And we hit road to see if Micra delivers on promise
THE covers may have only just been pulled off, but Auto Express has already been behind the wheel of an early pre-production Nissan Micra to see if its striking looks are matched with an equally impressive drive. The Japanese brand has repositioned the Micra as a proper supermini, so unlike its smaller predecessor, this fifth-generation Micra is comparable to a Renault Clio in size. This means it’s much more practical, but Nissan is keen to point out that the new Micra will appeal to young buyers wanting style and comfort as much as those after space. It feels more grown-up to drive than before – we tested the 1.5-litre dci turbodiesel and 0.9-litre turbocharged threecylinder petrol, which both produce 89bhp. The diesel in particular is extremely quiet, to the point where even in 95 per cent-finished prototype form it’s vying for top honours in terms of refinement. It feels fast enough, with decent pull from low down on the move thanks to 220Nm of torque, but the impressive thing is how Nissan has insulated that engine noise from the cabin. There is more final calibration work to be done on the 0.9 petrol we drove, and it didn’t feel quite as refined as the diesel, but given the growth in size, there was enough performance available with either engine. The Micra’s damping is plush, with a quality feel to the way the car rode our washboard test route. However, this softer side means it isn’t the most agile in its class.
“The diesel is extremely quiet; it’s vying for top honours on refinement”