MAXI MICRA
Coffin dodger’s favourite motor brought bang up to date
BACK in the early eighties, the appearance of a Nissan Micra in the ’hood usually signalled a coffin dodger at the helm. lower than outgoing models, the new car has a more aggressive, more masculine appearance.
Those pointy-snouted looks have also resulted in a class-leading aerodynamic drag figure of just 0.29.
It’s the same inside with a dual-tone, touchyfeely interior trim treatment that is busy on the eye but undeniably high quality on the finger. Ergonomics are pretty flexible, too. I watched a 6ft 8in man-mountain shoehorn himself into the driver’s seat. Although he didn’t leave many air pockets, he claimed he was comfortable.
Twenty-first century customers are a demanding bunch and, this in mind, Micra comes with a cluster bomb of techy features.
Intelligent Lane Intervention, an Around View Monitor camera system and the option of a Bose sound system featuring speakers mounted in the driver’s headrest to create a cinema surround sound experience, are firsts for both the Micra and for a car in this segment. What is it like to drive? I tried the IG-T90 on the basis that this will probably be the UK market’s biggest seller. This engine – the 900cc three-cylinder turbo petrol unit featured in new the Clio – is one of three available motors, the other two being a 1.5-diesel and a one-litre, non-turbo petrol. This little threecylinder engine suits the Micra once you get the hang of keeping it in its sweet spot between 2,000 and 5,000rpm.
Fitted with this small and compact motor, the Micra tips the bathroom scales at a wafer over a tonne and there is ample power and torque on tap as long as you keep the revs in the engine’s purple patch.
This engine has a nice, off-beat growl to it that is audible but subdued. Speaking of noise, the general lack of road and wind roar is also pleasing, making this little car feel much more grown up than it actually is.
Nissan claim a class-leading low centre of gravity. Having driven it, I wouldn’t disagree.
It’s easy (and fun) to hurl around through corners to the point where I found myself wondering when we’re going to see a Nismo version with double the horsepower and twice the giggles. In all, I’m giving new Micra a double thumbs up. There were just two things I didn’t like… Firstly, that high waistline and sloping roof create a monumental rear three-quarter blind spot. This is particularly hideous when you’re at one of those junctions that meets a road at 45 degrees. That’s styling getting in the way of practicality. The other niggle is the 900cc turbo engine’s throttle connection. Driving it smoothly takes some practice and initially feels like there are steps in the power delivery. A superheavy flywheel effect magnifies this sensation as the engine revs subside more slowly than you would wish, sometimes making the car’s responses feel slower than the driver’s. The new Micra hits the UK in March, priced from £11,995 to £18,645.