2017 Nissan Micra - reader test team review
The previous Nissan Micra was somewhat of a letdown. Now, the small hatchback has been thoroughly reinvented with European buyers in mind. We invited a group of *What Car?* readers to give their...
The previous Nissan Micra lagged well behind the best small cars, such as the Skoda Fabia and Ford Fiesta. But Nissan has gone all out to remedy this with a new model, which gets smarter looks, a higher-quality interior, more space, more tech, and a healthy lot of safety kit, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) across the range.
Due in showrooms this March, the new Micra will cost from £11,995 up to £17,295. The likely best-seller in the UK, the 0.9-litre Acenta, costs £14,995; competitive with our favourite Fiesta, but £990 more than our recommended Fabia.
We invited a team of What Car? readers along for an exclusive preview of the new Micra to give their opinions.
Sue Mulcahy
Age: 61Job: RetiredDrives: Citroën C3 Picasso
‘I’ve had two Micras in the past, and now I’m looking to downsize from my C3 Picasso MPV.
‘I’m very impressed with the size of this new Micra. At first I was a bit concerned about the sloped shape of the rear, because I thought it would impinge on rear head room; it does somewhat, but if you’re less than six feet tall it’s acceptable. ‘Nissan has clearly given a lot of thought to storage space. The glovebox is big enough to hold a two-litre water bottle, and the front doorbins are really big.
‘There’s so much adjustability for the driver’s seat. I’m short, so being able to jack up the seat is great. ‘Visibility is very good all-round anyway, and the bird’s-eye view you can get on the central touchscreen lets you see every angle in one look.
‘This Micra is a big step forward from my current car. The technology you get includes things you’d expect only on a much pricier car.
‘I need to be able to get two child seats in the back of my car for my grandchildren. The shape of this Micra’s pillars and door openings, without a protruding wheel arch, would make getting them in and out very easy.’
Rated 5 out of 5
George Watkins
Age: 19Job: Social media executiveDrives: Fiat Punto
‘I’m looking into replacing my car, and the Micra is appealing. The 0.9-litre Acenta version is in insurance group 3, thanks to all the standard safety features, so it would be really cheap for new drivers like me.
‘This car looks great, especially next to the last few Micras, which were pretty boring. The swooping line down the side and the curved roofline make it look really dynamic. I love the sculpted bonnet and front grille, and the aggressive head and tail-light designs.
‘The six-speaker Bose sound system on upper trim levels isimpressively loud and clear, with well-defined bass, and has speakers on the driver’s headrest that make it surround sound. You can also set it to focus the music on the driver.
‘I’m six feet two inches tall, and I just about have enough head room in the rear, although it is very tight. It’s good though – I have to hunch over in the back of the Fiat 500.
‘There are a lot of personalisation options on this Micra, both for the interior and exterior, and that’s something that will definitely appeal to younger buyers. There are a lot of paint colours, including this vibrant blue, to choose from.’
Rated 4 out of 5
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