The Micra will always be your loyal and faithful friend
THE Micra is your typical loyal and faithful servant. It has served the Nissan brand well, and for nearly three decades now it has been a firm favourite with a loyal customer base for a whole variety of reasons.
A reputation for reliability has always been high on the Micra’s CV. There may be things the Micra can’t do or doesn’t offer, but one thing it won’t do is let you down.
How do you know? Well, nothing in the Micra’s genes or background has ever been proven to be what could be classed as an Achilles heel, a potential fault line.
The latest, fourth generation of the range was developed by more or less picking all the best pieces from Micra’s past and blending them with fresh new ideas to make it a motor of today, to cater for the demands of the discerning customers of today.
Talked to customers
When developing the latest Micra, Nissan did a massive amount of research and sought customer feedback to help plan the road to production. At the Nissan Global Production Engineering Centre the engineers worked to make Micra more fuel efficient, easier to service and more cost effective to produce by reducing the number of components and so on.
The fruit of their labours is a fresh looking body shape the company suggests is gender free in design, meaning it could be a car for the ladies or men.
The Micra range is simple to follow. There is one engine, a 1.2-litre long stroke three-cylinder unit that produces 80bhp. It offers one 5-door body style while there is a choice between a 5-speed manual gearbox and a continuously variable (CVT) transmission.
The Micra offers impressive features like ABS (with brake assist), ESP (with traction control system), driver, passenger and side airbags, CD player with MP3 jack, Bluetooth and four speakers, steering column height adjustment plus automatic air conditioning.
Against hot competition
The Micra is in the arena with excellent cars like the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, VW Polo and Kia Rio so it would need to be good. It is!
Of course, Micra is a city specialist, easy to drive with light steering and easy clutch. It is a car that is easy to manoeuvre and park not only because of its compact dimensions, but also because of a commanding driving position, smashing all round vision and at 4.65 metres it has the shortest turning radius in the class.
The compact exterior dimensions and upright body offer a surprising amount of room in the cabin. The rear head and leg room is especially good, and there is very good stowage space in the cabin, including large, double decker glove box and holders for drinks.
The Micra is a good, safe buy and looking way down the road, as a sell on motor you couldn’t ask for better.
Nissan Micra 1.2-litre petrol 5-dr 13, 295 euro (ex-works).
Engine: 1198cc, 3-cylinders in line, 4-valves per cylinder, 80bhp at 6,000rpm, 110Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.
Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox.
Fuel consumption: 6.1 litre/100km (urban); 4.3 (extra urban); 5.0 (combined).
Maximum speed: 170kph; 0 to 100kph in 13.7 seconds.
C02 emissions: 115b/km.
Annual road tax: 160 Euro.
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