Shining our hubcaps
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The Nissan Micra has fallen off buyers’ radars a little - perhaps because the Nissan Juke came in early in the 2010s and rather stole its thunder. But Nissan has kept making the Micra and the fifth-generation car launched back in 2016 still makes for an affordable all-rounder in this very competitive class.
On the used market you’ll find a mix of trim levels and a variety of engines, either 1-litre petrols in naturally-aspirated and turbocharged forms, or 1.5-litre turbodiesels. We’ve explained which are the best to look for below, and gone into detail on some of the trim levels too. The Micra might not be your first choice for a used supermini, but it’s still worth a look.
It’s fair to say the Nissan Micra isn’t the kind of car you’ll be champing at the bit to drive, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth considering if you’re shopping for a practical and affordable supermini. The Micra has always been among the more sensible choices in this class, and the latest car, sold between 2016 and 2022, still does plenty of things well.
It’s compact on the outside at under four metres long, which is handy for parking as some of its rivals have since grown beyond the four-metre mark. Light steering also helps with parking and makes the Micra a doddle to drive around town - particularly with the Xtronic CVT gearbox, though as ever with CVTs, the rise and fall of the engine revs independent of road speed can take some getting used to.
The manual gearboxes are easy to use too, which is just as well for some of the less powerful engines as you’ll be using the gearbox a lot - but the turbocharged engines, including the diesels, offer good performance and economy. The interior is comfortable - not class-leading for space or comfort, but far from the worst either - and higher-spec models, despite being quite affordable, pack a useful level of equipment.
When new, the Micra went up against cars like the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Polo, Renault Clio, and Peugeot 208 - and those are still the kind of cars you should have on your shortlist today. Others to consider, particularly if you’re seeking typical Japanese reliability and build quality, include the Honda Jazz, Mazda 2, Toyota Yaris, and Suzuki Swift.
Avoid the non-turbocharged 1-litre petrol engine - it’s frugal, and very cheap to insure, but it’s just a little underpowered. The 16-second 0-62mph time may not mean much to you, but it also hints at slow acceleration when trying to get up to the national speed limit, and limited abilities on motorway inclines. The 1-litre turbo petrols are much more like it and still pretty frugal - there are 90/92PS, 100PS and 117PS variants depending on year, so go for whichever one suits your budget. The diesel is a true fuel-sipper, but better suited to those who’ll really do enough miles to appreciate it, since diesel itself is currently more expensive than petrol. As for spec, most versions are well-equipped but given the Micra’s age, we’d try and go for a later car to ensure more modern features - later Acenta models with CarPlay and Android Auto make a good buy.
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The Nissan Micra’s exterior dimensions are:
The Nissan Micra’s boot space is:
As the fifth-generation Micra first went on sale in 2016, models from the first year or two - prior to April 1, 2017 - are taxed based on CO2 emissions. This means most of the range is completely free to tax, thanks to emissions figures of under 100g/km. Even those that emit slightly more won’t cost a huge amount - £20-£35 per year depending on the model. Post-April 2017 cars are hobbled by a £190 flat rate.
The Micra has always been a popular with younger drivers, and relatively low insurance costs play a part in that - the range starts in just group 1 for the 73PS petrol in Acenta trim, and rises only as high as group 12 (out of 50) for models with the most powerful 117PS petrol engine. Essentially, it’s in the same ballpark as other superminis including the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo.
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How many Nissan Micra cars are available for sale?
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