Model Update

Needing a small car for running errands around town, shopping or for picking up the kids? Then you’ll find the new Nissan Micra offers a stylish little package that will cruise the roads running errands and picking up people with ease. Distinctive curves, bulges in the right places, and succinct detailing make the Nissan Micra a car with flair and animation.

Pleasing fit and finish, colourful interior patterns, and admirable leg and head room provide the Micra with class leading attributes. But it doesn’t stop there. To drive the latest little Nissan Micra is so easy and straight forward. All the switchgear and instruments are right at hand, while the steering remains accurate and controlled. Parking is a breeze, as the car’s small dimensions mean that you can zip in and out of car parks with aplomb.

Interior features are many, and I was pleasantly surprised with the car’s equipment levels. Lots of storage, power windows and mirrors, Bluetooth communications, MP3 compatibility, a CD player, air-conditioning and rear seats that are 60/40 split folding. You won’t be disappointed with the Micra’s comfort levels.

Recently revamped and ready to go, the new Nissan Micra has a lot of choice with three variants on offer. Price-wise, you won’t find many better, so the 2011 Nissan Micra is tremendous value for money.

“Awww – it’s cute!” It would be hard to describe the Nissan Micra as being elegant or stately. It’s a sweetie, however. The recent design upgrade has manned the little Nissan Micra up a bit. It still remains a very eye-catchy design but has some definite improvements over the bubble-shape-on-wheels that the outgoing design implicated. Still pleasantly showing a “bug-eyed” nose, the Nissan Micra has streamlined the dumpy appearance for a more athletic look. The “bug-eyed” front end is now lower, wider and more sporty in its profile. The lower and wider front bumper gives the Micra a more assertive look, and with the sweeping oval headlights, the 2011 Nissan Micra is standing tall, proud and even a little handsome.

With virtually no front or rear overhang, the Nissan Micra is neatly packaged and well balanced to drive. Designed for city running the suspension is soft and supple, having the ability to cope very well with city road undulations. Is this a “hairdresser’s car”? You ‘bet-cha’. It’s also a Kindy teacher’s car, a PA’s car and a librarian’s car. Now with the sportier looks, and up rated engine and suspension design, the new Nissan Micra will make an excellent all-round car that can tackle the open road easily, as well as mingle in the city. With its capable repertoire, the Micra could be a very real competitor to the rental Toyota Yaris cars. The most likely buyer will probably be young, single, urban and female, but the young, single, urban male will find it a charming companion, too. Look to the over-60 market segment, and they will love its size, efficiency and appeal.

The Nissan Micra has three models on offer. The Nissan Micra ST runs a 56 kW 1.2-litre petrol motor. You can use the engine’s willing performance via a very-easy-to-shift five-speed, manual gearbox. An optional four-speed, automatic gearbox can be chosen in preference. Shod with 165/70R14 tyres, the Nissan Micra ST handles athletically and is very easily turned from corner to corner. Seated inside, the chassis feels supple enough, and manages to soak up the main road bumps well.

What’s under the hood lies the difference between the Nissan Micra ST and ST-L. Apart from a few extra goodies for the interior, the already well equipped ST model bows to the greater engine power offered in the ST-L version. Step on the gas and the peppy ST-L’s engine is a willing performer – making lane changing a breeze. In actual fact, the little 1.4 litre engine pumps out a credible 75 kW of power and 136 Nm of torque at the right revs. Given the right opportunity, you’ll find the Nissan Micra will go all the way from a standstill at the lights to 100 km/h in well under 13 seconds. Just don’t let the cops catch you doing that! With sportier overtones, the Nissan Micra Ti also houses the same sprightly 75 kW engine under its bonnet.

For the more sedate driver, the Nissan Micra cars will achieve a nifty and thrifty 6.5 litres/100 km, on average. So darting in and out of city car parks is easy with the very precise, light steering, plenty of zip and excellent fuel economy. As with the ST model, the 5- speed manual and 4-speed automatic is what you have to choose from on the ST-L and Ti versions. Hopefully the diesel engine variants that are available in Europe might make their way to Australia.

Impressions of the latest Nissan Micra equate to a refined little car that will keep up with motorway traffic when required, provide comfy seating and excellent luxury features while doing the business required of it – reliably.

Despite being as cute as it is, the five door design is actually a little longer than a Mini Cooper equivalent. Nice wide doors allow easy access into the cheery and pleasant cabin arrangement, and the seating is supportive and functional. Room in the rear is a little bit of a squeeze, but Nissan has done well to make space inside what is their smallest hatch. There are plenty of storage pockets and compartments front and rear for all those little knick-knacks that somehow find there way into the car. Ladies will enjoy the vanity mirror on the sun shield which makes for easy lipstick application and hair adjustments. Hop into the driver’s seat and you will enjoy a comfortable driving position that accommodates many human shapes and sizes. Visibility is very good from the driver’s perspective, and those classy little wing mirrors are not “all looks and no action”.

All the new Nissan Micra versions have a slot CD player, power steering, electric front windows and remote central locking. Micra cars with higher specification levels bring stereo joystick controls, driving lights chrome detailing on the exterior, climate air conditioning and an intelligence key system which allows door locking and starting without the use of a key.

All models boast VDC, ABS, EBD and BA. Only the Ti comes with reversing sensors as standard, however they are optional on the Micra ST and Micra ST-L. Front and front-side airbags are standard on all models. So too are the front-to-rear SRS curtain airbags. Three point rear seatbelts, and front seatbelts offering pre-tensioning and load limiters are standard for all models.

This is a fantastic car made by the ever-reliable Nissan manufacturer. Loaded with safety features and equipment, the accurate handling combined with the zippy engine performance will be enjoyed by many across Australia. This is a worthy small-car contender in a market that is full of small FWD hatchbacks. Take a look at a local Nissan dealer, and you might see a number of the bright, clear exterior colours that the Nissan Micra comes out in. Each new Nissan Micra is backed up with a 3 year/100 000 km warranty, 3 year 24-hour roadside assistance and an optional extra Nissan extended warranty, as well.

The current model series includes the:

• Micra ST
• Micra ST-L
• Micra Ti

For any more information on the Nissan Micra, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Nissan dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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