Hardly any car series has changed so consistently from generation to generation as the Nissan Micra. The latest edition breaks again completely with its predecessor.
The world car was yesterday: The fifth generation of the Nissan Micra is targeting western customers more consistently than ever before. No wonder: the demonstratively dynamic small car was largely developed in Europe. It is no longer built in India, but together with the Renault Clio in France. The five-door model will hit the market in March 2017.
Went the Micra number four with its on the average tastes of Asians, Americans and Europeans almost smoothed to the lack of character smoothed world car design in the local street scene under, wants to attract attention again the fifth execution. His sweeping lines are already known by Qashqai and Co., but they are driven to the extreme here on about four meters in length. Striking is above all the sharply modeled wave that pulls from the V-shaped grille on the fenders to the rear of the rear. The handles of the rear doors hide like the Clio in the C-pillars, which together with the roof edge spoiler ensures a sporty flat overall impression.
The driver sits down fittingly now deeper than last and looks at an airy-looking dashboard, for whose design Nissan draws the comparison with the wings of a glider. The selectable materials and colors for the cockpit and seats, as well as the variance of the lacquer tones, are more diverse than ever before with a Micra. Overall 125 different looks should be selectable in the configurator.
For the drive of the Micra are first an 0,9-liter turbo petrol engine with three cylinders and 66 kW / 90 PS and a similarly strong 1,5-liter diesel for election, both already known from the Clio. As a basic engine shortly after the market launch, an 1,0-liter vacuum gasoline engine with 55 kW / 73 PS will be added. For chassis and handling Nissan promises a significant improvement over its predecessor. An active driving comfort control and an active lane control, both based on light braking interventions, which should compensate for body movements, are also to help.
Counted the comparatively good safety features already to the merits of its predecessor, Nissan has refilled the new one again. For example, a radar emergency brake assistant with pedestrian recognition is celebrating its premiere in Europe, which will be part of the standard equipment in Germany. There is the well-known camera-based environment monitoring system, blind spot assistant and traffic sign recognition. The infotainment system now uses Apple's Car Play and makes the integration of the iPhone possible. On request, a Bose audio system is also available.
With a completely new look and feel, the fifth Micra not only sets itself apart from its direct predecessor, which was not very successful in Germany, but also from all other ancestors. The first edition from 1982 still had the bitter charm of early Japanese, ten years later, with its cute puppy look and reliable technology, generation two was even Car of the Year in Europe. Number three then consistently played the “women's car” card in 2003 with a baroque bodywork and retro design. The fourth edition was not only visually noticeable and generally looked too price-sensitive for Europe's spoiled small car drivers. The number five built in the Renault plant in Flins, France, is now intended to recapture precisely this clientele. It is not yet known what price Nissan is calling for its future entry-level model. The current generation starts at 10.400 euros. In view of the higher positioning and a Clio starting price of 12.000 euros, the new edition should be a bit more expensive.
All photos: SB-Medien, Stefan Baldauf, Guido ten Brink