Nissan Micra

Micra doesn't break any new ground, but a large dose of 'feel good' comes free with every one

 » Get the best price on a new Nissan Micra

Local Launch
Melbourne CBD, Vic

What we liked
>> Lively feel
>> Far from 'me too' styling
>> Interior surfacing

Not so much
>> Needs a modern auto
>> No stability control
>> Four-seater only with centre lap belt

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 3.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.0/5.0
X-factor: 2.5/5.0

OVERVIEW
Nissan's entrant into the Light car segment is not new. Well, it's new to Oz, but not new to the international market.

How so? Known as the K12 in Nissan-land, the Micra has been on sale in markets like the UK and Japan (where it wears the 'March' label) since 2002. It arrives in Oz after a recent facelift (for more information read our international First Drive here) and an on-again, off-again courtship that dates back at least four years.

Though some would suggest the company's Tiida straddles the Light and Small car segments, the Micra is the maker's first true tiddler since the previous generation Micra exited the local sales charts around ten years ago.

With the segment accounting for around 12 per cent of the total new vehicle market (and growing), the Micra is a car Nissan needs to sell if it is to resurrect its non-SUV and LCV marketshare.

That said, the company has modest aims for stylish and quirky city car -- around 500 units per month. It's therefore kicked off its Light car re-entry with a simple, one-price, one-model strategy.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
Nevertheless, Nissan is making lots of noise about the offer Micra presents. In short: five doors and automatic transmission for a price most of its competitors' can't match with their three-door, manual models.

The single Micra model is priced at $14,990. That price gets you most of the mod cons -- aircon, power mirrors and windows (on all doors), keyless entry and central locking and a audio system that's MP3-compatible. There's even the requisite input jack hidden away in the commodious glovebox.  Indeed, storage is one of the Micra's strengths -- there's even a drawer under the passenger seat, which Nissan says is perfect for a set of driving shoes, lest one scuffs the Manolo Blahniks.

Cloth trim is standard -- a single Belgian Chocolate hue -- and the driver's seat gets height adjustment. The rear seat is a 60:40 splitfold.

That's not the full pricing story, however. In keeping with Light car convention, Nissan is offering a safety and equipment upgrade package. Priced at $1700, the Micra 'City Collection' option package adds dual side and curtain airbags and upgrades the single-disc audio system to a six-stacker. The standard car's 5 x 14-inch steel wheels are also upgraded to 5.5 x 15-inch alloys with lower profile rubber.

MECHANICAL
The Micra is powered by a conventional fuel-injected DOHC all-alloy four that displaces 1.4-litre. The powerplant features variable valve timing and a drive-by-wire electronic throttle.

Maximum power is 72kW at 5600rpm. Maximum torque is a modest 137Nm at 3200rpm. By way of comparison, Holden's 1.6-litre Barina pumps out 76kW/145Nm at 5800 and 3600rpm respectively.

No manual transmission is offered. The four is matched to a conventional electronically-controlled four-speed automatic.

The convention continues with the 965kg Micra's chassis componentry. In true UJM (universal Japanese motorcar) style, the front-wheel-drive hatch uses a subframe-mounted modified MacPherson strut front suspension and a rear beam axle.

Brakes are disc at the front and drums out back. Antilock brakes are standard.

PACKAGING
At 3725mm, the Micra is the shortest of the five-door versions of Ford Fiesta, Honda Jazz, Hyundai Getz, the new Mazda 2 and the class-leading Yaris. The Toyota is the next shortest -- 25mm longer than the Nissan. The longest of the crop is the 3916mm Ford.

The Nissan's wheelbase is also the shortest of the six -- at 2430mm it's closest to the Honda at 2450mm. The longest is the Mazda2 at 2490mm. In keeping with the Nissan's 'wheel-at-each-corner look, the Micra's front and rear track dimensions are only bettered by the 2 and the Yaris -- and then only by a scant 10mm.

The Micra is differentiated from the rest of the crop thanks to its combination of a high, domed roof and low belt line. The resulting glass area and slim pillars are unusual in this day and age of thick structural elements and slit-like glazing. Inside, combined with the relatively upright driving position, this generates an airy roomy feel that belies the car's compact dimensions.

Even in the rear there's a feeling of reasonable space. In practice, for two only, however. While Nissan provides belts for five, the centre belt in the rear is lap-only.

