giving the vehicle a nine per cent share in that segment of the local market.

General Manager of Courtesy Garage, Nicholas Mackie said it is a better looking car with good performance, backed up by good styling.

He was quick to point out that price was not a factor, and that the Almera was also the best looking car in the segment.

"It is a roomier car, handles well,despite not being a performance car and we pl an to continue with our special on the Almera until the end of May," he explained.

with an impressive 460-litre loading capacity, 95 litres more than the bigger Primera, the Almera is equipped with rear seats that fold flat, allowing long or awkward objects to be loaded through into the cabin.

The driving experience is great as the car handles well, with no nasty surprises from a drivetrain and an engine that is responsive.

Optional alloy wheels also give a firmer ride than many in its class. It is powered by a 1600 perfect for the high-mileage buyer.

But perhaps the Almera's biggest assett is its controls which are neatly placed and the gearbox is smooth.

Even rear visibility, often a problem on saloons is good, which should make parking easier.