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The little ones grow up so quickly. The success story of this little speedster started exactly 34 years ago. The first model generation of the Nissan Micra rolled off the line and impressed with a sober, straightforward design. Typically Japanese. Practical and with a good price-performance ratio, he won the hearts of car buyers at the time. The later models, all rather round and sweet, were also very popular. But it took 30 years to finally grow him up. Last but not least, he had to grow out of his infancy because customers' expectations also became more demanding. Small and cute was yesterday, today the motto is modern and sporty.
2017 makes everything new
Out of over with cute. There is nothing puny about the new Nissan Micra. On the contrary: with his new outfit he comes across as sporty, distinctive and very modern. As with its big brother, the Nissan Juke, the door handles of the rear doors of the Micra, which is only available as a five-door model, are hidden on the outer corner of the window. The lines are more angular, angular, more masculine. That much is certain, in the small car segment you have to come up with a little something if you want to keep up. The positioning is aimed at the European B segment - the large market of “adult” small cars. With the fifth generation of the Micra, Nissan presents a radically new definition of this segment. The new Micra is flatter, wider and longer than any model before. Not only with its new design, but also with new technologies, more agile engines and confident handling, the Micra challenges the top dogs in the segment.
Stiff breeze - safe handling
Let's see if he has what it takes. In typical Hamburg weather, stormy, fresh and gray, we went through the city center. Energy Orange is the color of choice. And the little speedster is full of energy too. It is through and through a small car for the city. Fast and agile. The 90 PS are particularly evident in the higher gears and it does very well in annoying city traffic. More dynamic driving maneuvers are also possible. Thanks to the safety features that were previously reserved for higher vehicle classes, you always feel in good hands. For example with the Intelligent Lane Keeping Assistant, which gently guides the car back into the lane if necessary.
The Around View Monitor, known from the Qashqai and Juke models, for 360 degree all-round visibility is also available and unique in the small car segment. A side camera is hidden under the passenger's exterior mirror and shows the front tire. Very practical if you want to stop at the harbor basin in Hamburg. The comfortable seats provide good lateral support and the driver's seat can also be adjusted in height. However, the sporty steering wheel looks a little out of place in addition to the beautiful leather accents. It does not really want to fit into the rather high-quality interior, but is comfortable in the hand and allows the operation of the most important elements. Many vehicle functions are also controlled via the infotainment system. The latest generation of the NissanConnect navigation system is standard on the Tekna and N-Connecta equipment lines and is optionally available for the Acenta version. The Acenta version already comes standard with a radio infotainment system with a seven-inch screen and touchscreen function. However, this looks very one-dimensional and boring. Especially in radio mode. A bit of writing on a blue background. Minimalism is probably the motto here. But the system is easy to use and understandable. In addition, the smartphone is of course also integrated and it also offers numerous functions such as Apple CarPlay®, which can be selected via the "Siri" voice control.
Sonorous space miracle
What is always criticized with such small vehicles is the lack of storage space. With the Nissan Micra you can say what you want, there is enough storage space. The trunk volume is 300 liters, without restricting the space for the rear seated passengers. Larger pieces of luggage can also be loaded easily. With the rear seat folded down, the volume can be more than tripled to 1.004 liters. The Nissan Micra also offers plenty of storage space in the passenger compartment. For larger items, there is an extra compartment in front of the gear stick, which, depending on the equipment variant, has ambient lighting and a USB and power connection. Even two 2 liter bottles would easily fit into the glove compartment. Up to 1,5 liter bottles fit in the door shelves. In addition, cup holders (two at the front, one in the rear) provide good hold for beverage cups, even when driving faster.
If you now go on a big tour with your coffee, you can also enjoy the optional Bose® Personal® Sound System. This puts the Nissan Micra at the forefront of the mobile concert halls. With six speakers in headrests, front doors and A-pillars, the sound experience can be heard. Thanks to the broadband loudspeaker in the front doors, there was no need for a subwoofer in the trunk, leaving the trunk volume unchanged. The Bose® Personal® sound system is standard in the Tekna equipment line and available as an option for the Acenta and N-Connecta versions.
Small but powerful
At the market launch, there is a choice of an 0,9-liter turbo petrol engine with three cylinders and an 1,5-liter diesel with four cylinders, both of which perform 66 kW / 90 PS like our test vehicle; A 1,0 liter gasoline engine with 54 kW / 73 PS follows shortly before the launch. The power is transmitted via a manual five-speed gearbox. Two of the three engines are available with the start-stop system (ISS). Further engine and transmission variants are to follow.
The five equipment variants Visia, Visia Plus, Acenta, N-Connecta and Tekna are available for the market launch. It starts from 12.990 euros. The basic equipment of the Visia includes a light sensor, LED daytime running lights, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, hill start assistant, central locking with radio remote control, ISOFIX and an asymmetrically foldable rear bench seat. An emergency brake assistant with collision warning system and lane keeping control are also included. In our test vehicle there are also 16-inch alloy wheels, NissanConnect navigation, intelligent key, automatic climate control and rain sensor. The nice thing: no two Micra have to be the same, because four colors make it possible to give the exterior an individual touch: Power Blue, Energy Orange, Enigma Black and Vibrant Chrome. More colors are to follow.
Conclusion
He grew up. Nissan has managed to turn the once snuggly women's car into a modern, dynamic vehicle that has what it takes to not only steal into the hearts of women. Not only does it look great, it also has a lot to offer under the hood and in the passenger area. If you dig a little deeper into your pocket, you practically get a tailor-made companion for the city. And you should also have a lot of fun with the little Japanese for further trips. The consumption is particularly worth mentioning: the specified 6,5 liters in urban areas can be easily undercut when driving relaxed. We ended up with 6,4 liters / 100h. If you drive a little more with foresight, you will surely undercut this value, bet?
Driving Report: Simone Amores
Photos: Simone Amores / Nissan
