WHEN Nissan introduced its third-generation Micra (the first incarnation to reach South African showrooms), its marketing department was so keen to emphasise the model’s quirky character that it went as far as to invent a language (remember the “Do you speak Micra?” campaign?). The idea behind inventing new words such as spafe (spontaneous + safe) and compacious (compact + spacious) was to highlight the real-world attributes of this little car, while also alluding to its distinctly out of- the-box design elements. Whether you liked the previous Micra or not, one thing it had in abundance was character.
That’s all in the past, of course. Quirkiness didn’t sell particularly well – buyers who wanted a Fiat 500-like little city car bought … well, a Fiat 500. So, with the new Micra, Nissan played it very safe. Sure, the distinctive oval headlamps are still there and certain elements of the outgoing model are revisited in the new car’s profile. But, it is clear that Nissan has adopted a far more conservative approach with its youngest city car with the hope of appealing to a wider audience.
Built on the company’s new V-platform, the Micra is slightly longer, wider and sits fractionally lower than the model it replaces. Using this new platform, the 2011 Micra was designed to be more rigid than before while, importantly, weighing less than the outgoing model (by about 35 kg). The real-world advantage of these improvements is a more solid and agile feel than before, and that the Micra is as light on its feet as it is on the garage card.
With infrequent visits to the fuel pumps in mind, Nissan has introduced a new three-cylinder 1,2-litre petrol engine to the line-up. This 56 kW engine has a claimed fuel-consumption figure of only 5,2 litres/100 km and is available in three specification levels (Visia, Visia+ and Acenta). However, the top-of-the-range Tekna specification (as tested here) features a four-cylinder 1,5-litre petrol engine mated with a five speed manual transmission and is available in markets worldwide where there is an emphasis on “enthusiastic driving”, i.e. South Africa. It’s a pity that we weren’t able to sample the potentially topselling 1,2-litre model first, but we certainly look forward to doing so based on our initial impressions of the most expensive model.
The 73 kW/134 N.m 1,5-litre engine proved to be an overachiever as it bettered Nissan’s claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time by half a second and, throughout our evaluation period, impressed with its smooth power delivery and willingness to rev. We calculated an average fuel consumption of 7,56 litres/100 km which, despite a relatively small 41-litre fuel tank, should return a range of over 530 km between refuels.
The benefi ts of improved rigidity, together with weight saving measures over the previous Micra, are immediately obvious. The electric power-assisted steering may lack some feel but combines with an impressively tight 9,3-metre turning circle to make this 3 780 mm long city car extremely easy to manoeuvre in traffi c. Considering the sometimes-erratic ride quality of short-wheelbase vehicles in this category, Nissan appears to have found an ideal compromise between compliance and firmness. Other hatches may be sharper through corners but few will offer such an unfl ustered overall experience.
If there’s one area where we reserve judgment until other models in the range have been tested, it’s the slightly soggy feel of the transmission in our test unit, something we are not used to from Nissan products.
The new car’s interior follows a similarly toned-down theme to the styling but at least continues the solid, well-built perception created by the previous model.
A comfortable driver’s seat offers height adjustment, while the leather-covered multifunction steering wheel (on Tekna specification only) is adjustable for rake. The double glove compartment offers a handy out-of sight storage option, with various other compartments scattered throughout the cabin. A comprehensive trip computer and audio system is fitted to all but entry level Visia and Visia+ models, while our top-of-the-range Micra also featured climate control, all-electric windows, Bluetooth compatibility, and auto headlamps and windscreen wipers. This specification also adds curtain airbags to complement the front and side items featured elsewhere in the range (except on the Visia model, which has only two ‘bags).
The longer wheelbase (by 20 mm) has resulted in improved legroom for rear passengers, while elongating the roofline has enhanced rear headroom. The boot remains fairly small though, measuring only 200 dm3.
Externally, this “enthusiast’s” Micra is distinguishable from the smaller-engined models by its 15-inch alloy wheels (as opposed to 14-inch steel ones), front fog lamps, colour-coded door handles and mirrors, and chrome highlights on the lower air intakes.
It’s interesting to note that a service plan remains an added cost option throughout the range; it’s arguably missed most on the Tekna, which competes with traditional lightcar offerings instead of budget cars as its siblings do.
TEST SUMMARY
In toning down the new model’s styling, Nissan has broadened its appeal. This, together with its very keen pricing, should see it sell better. After all, not everyone likes being under the spotlight.
While the comprehensively specified top-of-the-range Tekna is up against some impressive crowd favourites in this price bracket, we have a feeling that the new 1,2-litre engine could be the ideal option.
This Micra may not be a quirky as before, but it stands to gain a large number of followers in this hotly contested segment.
