POV Test Drive of 1991 Nissan Figaro Looks Very Serene, Pretty Fun Too

A “fixed-profile” convertible akin to the Citroen 2CV and Fiat 500, the Figaro started life out as a concept in 1989 at the Tokyo Motor Show. “Back to the future” was the tagline, and obviously enough, this fellow here oozes retro styling even though the underpinnings are thoroughly modern.

The B platform features MacPherson struts and four-link coil springs at the rear while the 1.0-liter turbocharged engine is twinned to a three-speed automatic that Nissan used in the K10 Micra. On full song, you’d better believe it hits 106 mph (170 kph) although it would be one of the scariest things to do in a car as small as the Figaro. Still, how does it actually drive?

Winding Road Magazine has the answer to that, and the first thing that needs to be highlighted about driving the Japanese curiosity is that potholes don’t mix with 12-inch steelies despite the high sidewalls. It’s a common problem of short-wheelbase cars, let alone one with relatively little suspension travel.

The imported Figaro, however, “feels smoother than a Hummer” in terms of ride quality according to the test driver. “Everybody points at you, everybody smiles, everybody laughs,” but what did you expect considering how strange this JDM special looks on U.S. roads next to a full-size pickup truck?

Vlogger Tedward also considers this car “a joy [to drive] because it inspires confidence” thanks to “incredibly direct steering” and a relatively quiet driving experience. But most importantly, the Figaro and the Mazda MX-5 share an important trait. To the point, you're looking at a slow-car-fast type of car.

“It doesn’t take much speed to feel like you’re going fast,” said Tedward, adding that “this is the car version of the Vespa.”