Nissan Micra Hatchback (2016 - ) review

The Micra is priced similarly to rivals such as the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris, although the Ford is likely to hold onto its value better. The Nissan’s most popular engine – the 100 horsepower 1.0-litre petrol unit – is impressively fuel efficient, while the Micra sits in a lower insurance group than some rivals. The Micra will likely cost you more than the Fiesta in servicing and maintenance, however, and over a long-term period of ownership that will give the Fiesta a slight edge in overall running costs.

Nissan has an excellent reputation for reliability, and that’s reflected in its placing in the most recent JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study, where it finished fourth out of 24 brands. Although the Micra comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, this is outdone by the seven-year/100,000-mile warranty offered by Kia on its Picanto and Rio models, and the five-year/100,000-mile warranty of the Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris.

There's lots of safety technology fitted as standard to all models, including driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, hill start assist and high-beam assist. On top of this, lane-keeping assistance (which helps steer you back in your lane should you be distracted and drift out of it), as well as autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection (which will automatically bring the Micra to a stop if it detects a likely collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian), are all part and parcel of the Micra’s make-up.

Whether you do a lot of miles or not, your driving position is crucial, and this is something the Micra does particularly well. The seats are supportive, and there’s plenty of steering wheel adjustment, so most people will find it easy to achieve a comfortable driving position. The Nissan Connect infotainment system that’s standard on most models has plenty of customisable options and is relatively intuitive. It combines a touchscreen that you can pinch and swipe like a smartphone with separate buttons and dials that make it simple to jump between different screens. As well as being user-friendly, the interior looks good, with an appealing mixture of textures and finishes. While space is good up-front, the Micra falls short of the class best for practicality. Getting youngsters in and out of the back of the Micra is something you’ll need to supervise, because the hidden door handles are too high for small children to reach. Once in the back, headroom is compromised by the Micra’s sloping roofline and rear legroom is rather tight. At 300 litres, the boot is an average size for the class. All Micras come with a fixed rear seat base and a backrest that splits and folds 60/40. As is the case with almost every rival, folding the backrest gives you a longer load space that has a step up from the boot floor. Ride comfort is reasonably good, and the Micra is easy to drive thanks to a light, responsive feel to the steering, clutch pedal and gearshift. N-Sport versions with the more powerful engine have lowered suspension, but they feel much the same to drive as other models.

The Micra has a similar standard of kit to its rivals. That means entry-level models have basics such as air conditioning and automatic headlights and wipers, but miss out on a few desirable cosmetic and convenience features. It’s well worth moving up a trim level to gain equipment such as alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, cruise control and a more sophisticated infotainment system. Pricier trim levels include more big-car technology, including keyless entry and a rear-view camera.

The Micra is available with a choice of two 1.0-litre petrol engines, both of which provide decent performance. The 100 horsepower version that’s available for all trim levels is powerful enough to cope with everyday driving. It comes with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, with an automatic gearbox available as an option for higher-spec models. The 117 horsepower version (which is offered only with a six-speed manual gearbox) gives you slightly stronger responses when you put your foot down, but even in this guise the Micra doesn’t feel especially lively. Performance is perfectly acceptable, but many of the Micra's rivals have broader engine ranges that offer more power and stronger performance.