Nissan Micra hatchback

Drive

The Nissan Micra is currently available with two engines – both feature a petrol engine which makes do with three cylinders rather than the usual four. This improves fuel consumption but makes it less powerful. Nevertheless, the entry-level, 79bhp Micra doesn't feel too slow and 0-62mph takes 13.7 seconds. The newer 97bhp DIG-S supercharged version is more efficient and more powerful. Whichever engine you go for, we'd recommend you choose the manual gearbox rather than the automatic because it feels slow and makes the engine even noisier. The Micra isn't the most involving car to drive though because the steering is very light and it leans to one side while going round a bend. That does mean it's very comfortable and easy to drive in city traffic. Also, its 4.5m turning circle makes it incredibly easy to perform U- and three-point turns.

Comfort

If you want to go quickly the 1.2-litre engine needs to be worked hard and that also means it becomes noisy in the cabin. The more powerful 1.2-litre supercharged engine is only slightly better. On the move, the suspension soaks up the majority of large bumps but rough roads send a noticeable amount of vibration into the cabin. The real let-down though is the cheap and drab looking interior.

Reliability

Nissan's generally have a very good reliability record, which bodes well for this latest Micra. It hasn’t yet been crash tested by Euro NCAP but it features plenty of standard safety kit. Anti-lock brakes and ESP will help towards a high rating, along with the six airbags, which are fitted to all models. 

Practicality

Despite its compact size the Micra is actually surprisingly spacious inside. There's enough room to squeeze tall adults in the back and the boot is large enough for 265 litres – that's about what you should expect from a car in this class. With the rear seats folded down, this figure increases to 1,132 litres, although the most basic entry-level models don’t have this feature. Bear in mind too that top-spec Micras equipped with Nissan Connect sat-nav don’t come with a 12v socket so you won’t be able to charge accessories in the cabin. 

Value for money

The Micra does carry a budget price-tag but it also feels a bit like a budget product. The interior isn’t really up to scratch and basic models don’t come with much kit. Visia kicks off the range and comes with Bluetooth and a CD radio but little else. Further up the range, Acenta models get alloy wheels, cruise control and climate control. Top spec models get big car gadgets like parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers and sat-nav. 

Running costs

The three-cylinder 1.2-litre engine mated to the five-speed manual gearbox emits 115g/km of CO2, which guarantees a road tax bill of £35 a year. It's cheap to fuel too, with a combined fuel economy figure of 56.5mpg. The 1.2-litre supercharged engine is capable of 68.9mpg with CO2 emissions of 99g/km. That means that it's exempt from road tax and also from the London Congestion Charge.