According to Nissan, the Micra provides a useable 251 litres of luggage space with the 60/40 split-fold seat in place. Fold it down and the available volume grows to 584 litres. This is considerably less than the best n class but we're guessing most Micra buyers will not be planning on moving house without help.

SAFETY
There's two hiccups in the Micra's safety suite -- both indicative of the age of the design.
While you can option up to six airbags, there's no ability to add stability control to this generation of Micra -- least not with the engine gearbox combination Nissan offers Down Under.

The other black mark is the lap-only centre belt. Nissan justfies its decision not to upgrade to three lap-sash belts with research that says only 20 per cent of Micra buyers will ever have more than four in the car. Given those 20 per cent will likely be hauling children, we reckon it's a pretty poor defence.

If you have three littlies to cart about, look elsewhere.

The Micra's standard safety equipment also includes anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, active front headrests and dual airbags.

COMPETITORS
Micra enters a combustible marketplace which is dominated by Toyota's Yaris. Nissan specifically nominates the Hyundai Getz, Honda's Jazz and Mazda's new Mazda 2 as targets for Micra. Ford's Fiesta needs to be on the list as does the likes of Kia's Rio, Suzuki Swift and the Mitsubishi Colt. Given the quirky nature of the Micra's styling, you could arguably add Citroen's C2.

Though the age of the Micra impacts some safety features, there's little lack in the amenity the car offers. Nissan's ace in the hole therefore is its sticker price. At $14,990 it's clearly cheaper than all of the main players once five doors and auto transmission are factored in.

To check out our preconfigured comparator click here (more here)

ON THE ROAD
In a segment where cars are often cheap but not always cheerful, Micra has enough to endear it, and set it apart from the crowd, that we think Nissan may be on to a winner.

Though there's not the 'love at first sight looks' of, say, Fiat's nuovo 500, the Micra won't be mistaken for anything else. The looks are new to Australia and are quirky enough to win the wee five-door some fans.

The wide colour palette open to buyers (11 colours) won't hurt either. Four of them are solid colurs and won't attract the $395 metallic paint premium asked.

You'll have to be happy with just one interior though. The chocolate brown hues are better in the flesh than they sound and the interior itself has a good level of finish. The plastics have a quality feel to their graining and the materials are generally at a level above those we've come to expect from sub-$15,000 pricetags.

Indeed there's some other makers of cars far more expensive than the Micra that would do well to draw some inspiration from light car entrant. Are you paying attention CJD and Subaru? Guess the fact Nissan has had several years over which to amortize the costs counts for something.

The Micra is no rocketship and could well do with another ratio or two in the autobox. With just 72kW and less torque than some motorcycles, the pace is sufficient for the cut and thrust of traffic but it pays to take gear selection duties into your own hand. Left to its own devices, the relatively low shift points the transmission dictates exaggerate the 'holes' in the gearbox.

With a new six-speeder or CVT, the Micra would be appreciably better. But more expensive!

That said, on faster arterials and freeways the car has no issues with setting a reasonable pace. At well over the normal speed limit, it was still, steady and remarkably quiet. Not something you can say of all small cars.

Our test drive started with an exploration of Melbourne's CBD laneways. This showed up the Micra's compact dimensions and short overhangs not to mention its excellent 8.8m turning circle. By way of comparison the Mazda2 is 9.8m and the Getz 10.0m!

Once out of the big smoke and onto some more entertaining roads we found the Micra's turn-in was brisk and its overall handling fresh. This is not a dull car to drive and if the cooking model is any indication we'd encourage Nissan to add the five-speed manual three-door 1.6-litre Sport SR to its local line-up as soon as possible.

The five-door's suspension response is good on most roads but big bumps will catch out the simple beam rear axle. If you're being silly, the car can get lively under hard braking, but the same can be said of most shopping trolleys. Given grip levels are not high with modest width tyres, it's unlikely you're going to get into trouble even without any form of stability control.

In town and out most users will appreciate the Micra's great visibility all-round. No secret how this is achieved -- slim pillars, a low beltline and plenty of glass. In the really tight stuff the 'nipples' atop the headlights help you position the car. At the rear the car effectively ends at the rear wiper. For touch parkers there's a dealer fit rear park sensor kit available.

Given the availability of accessories to individualise the car we could see Micra developing a following Down Under.

The Micra is not a car that's going to break any new ground, but unlike some of the more anodyne Light car offerings today, there's a large dose of 'feel good' that comes free with every one.

 » Get the best price on a new Nissan Micra