Nissan Micra 1.5dCi N-connecta review

The new Nissan Micra’s main job is to regain share in a market where it once had a loyal and successful following. It’s a market the previous-generation car – developed for a global, rather than specifically European, audience – lost by simply not being good enough.

In that respect, the latest Nissan Micra, then, has its work cut out. And as part of this recovery, fleets have been kept very much in mind.

According to Nissan, being a market leader for residual values was to be high on the new Micra’s priority list. Not only does it help keep whole-life costs down for fleets, but also means that in the retail market competitive personal contract purchase (PCP) deals can be made.

In order to secure those promised strong RVs, Nissan set out to produce a car that was as good as the VW Polo for quality and refinement and as fun to drive as the Ford Fiesta.

Two engine options

Power for the new Micra comes from the 89hp 0.9-litre petrol and 89hp 1.5 diesel seen in the Renault Clio. Both engines offer class-leading refinement and similar performance with 0-60mph times around the 12-second mark.

However, the diesel is the better bet for the business car market and has significantly better fuel consumption. In its most efficient form – with stop-start and 16-inch wheels – it’ll officially return 88.3mpg. This translates to a CO2 figure of 85g/km, putting the Micra in the 18% BIK tax bracket.

On the road, the Micra is similarly impressive, feeling composed, comfortable and very secure on the road. Nissan claims the car is helped in this respect by two systems, called Active Ride Control and Active Trace Control.

The former uses the brakes to settle the car over bumps, and the latter also uses the brakes subtly to give the car a more secure feel in the corners – even if you’re nowhere near the limit of grip.

Alongside this technology, Nissan has also made lane departure and collision warning systems standard across the range. The brand hopes this will give the car a high score in the EuroNCAP crash test and appeal to safety-conscious fleets.

Impressive interior

Inside, the new Micra has been built to impress. The main dashboard is made from high-quality materials in a simple, if unimaginative, layout. Look further afield, though, and it appears money has been saved on the less-visible plastics elsewhere in the cabin. Where it does impress though, is in the amount, and design, of the storage areas offered.

There’s a big glove box, good-sized door bins, a couple of cupholders and a decent-sized cubby for phones or car park tickets.

The boot, too, is a good size and larger than its main rivals at 300 litres. The split-folding rear seats, however, are really only suitable for children due to a low roof line that makes it a bit tight for adults.

The car is lower and wider than before and Nissan has opted for ‘hidden’ rear door handles to give the hatchback a sleeker three-door look. This works well, but the larger rear pillar needed to accommodate the door handle means that visibility when you look over your shoulder, to pull out of an oblique junction for instance, is limited.

However, this and the lower-grade material used in parts of the interior are small beer. The new Micra is very nearly as good as both the Fiesta and Polo. However, while it may not be better than either in their areas of expertise, the Micra’s overall package is probably more appealing to a greater number of people

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