For this month’s test drive, we’re feeling festive so we took the new Nissan Micra out for a spin to help us with our Christmas shopping. Unlike Santa, the Micra can fit easily into small spaces which is handy for parking and it drives as smooth as a sleigh. Find out more below…
For a long time the Nissan Micra has been a top choice for first time drivers thanks to its relatively affordable price tag and ease to drive. Of course, it’s still a contender, but this latest model ups its game with a sportier drive, more dynamic body and a more refined interior to rival the Fiesta, Polo and Clio. This is reflected in the higher price tag, starting at £12,875, but we think it’s worth it for the all-round performance and experience it gives you.
We’re not the only ones who are impressed with the new Nissan Micra either. It was awarded the Gold Supermini Award in the 2018 Driver Power survey from Auto Express.
It’s available in a choice of three engines; 0.9 litre and 1.0 litre petrol and a 1.5 litre diesel variant. We took the N-CONNECTA, 0.9 litre petrol engine out on the road. The small but powerful engines mean it’s just as comfortable on motorways heading to out-of-town shopping centres as it is on the city streets heading for the festive markets. Plus, even with plenty of shopping in the boot, it pulls nicely and doesn’t struggle.
The low driving position is comfortable and sporty and there is plenty of leg and head room for passengers in the back. It’s compact enough to sit comfortably on your drive and the 300 litre boot is big enough for all your Christmas shopping. The storage isn’t just limited to the boot either, with smart storage places throughout the car including a 10 litre glove box, 1.5 litre bottle door holder, a phone holder with USB/12V power sockets and front and rear cup holders for your Christmas coffee.
It’s also packed with technology to make your drive even easier. Stick cruise control on and sync up your phone so you can thoroughly enjoy the dulcet tones of Chris Rea belting out his best on the speakers. Type the address of your nearest Christmas market into the integrated sat-nav and off you go! Armed with your gingerbread lattes and loot in the boot, we guarantee it’ll be a thoroughly relaxing drive.
A stand out feature of the new Micra is also how much space it has – it certainly packs a lot into its compact dimensions. Its size makes it easy to park but inside, it’s big enough for plenty of people, luggage or shopping. From the outside, its compact dimensions mark it out as a compact car for couples or first time drivers but actually the spacious dimensions inside mean the hardy hatchback would work just as well as a family car. There’s plenty of space in the back for car seats and the boot for prams. However, we made good use of the space to transport our Christmas tree back to the office. With the rear seats folded down, it provides just over 1,000 litres of capacity which is plenty of room for the tree and baubles too!
There are a host of personalisation options, including upgrading to 17 inch alloys, interior fabric trims and body decals to truly make the car your own. You can even give it a name. We called ours Rudolph, keeping with the festive theme!
The new Nissan Micra is certainly a step away from its previous incarnations but it’s a change for the better. The dynamic shape and sporty handling will appeal to keen drivers and the spacious interior and safety features make it a great choice for families. The solid handling and 5 star NCAP safety rating are reassuring for nervous or first time drivers and it’s definitely a contender for our Christmas wish list. It’s just a shame we can’t keep the antlers and red nose on all year round…
Find our video reviews on the Lookers YouTube channel, LookersWebTV, or get more on the Nissan Micra, along with current offers here.
The Micra is also available on the Lookers Nissan Motability Scheme.
