It may not appear so at first glance, but the Nissan Micra is something of an automotive dynasty. Unlike most Japanese cars, the Micra in all its previous guises had proper longevity: the first and second generations stuck around for a decade apiece while the outgoing one is still selling well in Europe in its seventh year.
It can also stake a claim for being one of the most driven cars on the planet, as its total user-friendliness made it a popular driving school steed. Most crucially for a private buyer, it also came with the promise of bulletproof reliability.
So the new one has quite a reputation to live up to. It also has to overcome a slight problem that the old one had, namely that one half of the population saw it as something of a ‘girlie car'. That explains why the new Micra looks a little more conservative in comparison. It's as neatly styled as ever of course, although less radical than before, it shares the non-threatening look that many drivers find appealing. Compared with the rest of the supermini crowd, the Micra stands out by virtue of its simplicity.
You can count on the same approach on the inside too. ‘Uncomplicated' is the best way of summing it up, although that's not a euphemism for a lack of equipment. Slide behind the wheel and it won't take more than 30 seconds to locate all the switches and controls: if you really want to, you could chuck the handbook out of the window and never miss it. This approach doesn't make it dull to look at either: the heating and ventilation controls are grouped ina circular manner in the centre of the dashboard, while the chunky steering wheel and clear instruments show some flair. Unlike some rivals, the Micra can also be specified with a different trim colour, and in this guise the dash of contrast brightens up the view.
Nissan has gone heavy with the technology too, even if the Micra doesn't shout about it. Just like the old car, it can be specified with keyless entry and start, still a rarity in this class. There's also a parking guidance system which will check the spaces between cars parked at the side of the road and tell you whether the car will fit or not — useful for those moments of indecisiveness. Every model comes with ESP too, which is an option on many rivals but is worth the money ten times over when it does its job and saves you from a lamp post.
It's clever where you can't see it too, with a new platform that contributes significantly to the Micra being lighter than its predecessor, despite better crash performance. Simple ideas like the boomerang shape in the roof add strength and therefore refinement but without a weight penalty. It's this kind of thinking that bodes well.
Fire up the Micra and the first thing you notice is the distinctive thrum of the new engine. The 1.2-litre petrol unit has three rather than four cylinders, and to these ears at least, this is a welcome change. Fewer cylinders mean less weight and a keenness to rev, both of which help in a city car, but despite the size, it has 79bhp and a thrifty 115g/km. Next year, there will be a supercharged version with 98bhp but with even better emissions and economy figures — hence Nissan's decision that a diesel version isn't required.
It's hard not to agree. Even this lower-output 1.2 is more than enough to pull the Micra along easily, whether mated to the five-speed manual or the new CVT. It's brisk enough and, as you'd expect, a cinch to drive with the kind of accuracy and good weighting that has become something of a Japanese trademark.
Refinement is right up there too, with the suspension being tuned to deal with urban scars rather than hairpin turns and rightly so: it can handle the bends, but in truth almost all buyers will spend their time on tougher streets.
There's good space in the Micra too, with tweaks to the body shape designed to increase rear headroom, and the simple dashboard design leaves more room for legs. The boot is respectable considering the compact exterior, but dropping the seats brings not only a lot of space but a flat floor too.
Understandably, Nissan has stuck with a successful recipe: the latest Micra is a very honest car and doesn't pretend to be something it's not. But the quality of the engineering underneath makes it a quality car to own, and the supercharged version coming next year might just be the car that leaves its supermini rivals way behind.
Specs & ratings
- Model: Micra
- Engine: 1.2-litre, three-cylinder
- Transmission: Five-speed manual, FWD
- Max power: 79bhp @ NA
- Max torque: 108Nm @ NA
- Top speed: 170kph
- 0-100kph: 13.7sec
- Price: NA
- Plus: Spacious interior, compact exterior
- Minus: Not available here
Safety first
The Micra is big on safety with standard features such as ABS, ESP, dual front airbags, curtain airbags,and side airbags. And if 79bhp just isn't enough, wait until next year when a new supercharged engine making a healthy 98bhp will be available.
