Replacing one model with three, the Tiida is shaping up as a success, writes Martin Brennan.

The name Tiida says a lot about Nissan. It is derived from a Japanese dialect and means 'ever changing tide'. So out goes the Almera and in comes Tiida, a four/five- door conventional car.

But the tide has brought in more than just Tiida to replace the Almera. It has brought in the funky Note and more recently the Qashqai, a trendy SUV. Nissan is flooding the beach as it were with replacements in the Almera segment and boasts, "we had two successful launches and the arrival of the Tiida in saloon and hatchback completes the Almera replacement strategy which is offering more lifestyle orientated cars".

So now there is a car for everyone in the audience to use a phrase from Gaybo's Late Late days. Buyers in the family C segment never had it so good. It is a master stroke by Nissan marketing people not just three derivatives of one model but three distinct models to replace one.

It is a marketing success story. The Note has been a success as a cheap, cheerful and very useful family/cargo carrier what the Renault Modus failed to become because the boot is too small. The Note is selling well and deservedly so. Earlier this year the Qashqai, an SUV lifestyle-type vehicle with lots of space, was an instant success and has been a sellout. Sorry, no more available until September but place your orders now to get in the queue.

Both of these vehicles are for busy people who demand something that looks and is different. Enter the last piece of the Almera replacement jigsaw, the Tiida, a traditional four/five- door car aimed at the 'seniors' end of the important family car market.

And the 40/50-year-old age group get what they want in the Tiida space, comfort, safety, all wrapped in a familiar shape and at a price that beats most of the serious competitors.

Nissan marketing people here feel that it is critical to have such a car in between the Note and the Qashqai. And here's a thing about the Irish market, we are the only country in Western Europe to get the Tiida in four-door configuration. Toyota likewise has seen the value of keeping the four-door Corolla here (not available in the UK) alongside the new Auris. Yes the four-door lobby is alive and well and Nissan say that the four-door will outsell the five-door Tiida by as much as two to one.

Nissan marketing director Paul O'Sullivan says that the Tiida has the most volume potential of all the three cars.

The newcomer is built in Mexico and Ireland is the first European market to launch the Tiida. The expectation is that we will become the second biggest market after Russia.

The interior space is excellent. There is lots of legroom, the rear seats roll back and recline in the hatchback and doors open wide to make it easy to get in and out. Bluetooth phone technology, four airbags, air-conditioning, remote audio and phone switches are all standard in the SE entry level.

The SVE gets six airbags, cruise control, climate control and more creature comforts.

Power comes from a 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 1.5-litre highly economical diesel. The 1.6 manual transmission 110bhp costs 20,995 and 22,395 with automatic transmission. The diesel 105bhp costs 23,845. In SVE trim the prices are 22,495, 23,895 and 25,345. The diesel engine will not be available until July.

ESC (electronic stability control) is a surprisingly high priced option at 800 which is disappointing as it is such an important safety feature.