MOTORNETNEWS  -  ROAD  TEST  -  MAY  2008

NISSAN  MICRA  CITY  COLLECTION  HATCH

Nissan's revival of the Micra is a far cry from the blandly styled car of the same name it launched here a few years ago that didn't really became what you would call a sales success. The new version has cute looks rather like a brightly coloured jelly bean. The styling makes it stand out from the crowd of light cars and this is carried through to the funky interior. It  has a lively 1.4-litre engine,  a 4-speed auto and is very well equipped - great value for money at less than $16,700. The lesser-equipped Micra Hatchback starts at a low $14,990

The Micra has already racked up around 3,000 sales in the first four months of the year - more than its predecessor did in its best year of sales. 

OUTSIDE:

With a body shape reminiscent of the small Mazda of a few years ago, the Micra adds a smart nose, bug-eyed headlamps and stylish alloy wheels. it is equipped with very protective bumpers front and rear - essential for a city car and has body-colour exterior mirrors. The rear end is all curves  with a large panoramic rear window and small C pillars for excellent all-round vision from the driver's seat. The A pillars beside the screen are also slim and, besides helping all-round vision, give the interior an airy ambience.

The bonnet doesn't have a gas strut but it is light and easy to open. There isn't any under bonnet insulation, however, this is par for the course in small cars where costs are pared to a minimum. The engine layout is disappointing  but access to dip stick, washer bottle and coolant and oil filler caps is very good.

INSIDE:

The roomy interior belies the exterior size of the Micra. There is ample room for four adults. The high roof line means excellent head room and there is surprisingly good leg room in both front and rear compartments. Access is good as the four doors open wide and the high roof allows even tall people to enter without cracking their skulls. 

The interior is very trendy and will appeal to younger drivers, especially young women. The fabric door trims are ultra modern, the patterned cloth upholstery is very fashionable and the soft feel, grained plastics almost have a luxury feel to them! The dashboard is curvy with simple controls and bright silver highlights. The pillars and roof lining are in a light beige and add to the airiness of the cabin.

The instrument binnacle houses a large white-faced speedo and smaller auxiliary gauges. Nissan have very sensibly deleted the usual tachometer which is really useless with an automatic car anyway. The three spoke wheel is height adjustable as are the front seat belts. 

The seats are very comfortable and supportive, even in the back. There is a front centre armrest for the driver's seat, several cupholders, a large glove box, door bins, pockets in the seat backs and a coin holder near the steering wheel, however, it doesn't have a rubber lining so coins rattle annoyingly. There is a space for a mobile phone in the centre console and a covered vanity mirror for the driver. 

There are adjustable head restraints for the front seats and smaller ones for those in the rear. This is another sensible idea as large rear head restraints do block rearward vision in many cars. The Micra even has electric windows and electrically-operated exterior mirrors. Also standard is air-conditioning, front and curtain airbags, a multi CD player and ABS brakes, the Micra is excellent value for money.

LUGGAGE SPACE:

You don't expect that a light car will have a lot of luggage space but the Micra will surprise you. The area is large enough for quite a stack of luggage or golf clubs and the rear seats split fold so it can accommodate a trip to Bunnings at the weekend. too.

The boot floor is a bit flimsy and there is only a temporary spare but, as the Micra is essentially for use in urban areas the temp spare is OK. There is a cargo cover to hide your luggage and the loading height is very low. The rear hatch window has a washer/wiper unit and has an internal recess so you wont get your hands dirty closing it.

ON THE ROAD:

The Micra has excellent road manners and is light and easy to drive. The 1.4-litre engine has a more than adequate 72kW and enough torque to get off to a fast start and easily keep with the traffic. In fact, the Micra gives the impression that it really is a hot hatch without the go-fast badges. The controls are light and it has a tight turning circle so parking is a breeze. 

The ride is very European in that it is never harsh and soaks up uneven surfaces but stays flat in corners. The ABS brakes are excellent as they have Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist fitted as standard. The Micra is a joy to drive in urban traffic and to park. The automatic transmission has four ratios and is quiet and smooth. having the extra ratio means that economy is also very good. Average for urban driving is around the 6.5 litre per 100km.

PRICE:               $16,690 plus on road costs - 4-speed auto only available.

STANDARD:    Dual front & curtain airbags; ABS brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution; air-conditioning; 15" alloy wheels; 6-stack CD player; central remote locking; engine immobiliser; power mirrors, steering and windows; 4-speaker audio system; Seat Belt Pre-tensioners (front).

OPTIONS:        No options listed.