Nissan Micra; Easy on the Pocket Not so Easy on The Eyes
Nissan Micra; Easy on the Pocket Not so Easy on The Eyes
The Nissan Micra has been enjoying a fair share of the supermini sales for nearly thirty years and the key factor is reliability. The new Micra, sold globally now, is spacious and more efficient to compete direct rivals the VW Polo and the Ford Fiesta. However the new shape and the build quality has gone a step backwards. The fourth generation Nissan Micra doesn’t have the looks of the car it has replaced. It has a conservative design, with odd detailing and ungainly proportions. Expensive Acenta models come with 15-inch alloy and body coloured door handles and mirrors which gives the Micra face lift. The top of the range Tekna has a panoramic roof as well as all of these features. Other kit in Techna includes satellite navigation, climate control and rear parking sensors.
The interior is stuffed with cheap plastics and some of the edges of glove box lid and internal door handles sometimes have sharper edges left from the moulding process. The other materials used for them dashboard, instruments and switch gear also feel cheap. Nissan Micra is an ideal car to drive around within the city thanks to its compact design, excellent visibility and easy controls. However take it on motorway and the short comings become apparent. The steering is irresponsive, the suspension is firm and the gearshift is imprecise. Having said that, the 1.0 litre three cylinder petrol makes up with a keen nature and a characterful engine note.
The Nissan Micra has been given four-Star Euro NCAP rating which falls behind from many of its rivals in safety. The Nissan Micra is equipped with four airbags, electronic stability control and Isofix anchor points for child seats as standard. The Micra is famous as a reliable car, Nissan scored eleventh in 2011 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. The Nissan Micra’s cabin has a surprising amount of space. The rear seats can easily accommodate two adults of any sizes. The double decker glove box offers a large stowage space. The boot space is 265 litres, more than rivaling Mazda 2 or Hyundai i20.
A key feature of a supermini the Micra is that it's not an expensive car to run. The 1.0 litre Micra engine returns 56.5mpg with 115g/km of carbon emissions, keeping the road tax low. It falls in five insurance group which means reasonable insurance costs. Nissan Micra owners also enjoy a good market value, even after three years of driving, most of the models keep on 40% of value. The Nissan Micra might have a dull interior and uninspiring design but still it offers good value for money in terms of standard kit, fuel efficiency and spacious interior.
