Nissan Micra returns as a funky new electric hatchback

On sale September 2025 | Price from £22,995

What does the Nissan Micra have in common with Madonna and Michael Jackson? Well, like those two pop icons it was a big hit when it first went on sale in 1982. Indeed, young drivers loved it because it was small, easy to drive and affordable to buy and live with.

Now Nissan is hoping the eye-catching styling and pure electric power of this sixth-generation Micra will make it just as popular when it goes on sale towards the end of this year. The new version of its city runabout is one of three new electric cars being launched by the brand – the new Nissan Leaf will arrive later in 2025 and the next Nissan Juke in 2026.  

Nissan Micra video reveal

The new Micra is starting from a good place: just as the original version was based on the same underpinnings as the Renault Clio, the latest model has been developed alongside the new Renault 5. That’s great news, because we think the 5 is such a good all-rounder that we named it our Car of The Year for 2025.  

Although the Micra’s exterior styling isn’t as retro as that of the 5, its boxy SUV-esque shape is an attractive blend of old and modern styling. The large round rear lights and elliptical headlights are a nod to the third-generation (K12) Micra from 2002.

The headlights protrude slightly from the bodywork, giving the car a striking face. They also wink at the driver by lighting up first on one side and then on the other when the car is unlocked, giving it a friendly feel. 

Along each side of the bodywork, just below the window line, is a small, curved indent that Nissan calls the gelato or ice cream scoop because it looks a bit like someone has gone along the car and scooped the bodywork out. It flows from the back of each headlight to the end of each rear door and adds definition to the body styling, which might otherwise look fairly slab-sided. 

The new Micra sits on wide 18in wheels that will either be clad with wheel trims or alloy wheels, depending on the spec of the model. At less than four metres long and 1.8 metres wide it is slightly longer than a Mini Cooper Electric but shorter than a Peugeot e-208.

Like the 5, the Micra will only be offered in five-door form, which makes it more practical than three-door small hatchbacks, such as the Fiat 500e and the Cooper Electric. 

While there is plenty of space for two taller adults up front, as you’d expect from a small hatchback the rear seats don’t have enough head or leg room for adults to be comfortable for long. The car does have three rear seatbelts though, so it will accommodate three children, and the seats split 60/40. If you want a small electric car with roomier rear seats, consider the BYD Dolphin and MG4 – both are roomier in the back.

Boot space is similar to that of the Dolphin, at 326 litres, which means the Micra should be able to swallow four carry-on suitcases like the Renault 4.

There’s a useful underfloor compartment for storing charging cables, but there’s a big drop down to the boot floor from the loading lip so loading in heavy items could be tricky. And, unlike some electric cars, the new Micra doesn’t have a front boot (frunk).

The Micra comes with the same two battery options as its Renault twin. The smaller 40kWh version has a 120bhp electric motor that drives its front wheels and promises an official range of 192 miles. The 52kWh version produces 150bhp and will cover up to 253 miles officially. 

With a 0-62mph time of 9.0 seconds, the smaller capacity Micra should feel fairly nippy around town. The bigger-battery version is a second quicker to 62mph, making it faster than a comparable Citroën ë-C3 or Hyundai Inster. Both versions have a top speed of 93mph. 

To cater for different driving scenarios, there are four different driving modes: eco, comfort, sport and perso (short for personal), which can be selected using a button on the steering wheel. They adjust the power and torque, accelerator response and steering weight, as well as the ambient lighting and the colour on the dashboard and elsewhere on the interior. 

For town driving there’s a one-pedal mode and there are paddles behind the steering wheel that can be used to increase and decrease the amount of regenerative braking. 

While we’ve yet to drive the new Micra, if it sticks with the winning formula of the Renault 5 we expect it to have confidence-inspiring handling. Like the 5, it should also have a tight turning circle, making it good to manoeuvre around town. 

If charging speed is important to you, the 52kWh version is preferable – it can charge at up to 100kW, while the 40kWh model will charge at up to 80kW. However, the batteries in both versions can be topped up from 15-80% in 30 minutes. 

Nissan has added some useful technology to help ensure customers get the best from charging. Both Micra models come with an EV heat pump as standard to improve the range in cold weather, and it is possible to programme the batteries to warm up before you get to a charger by using the car’s Google-based sat-nav system. 

There’s also a helpful feature for anyone who goes camping or wants to make a brew while they’re on a journey: the Micra comes with vehicle-to-load technology that lets you plug in a range of electrical items, such as a kettle, air pump or audio speakers. 

There’s some other great technology that’s been borrowed from larger models on the inside too, including NissanConnect with Google built-in services, which debuted in the Nissan Qashqai. 

NissanConnect is available from mid-spec models upwards, and enables the driver to use the screen or voice control to make phone calls, stream music, plan trips via Google Maps, control various vehicle functions, including the air-con and heated seats, and connect with smart home devices. The Micra is also compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay so you can use your smartphone apps through its infotainment touchscreen.

Three trim levels will be available: Engage, Advanced, Evolve. Entry-level Engage spec will have a 7in digital driver's display and a 10.1in touchscreen, and higher-spec variants will have two 10.1in screens, like in the Renault 5. 

There are lots of personalisation options for Micra buyers to choose from. There are three interior trim packages: Modern, which is minimalist and has a subtle grey fabric trim, Audacious, which has blue leatherette and fabric with orange stitching, and Chill, which is more homely and traditional.

There’s also ambient interior lighting that can be set to one of 48 different colours. On the outside, buyers can choose from six paint colours and 14 different exterior colour combinations, including the option of a black or grey roof. 

Lots of little touches all round the car denote that it's not the same as its Renault sibling, such as images of Mount Fuji on the centre console and just inside the boot, and the numbers two and three in Japanese on the charge port door, which are pronounced "ni" and "san". 

Safety is well-catered for too, with a number of advanced driver assistance systems available, including lane-keeping, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning, intelligent speed assistance and a driver monitoring system. 

The new Micra will start at £22,995, the same as the 5. That will put it in line with the Hyundai Inster, and well below the Peugeot e-208 and Mini Cooper Electric. Order books open in September, but first deliveries aren’t expected to arrive until January 2026.

Read more: The best electric cars

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