Nissan has global ambitions for its new Micra, but KYLE FORTUNEreckons that means a backward step for Irish buyers
POLITE APPLAUSE ripples around the room, but the look on most people’s faces is one of incredulity. We’ve signed several disclaimers to see what’s under the black cloth and when the new Nissan Micra – or at least a scale model of it – is revealed to the room of journalists, there’s a palpable sense of disappointment.
That was back at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2009, where we’d gathered to hear Nissan’s grand plans for its Micra. The new version is to be a world car, a vehicle built in four factories as simply and inexpensively as possible to mobilise the masses in developing countries.
From its all-new platform Nissan will create a number of models, including a saloon and a small MPV. Admirable stuff, but customers in Ireland and the rest of Europe have different expectations from those in China, India, and Thailand – and many of the other 160 markets where the new Micra and its eventual spin-offs are being built.
Revealed in production form at the Geneva Motor Show in March, expectations for the new Micra weren’t really raised. The new car looks older than the car it replaces. Apparently the design is meant to be less polarising and less feminine. Gone is the neat detailing and substantial look; in comes forgettable styling and zero character.
The only flair on the outside is the kinked, boomerang pressing in the roof. It’s not a styling feature either; it’s a means of stopping the roof panel from vibrating at speed – improving refinement and allowing Nissan to use less metal in the roof’s structure. That may be clever from a production and cost point of view, but it’s symbolic of the Micra’s dramatic about-turn.
Getting inside the new car only exacerbates the built-to-cost feeling. There are none of the ivory coloured, lozenge-shaped buttons and substantial materials of the outgoing car. Instead there are hard, shiny plastics, with little in the way of tactile or aesthetic appeal. It’s spacious, admittedly, with enough room for four adults, but compared to its supermini rivals – and indeed its predecessor – the Micra feels and looks like a car from over a decade ago.
There’s a trade off for the lack of visual and tactile stimulation. The Micra comes well equipped. Even entry-level models will come with six airbags as standard, while Bluetooth telephony, a CD/radio stereo with aux-in connection and ESP stability control should all come as standard at even the lowest price point – though Irish specifications have yet to be decided upon.
Aim a bit higher up the range and alloy wheels, climate control, driver’s seat height adjustment and a 60/40 split-fold rear seat join the equipment list, while Nissan also offers a neat and inexpensive integrated satnav unit as an option.
The current single engine choice is a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol unit, which Nissan is justifiably proud of. Outputs of 79bhp and 108Nm of torque, 115g/km emissions and 5l/100km fuel consumption are impressive numbers.
It’s a smooth engine, too, with Nissan’s engineers removing the usual three-cylinder thrum by adding balancing to the crankshaft. A supercharged version with 95bhp, 142Nm of torque and a stop-start system that manages 4l/100km combined consumption and 95g/km of CO2 will be added to the range in the future.
Combined with a manual transmission, the naturally aspirated car puts in an acceptable performance; it pulls the Micra along with more vigour than its 13.7-second 0-100km/h time would have you believe.
It revs quickly, though gets a bit raucous when pushed. That’s particularly obvious if you opt for the CVT automatic, which reaches high and hangs on forever to revs – to the detriment of your hearing. It’s more expensive and less efficient too.
Impressive economy and emissions aside, the Micra is unremarkable to drive. The steering turns the front wheels, the brakes slow the car down and the soft suspension soaks up bumps with aplomb.
None of the above is done with any real finesse though: the steering lacks feel and accuracy and grip quickly runs out. Not that you’re likely to drive the Micra very quickly through corners. While the soft suspension provides a decently cosseting ride, it struggles to maintain body control, resulting in the Micra leaning over quite dramatically.
However, the Micra excels as basic transport. Which would be fine if it was priced as such. But it won’t be. The Micra is anticipated to cost much the same as the outgoing model and it’s simply unable to justify that price tag.
There’s been a pretty seismic shift in the small car marketplace in recent years, with the best offering loads of driver appeal, near premium car levels of refinement and quality and plenty of space. The Micra manages just one of those things, by virtue of feeling bigger inside than the car it replaces. Its economy might impress, but even the established “budget” brands from Korea offer cars with better quality interiors and finer driving dynamics than the new Micra.
Nissan’s world car aims are admirable, and in a large number of the 160 markets where the Micra will be sold it’ll provide mass transportation. You could argue that the Micra is the perfect car for more austere times, but buyers’ expectations are still high, especially as it’s not likely to be particularly cheap. Or – crucially – cheerful.
Factfile
Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol
Power: 79bhp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 110Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
0- 100km/h:13.7 secs
Emissions (tax): 115g/km (€104)
L/100km (mpg):5.0 (56.5)
Price: from €14,000 (estimate)