AS FRED, the piano shifter says, you never get nowhere if you are too hasty.

Wise words. Before you move into lights, camera, action, you put the seat into position, check fuel, mirrors, heat, sweets, sounds and map, unless that is, you have one of those lovely little gadgets known as a navigation system. That too needs setting-up before you start. If you are too hasty, trying to programme it on the move can be a disaster. Stamford Bridge, East Yorkshire, is a long way from Chelsea FC.

Programme the DVD system in Nissan's latest Primera while stationary and it's dead easy; programme it travelling down the road and it becomes fiddly and awkward. Forward planners will have filled in the address book beforehand. Oh, to be that organised.

Buy one of the higher trim models - SE, SVE, T-SPEC - and the traffic message channel, which lets you know where the jams are before you get to them, is included in the price. It's the hasty driver's heaven.

A further autumnal addition to the Sunderland-built Primera estate is the communications set-up. Slot your phone into the dash-mounted Plug-and-Go cradle and all its info is immediately downloaded into the car's system. Your address book is then readily accessible and your text messages will appear on the screen in front of you. Remove your phone and the data is deleted from the car's memory.

Without the hi-tech gadgetry, the Primera estate is not very different in appearance from previous incarnations, with soft lines, rounded edges and a roof which slopes slightly towards the rear. Cluster headlamps and low bonnet make it as smooth from the front as the back.

Inside the light, airy, well-designed cabin, there is plenty of leg and headroom for five, although the rear central passenger has to straddle the transmission tunnel. Leave them behind and back seat occupants can lower the dividing tabletop. There are moulded door pockets, solid, well-made, integrated armrests, speakers in the doors and chunky, brushed aluminium door handles. Everyone has a headrest and seat belt.

The boot is cavernous, with room enough for several bodies and their carpets. There is also a secret storage place under the floor for stashing away those Christmas goodies and a rear seat split for even more load carrying.

Air-con, trip computer, electric windows all-round, front, side and curtain airbags, remote central locking and CD/radio are standard.

From the SX upwards, the list includes a colour rear-view camera which clearly shows the obstacle you are about to reverse into. Nissan says that what you see is how it is, but camera, mirror, camera gets the eyeballs wobbling, so best to pick one when manoeuvring and stick to it.

Opt for the top-for-the-range T-Spec and you not only get to wallow in leather seats and plush carpets you also have to keep your distance, for included in the standard spec is Intelligent Cruise Control which automatically slows the car down, in line with the vehicle in front.

Engine choices include 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrols, but it is the feisty 2.2 diesel which impresses most. It has plenty of punch but is so quiet you could easily fill up at the wrong pump. Married to a sharp, six-speed manual gearbox it offers a great ride and handling experience, which suitably top-off an excellent all-round package.

Verdict: A practical, economical, exceptionally well-specified car with the added bonus of good looks and hi-tech gadgets.

Fact file:

Model: T-Spec estate

Engine: 2.2 dCi

Transmission: Manual six-speed

Max power: 136bhp

Top speed: 126mph

0 to 62 mph; 10.1 secs

CO2: 164 g/km

Average mpg: 46.3mpg ( away from city centres you should top 56mpg.)

Insurance group: 10E

Prices start at £14,600 for the 1.8S and £15,600 for the 2.2dCi hatchback

Top-of-the-range T-spec 2.2 dCi, which includes all the gadgets and gizmos, is £21,250.

Updated: 09:18 Friday, October 22, 2004