Long-term test review: Nissan Micra ~ station of gear

Image 1 of 6

14 Jun, 2017 6:30pm Lawrence Allan

First report: is the foxy Nissan Micra supermini in the hunt for class honours against the VW Polo and Skoda Fabia

Mileage: 1,730
Economy: 42.6mpg

Had she emerged from the General Election with an increased majority, Conservative Party leader Theresa May planned to have a vote in the Commons on repealing the foxhunting ban, so it wouldn’t have been the best time to bear a resemblance to the bushy-tailed mammal.

• The best superminis on the market

The latest small car to arrive on our fleet, the new Nissan Micra, seems to have just that problem. Friends and family alike have begun to nickname it ‘the fox’, on account of the pointy, angular face paired with its £575 optional Energy Orange paint scheme. I’m only a few weeks into running the supermini, and it seems like the nickname has already stuck fast.

Image 2 of 6

Nissan Micra long-term review - interior

Image 2 of 6

Whether you think the looks are foxy or not, the Nissan has certainly grown in size, with a far classier and more mature design than old Micras. But maturity doesn’t come cheap in the car world, and owners of the previous model might be surprised by our Micra’s £17,435 list price – particularly given it has a modest 89bhp 0.9-litre petrol engine.

But you get what you pay for, as our top-spec Tekna model illustrates, with a seven-inch touchscreen sat-nav, keyless go, cruise and climate control and a rear-view camera thrown in. Our car also has the £550 optional Vision+ Pack with Nissan’s useful 360-degree Around View Monitor, parking sensors and blind spot detection.

Another neat standard feature on our car is the Bose sound system, which uses not only four high-quality door speakers but also two headrest-mounted speakers for the driver, dubbed PersonalSpace, that provide a punchy surround sound. Cabin materials are suitably solid and plush, too, although the lack of electric rear windows is a disappointing cost-cutting measure.

Image 6 of 6

Nissan Micra long-term review - window winder

Image 6 of 6

Our Micra’s 0.9-litre three-cylinder turbo is sourced from Renault, and offers adequate but not sparkling pace. We’re hoping it might loosen up as the miles pile on, but we suspect the car needs a bit more outright poke to make the most of the chassis’ impressive ride and handling balance. Still, overall, first impressions are strong, and we’re looking forward to spending time with ‘the fox’ on our fleet.

*Insurance quote (below) from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

Earning a nickname so early on gives the Nissan the personality to stand out on our test fleet. We like the looks, the interior and the kit, and although it’s priced at the top of the supermini sector, its grown-up drive and improved quality mean this generation of Micra has the potential to be the best yet.

Model: Nissan Micra 0.9 IG-T 90 Tekna
On fleet since: April 2017
Price new: £17,435
Engine: 0.9-litre 3cyl turbo, 89bhp
CO2/tax: 104g/km/£140

Options: Energy Orange Character Metallic paint (£575), Vision+ Pack (£550)
Insurance*: Group: 4 Quote: £555
Mileage/mpg: 1,730/42.6mpg
Any problems: None so far

Thank you for reading the article about Long-term test review: Nissan Micra in blog station of gear If this article was helpful please bookmark this page in your web browser by pressing Ctrl + D on your keyboard keys.