2017 Nissan Micra: new look, new tech and new engines
The all-new Nissan Micra has officially arrived on UK shores and, with an all-new look and an upmarket feel, Nissan is taking the fight directly to the likes of the upcoming Fiesta and the latest Citroen C3.
Click here for all our deals on the new Nissan Micra
Nissan made a splash when it took the covers off the new Micra back in Paris, and it’s small wonder. The body is much larger than before and the whole car gets a more serious demeanour – it’s as if the Micra has grown up.
Taking design cues from the Juke, the Micra Gen5 gets a distinctive V-shaped grille from where a sharp-edged line runs through to the back, where you’ll also find new boomerang-shaped tail lights. Other features include rear door handles in the C-pillars and a floating roofline.
We’ve already driven the new Micra
In the cabin, the car will come complete with a 7-inch full colour central display, providing access to the audio system, satellite navigation, mobile phone, downloadable apps and Siri voice control via Apple CarPlay. On top of this, an exclusive feature of Micra Gen5 is an all-new six-speaker Bose Personal sound system, developed through close collaboration with Nissan.
With the refresh, Nissan have given additional focus to driver comfort, with a lower driving position for a more secure feel. The car’s extended width and wheelbase also means cabin space is among the best in class, and the gliding-wing shaped dashboard gives the cabin a light, sleek and spacious impression.
Along these lines, the Micra Gen5 also features Active Ride Control for enhanced ride comfort, and Active Trace Control for reduced understeer and sharper handling – innovations which have previously only been available on Nissan’s Qashqai and X-Trail.
The car gets a choice of three engines, two of which are all-new units developing 89bhp. First up is an all-new 0.9-litre turbo petrol, which produces just 103g/km of CO2 and gets a official mpg figure of 64.2mpg.
Also producing 89bhp is a 1.5-litre diesel that’s actually sourced from Renault’s engine range. It produces more torque than the smaller petrol and is purportedly capable of up to 88.3mpg.
The range is rounded off with the entry-level 73bhp 1.0-litre petrol unit which, while cheaper, is predicted to be chosen by only 20% of people.
Exact spec details are to be confirmed, but it will be available in five guises: Visia, Visia+, Acenta, N-Connecta and Tekna. A varied range of options will include keyless entry, heated front seats and a Bose sound system.
Commenting on the debut, Carlos Ghosn, CEO, Nissan Motor Company, said: “The fifth generation Micra […] will raise expectations for what a hatchback can, and should, deliver to its customers.”
You can check out lease deals on the all-new Micra here, or alternatively check out our first-drive review.