2017 Nissan Micra – Test Drive, Review, Ratings, Spec

The Nissan Micra is a Small Car with Big Wonders

Who’s to say an entry level cars has to suck? The Nissan Micra is all about ultra-affordability while packing in all the necessary commuting needs in a small scale package. And with small diameter wheels and a clever designed chassis, the Micra delivers a quick and fun driving experience while scoring good fuel economy and cargo space.

Small cars are not a new trend however. As a matter of fact, it’s played a role in the history books with the help of the Fiat 500 and Cooper Mini dating as far back as the 1960’s. It is, perhaps the convenience and price point that has driven consumer interest and since; regained its popularity status. The Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta and are all part of the small scale road runners pool with similar pricing that puts the Nissan Micra up against stiff competition.

In the case of the Nissan Micra, form factor is more important than looks given its tight budget. Overall chassis shape remains simple with a bubbled up passenger area silhouette and upright angles for the front and back windshields. Still, the front fascia still encompasses complexity and sophistication in its front headlamp design, lower round fog lights, and Nissan’s signature chromed U-shaped front grille.

The Interior

There’s no aspects of fanciness to be found inside, and you do get what you pay for. Interior employment is covered in low grade plastic with decent stitching in its front and rear seats. Cushioning and lateral support on the driver’s seat gets the job done and legroom accommodates my needs at 5’7 height. I had no complaints for longer rides.  Rear seating is a different story with minimal legroom even for mid-size adults.

Despite the Micra being a low budget car, Nissan attempts to slightly inflate the quality of the interior a tad bit with softer and more durable cloth material.  There’s even a miniature LCD screen added for this year’s iteration that also comes with a rear view camera.  Though convenient, the LCD screen lacks enough brightness and is essentially rendered frivolous when under direct sunlight.

While its genetics originate from Europe, the Micra had undergone surgery to meet the demands of Canadian climate and road culture. Adjustments to its sway bars and rack and pinion steering mechanics are tuned and adjusted to offer more road agility and a tighter turning radius. Exterior heated side-mirrors are also upgrade to meet the demands of harsh weather conditions. Rear seats are also able to fold down in a 60/40 split to double up rear cargo space from 14.4 cu.ft to 28.94 cu.ft.

Versatile Driving

All trims of the Nissan Micra get a 1.6-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine with dual fuel injection and Twin CVTC (Continuously Variable Timing Control) with the option of configuring the transmission with a 5-speed manual, or a 4-speed automatic. Wheel sizes are offered in 15″ for the lower S, and SV model the highest SR trim receives an upgrade option to 16″.

With that said, small wheels is where fun begins with quick acceleration and zippy handling. Our tester comes equipped with a 4-speed automatic. And while it’s got a lower fidelity of gears, the Micra still manages to pickup speed proficiently on highway entries and lane way merging. Handling performance feel a bit short on my books of expectation, and that’s coming from past experience with the Fiat 500, and Ford Fiesta.

Fuel efficiency is also something you’ll priase the Micra for as our week-long test drive achieved an average of 25.6 mpg on mixed city and driving with tendency of a heavier foot on the gas pedal.

Nevertheless, the Micra is a simple and easy car to drive with full transparency and zero gimmicks. Our top SR trim even comes with a rear view camera, and a miniature 4.3″ infotainment screen. Unfortunately, that’s as far as tech will take you and you’ll have to live with the absence of  navigation, and XM satellite radio, but bluetooth and smartphone connectivity features have been added for the SR model.

With all said and done, our final price tag for our Nissan SR model comes in at $16,188.

Being able to buy a brand new car for the same amount that could only get you something depressing in a used-car dealership is quite astonishing. For an entry level price tag, it hides nothing and delivers everything you need for a daily city commuter. Handling, performance and tech does saturate and fall behind time even at its highest SR trim, but if you can cope with that, the Nissan Micra is a great bang for the buck. For a more enticing driving experience, and a more feature rich cabin space at a slightly higher price tag, look for the Ford Fiesta, and Fiat 500.

 

Specifications

• Vehicle : 2016 Nissan Micra
• Model : Nissan Micra SR Auto
• Price as Tested : $16,188
• Vehicle Type : Super Mini
• Seating Capacity : 2 + 3
• Powertrain Configuration : FWD
• Engine : 1.6-litre DOHC 4-cylinder
• Transmission : 4-speed Automatic
• Fuel Economy: 33/43/36  mpg city/highway/Combined

Pros

• Simple and easy car to drive
• Quick acceleration with small 16″ wheels
• Folding 60/40 rear split seats increase cargo space
• Good legroom in front passenger area.

Cons

• Dull and limiting interior cabin space with no modern tech and styling
• Lack of handling capability compared to others in its class