Nissan has been on a roll recently, with the hugely successful Qashqai being followed by the extrovertly styled and well-received Juke that’s starting to appear on the UK’s roads in decent numbers.
So now the focus switches to the Micra, as Nissan refreshes its supermini.
The good news is that it’s very, very well-equipped. All cars, including the £9250 entry model, get Bluetooth and ESP anti-skid control, while this mid-spec Acenta model adds alloy wheels, climate control and cruise control – impressive for a model that’s under £11,000.
The bad news is that it feels that cheap on the inside, and in terms of interior quality the Micra has fallen well behind cars like the Hyundai i20, let alone European rivals. Hard plastics dominate the dashboard and there’s a completely utilitarian focus about the car. Current Micra drivers will probably be very happy, but there’s nothing to attract anyone new.
That philosophy more than continues to the outside, where the bland styling won’t win admirers in an increasingly competitive sector where cheek and charm attract the youthful end of the market, while practicality helps pull in more senior buyers. The new Micra is lacking in both.
The new three-cylinder petrol engines are a big step forward in economy, with the 80hp 1.2 delivering 115g/km and 56.5mpg rather than the old 1.2’s 139g/km and 47.9mpg. There’s also a supercharged 98hp version offering 95g/km coming this summer.
The very low P11D, lower even than the Hyundai i20, helps in terms of whole-life costs, as does the improved emissions and economy, not previously a Nissan strong suit. But the ultra-bland styling and cheap interior leave the Micra very much at odds with its fashionable Qashqai and Juke siblings.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
