Nissan Micra (2017-present)
The Nissan Micra is transformed: it's a modern, comfortable and high-tech supermini that's now worth buying
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Weaknesses
The latest Nissan Micra couldn't be more different to the one it replaces. It looks modern, is fun to drive and has a generous amount of technology as standard.
If you're prepared to overlook the poor reputation of the previous car, then you'll find a supermini that's a genuine alternative to cars including the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo, Hyundai i20 and Skoda Fabia.
The new Micra has a sporty design, which disguises the handles for the two back doors. There are three engines to choose from: a 0.9-litre turbocharged petrol capable of up to 64.2mpg, a 1.5 diesel
that can do up to 88.3mpg and a new for 2017 1.0-litre petrol, which can do 61.4mpg officially.
Neither petrol engines are quite as powerful as similar units in the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa but they get the job done. The 0.9-litre petrol is the best choice for anyone covering under 10,000 miles a year
Forget those dull Micras of old – this new model is actually fun: agile, grippy and composed in corners. Admittedly, it’s not as engaging as a Ford Fiesta or as a comfortable as a VW Polo. Instead, it’s an impressive all-rounder, which is what most buyers will be looking for.
The interior looks fresh and modern, and most of the dashboard and door materials feel soft to touch and high quality. You can specify contrasting colour schemes, too, which give the interior even more of a lift. Naturally, There’s a seven-inch touchscreen. On lower models it’s a simple radio system but on higher-spec cars it features a sat nav, DAB digital radio and smartphone-style apps. Apple CarPlay works with both.
The new Micra is larger than before so there’s more space for occupants. That said, the low roofline means rear headroom is at a premium. There’s no shortage of storage space with even the glovebox capable of taking a two-litre drinks bottle, and each doorbin a 1.5-litre one.
With a capacity of 300 litres the boot is among the biggest in the class. More than that, though, it’s been designed to accommodate bulky items such as suitcases more easily. With the 60:40-split rear seats folded, load space grows to 1,004 litres – more than the Polo but less than the Skoda Fabia, which weighs in with 1,150 litres.
There’s the usual mix of mandatory safety kit as standard (airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control). There’s also the option of an enhanced safety pack on all models. It brings lane keeping assist, pedestrian recognition, road sign recognition and high beam assist. It also has automatic emergency braking, although we’d like to have seen this valuable safety feature fitted as standard.
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Key facts
Warranty : 3 years | Boot size: 300 litres |
Width: 1743mm | Length: 3999mm |
Height: 1455mm | Tax : £140 from second year |
Best Nissan Micra for...
Nissan Micra History
- January 2017: New Micra launched in five grades ranging from Visia to Tekna, and powered by a choice of engines: 0.9-litre IG-T petrol and 1.9 dCi 90 diesel.
- May 2017: Third, least expensive, engine joins the range – the 1.0-litre 71 petrol.
- September 2017: Micra BOSE Personal Edition launched, based on Tekna (which has a BOSE sound system as standard anyway).
Understanding Nissan Micra car names
- Micra
- Trim level
- Visia +
- Engine
- IG-T 90
- Trim level
- There are five trim levels ranging from basic Visia to top-spec Tekna and beyond that, limited edition Micra BOSE Personal Edition. Some trims have engine stop-start, which can have a big impact on fuel economy.
- Engine
- There are three: two petrols and a diesel. The number in their name relates to their power output and is broadly equivalent to horsepower.
Nissan Micra Engines
1.0- 71, IG-T 90, dCi 90
The Micra’s three engines (two petrols and a diesel) range in economy from 58.9 to 88.3mpg. Meanwhile, 0-62mph acceleration times range from a slow 16.4 seconds to a respectable 11.4. These are wide ranges and mean you need to be careful which engine you buy.
Least expensive is the 1.0- 71. We'd recommend giving this one a miss at it's massively slow and makes using the Micra a pain.
The more expensive petrol engine, the IG-T 90, is smaller than the 1.0-litre, but is more powerful and easier to use than the 1.0-litre.
The dCi 90 diesel engine is sensitive to trim levels. For example, in Visia trim it returns 76.3mpg or 12mpg less than in Visia+ trim. This is because Visia lacks the engine stop-start fuel-saving system on Visia+. Wheel sizes also have an impact on fuel consumption with higher-spec versions of the dCi 90 riding on the larger, 17in wheels returning 80.7mpg, even with engine stop-start fitted. Engine-stop start also affects CO2 emissions and hence benefit-in kind tax rates for business drivers.
Fuel | Fuel economy | Power | Acceleration | Top speed | |
1.0 71 | Petrol | 58.9 – 61.4mpg | 69bhp | 0-62mph: 16.4s | 98mph |
IG-T 90 | Petrol | 61.4 – 64.2mpg | 88bhp | 0-62mph: 12.1s | 109mph |
dCi 90 | Diesel | 76.3 – 88.3mpg | 88bhp | 0-62mph: 11.9s | 111mph |
Nissan Micra Trims
Visia, Visia+, Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna, BOSE Personal Edition
There are five core trims and one special called the BOSE Personal Edition. This last one is the most expensive Micra and not really worth bothering with since its key attraction, its BOSE sound system, is also in the cheaper Tekna model. Tekna, is very well equipped but if you don't mind doing without its 17in alloy wheels, which harm fuel consumption, synthetic leather inserts and BOSE sound system, you’re better off with the cheaper N-Connecta trim with its very useful sat nav and smart alloy wheels.
However, Acenta, the one below it, is cheaper by a significant £2000. It’s a pity it has steel wheels and no sat nav but otherwise it’s reasonably well equipped with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, good connectivity and air-conditioning.
The next trim down is Visia+, an enhanced version of basic Visia, with air conditioning. It’s OK but you should try to stretch to Acenta if you can.
It’s unfair to describe Visia as ‘basic’ since it has vital safety kit including lane departure warning and brake assist with pedestrian detection, both unheard of in cars of this type until recently. However, it is otherwise pretty ordinary.
Nissan Micra Reliability and warranty
The Nissan Micra is too new to have featured in any reliability surveys but in the 2017 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey other Nissan models fared quite well, the best being the Pulsar which ranked 23.
It shares some of its engines with the Renault Clio and Renault Captur, so they’re already quite well proven. Indeed, the Captur ranked 24 in the same chart. The Micra has a lot of advanced technology but much of it has been in use on the Nissan Qashqai for longer and without trouble, so is well tested and developed. The Micra has a three-year warranty.
It’s in the area of safety that the Micra really shines. Thanks to its modern design, but especially its advanced safety assist systems, it scored the full five stars in the increasingly tough Euro NCAP crash tests.
Used Nissan Micra
Six-month-old examples on BuyaCar show useful savings of around 20% on new list prices. That’s a useful saving on a recently launched, all-new model with state-of-the art safety tech as standard and highly efficient engines. Savings are sure to grow as the model becomes more plentiful, making the Micra an excellent used car buy.
Other Editions
- Used Nissan Micra (2010-2017)It's spacious and cheap but the Nissan Micra has a few rough edges