CARS are getting nicer and better all the time!
And the fifth generation Nissan Micra shows that Mzansi car buyers who’re looking for a compact car are in for a real treat.
The new Micra looks amazing on the outside and on the inside. It boasts dynamic hatchback proportions with an overall length of 3 999mm, which places it right at centre of the tough B-hatchback market.
Its look is well defined and features a sculpted body with strong and sharp lines visible from every angle. The design gives the car an athletic feeling you can’t ignore.
The rear features striking, new boomerang-shaped lights in clusters. Below the light clusters is the body-hugging and exhaust-hiding bumper, which has a carbon-look finish.
But unlike many others, this car’s beauty continues when you step into the cabin and see its interior.
It has a black dash with a touch of cream. This same colour arrangement is also found on the seats, and together that makes the interior very attractive.
The wide range of technologies inside definitely improves its comfort, convenience and safety performance. Many of them come as standard features across the range.
There are three specification levels: the Visia, Acenta and Acenta Plus.
- The Visia comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels, daytime running lights, front-power windows, a manual air-conditioner, a sound system with Bluetooth and MP3 connections, cruise control, automatic headlights, six airbags and much more.
- The Acenta adds 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights among other features.
- The Acenta Plus has 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel and the interior done in the Energy Orange custom colour.
The 7-inch colour touchscreen display on the Acenta and Acenta Plus lets the driver to access features such as music, messages and maps through Apple CarPlay in addition to the MP3, USB and Bluetooth systems in the Visia model.
When an iPhone is connected with an Apple lightning cable, it offers users Siri voice control, Apple maps with turn-by-turn navigation, access to music, telephone services and other apps such as audiobooks and the newly-launched Spotify music-streaming service.
Complementing the sound system is an advanced driver assist located in the speedometer display to minimise eyes-off-the-road time. It uses a high-definition 5-inch thin-film-transistor colour display to provide the driver with key information about the car and journey. It’s based on technology which Nissan developed for the Qashqai and X-Trail crossovers, and is controlled using dedicated buttons mounted on the steering wheel.
Safety is also a factor as the Micra comes with six airbags as standard as well as seat belt warnings and seat belt height adjustment for the front and rear seats.
At a launch, motoring journalists were paired up and the two of us took the Micra for a spin. The Mother City was raining and fog covered all the mountain passes we went over but both of us agreed that this Micra is an amazing car to drive.
The Micra came with only one engine at launch.
It was a 66kW turbocharged petrol engine which delivers both outstanding driving pleasure and practical ride value.
The new Micra has been built at Nissan’s existing V-platform which has been significantly upgraded to deliver new levels of performance.
PRICING
- Nissan Micra Visia – R233 500
- Nissan Micra Acenta – R257 400
- Nissan Micra Acenta Plus – R272 400
