2017 Nissan Micra prices and specs revealed

The new Micra’s dimensions are different from those of the outgoing model, placing it in the mainstream of European B-segment hatchbacks for the first time. Length is now 3995mm (up by 170mm), while a width of 1742mm (up 77mm) makes the new model the widest in its class. 

Height is reduced by 69mm to a class average 1452mm (the previous Indian-built edition made head room for turban-wearing owners a priority), while the wheelbase is 75mm longer at a class-competitive 2525mm, which benefits boot space in particular.

“Our research shows luggage room is even more important to buyers than rear seat space,” said Kato.

STYLING

Nissan’s route to expressive styling is to adopt the look of the Sway concept, which won approval at the Geneva motor show 18 months ago. Its key features are a short bonnet, a more raked windscreen than that of previous Micras, a lower, floating roof and a small boot bustle. Prominent is an extravagant character line that runs uninterrupted from front to rear, giving both a rising waist and impressive front and rear wings. Jewel-like front and rear lights complete the picture of a grown-up Micra. 

To go with its shape, the Micra gets big wheels (16in as standard, 17s optional), available in a large variety of styles, plus an array of decals and colour combinations to allow owners to personalise their cars. 

EQUIPMENT 

Much of the equipment specification was decided at the company’s UK technical centre at Cranfield, whose experts worked on the premise that the car had to appeal both to style-conscious young couples and empty nesters who were downsizing and would tolerate no reduction in quality.

As a result, the Micra uses soft trim materials from the pricier Qashqai, has a 5.0in instrument screen instead of the 3.5in item first proposed, has door pockets that can hold a 1.5-litre water bottle, a 10-litre glovebox and wheel adjusters instead of levers for its front seat backrests. Europeans prefer them all.

Cranfield research also decreed that the Micra’s steering column should be adjustable for reach as well as rake, which is unusual in a B-segment hatch. It was also decided that buyers needed a 7.0in infotainment screen and class-leading connectivity, plus a Bose audio system with speakers in the driver’s headrest on top-end versions. 

Depending on equipment level (there are five, including Youth, Racing and Mature), the Micra has most of the electronic aids found in pricier cars, including lane departure and blind spot warning, forward city braking (with optional pedestrian recognition), surround-view cameras and traffic sign recognition. 

CHASSIS, POWERTRAIN

The Micra will have a specially configured version of the 89bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel found in smaller Renaults, plus a turbocharged 0.9-litre three-cylinder petrol engine of the same output. A 69bhp, non-turbo petrol triple will arrive later, and a 120bhp version of the 0.9 turbo will follow that. All engines get standard manual gearboxes, but Nissan is likely to offer a CVT auto in at least one model. 

Insiders admit there will be a close underskin relationship between the Micra and the next Clio, but for now the two are built on different platforms. The two cars’ suspensions (front struts, twist beam behind) differ in detail, but even when the Clio moves to Micra hardware, Nissan engineers say enough variation will be available to provide differences in what drivers feel.

Nissan engineers have tested the Micra all over Europe to reach settings for brakes, wheel dimensions, tyre brand and size, steering and suspension rates. They have also tuned the electronic systems that govern dynamics: Active Trace Control (which uses brake applications to keep the car on line in corners) and Active Ride Control (which uses nose dive from imperceptible brake applications to improve body control over large bumps).

LAUNCH DETAILS, PRICING

Nissan will start building Micras in December and plans to have them on sale in both right and left-hand drive next March. There’s no indication of anticipated volume, but an insider revealed that Micra sales topped 170,000 a year for a while in the early 1990s.