A DINKY BUT SAFE URBAN MOVER

When vanity mirrors found their way into cars many years ago they were always on the passenger side sun visor. Over time the concept has developed and now they’re generally found on both sides, but in the Micra there is only one – on the driver’s side! – a clear indication of the demographic Nissan are after with this car. A gutsy bloke’s car it’s not, but if you are looking for a cute compact car with touches of retro then Nissan’s Micra could be for you.
The Micra is unquestionably in the lightweight division - up against the Mazda 2, Hyundai Getz, the Toyota Yaris, Holden Barina and Ford Fiesta.
There is growing demand for cars in this category, given rising petrol prices and the lack of space in urban and city areas for car parking and just general driving. Savvy consumers are also finding that they really can get a surprising amount of car for their dollars in this category these days.
Our test car was a neat little ‘City Collection’ in New York Blue that you could park in a space the size of a milk crate. This latest incarnation of the Micra in Australia comes only in 5 door form. Apart from accessorising, the only real options one can choose are Metallic paint at $395 and the so called ‘City Collection’ which adds $1,700. For this you get Side and Curtain Airbags, an MP3 compatible 6 stack CD player and 15” alloy wheels in place of the standard 14” steel variety.
The Micra is surprisingly roomy and has lots of storage options, including a concealed ‘street directory sized’ compartment under the front passenger seat. Air conditioning is standard as are power windows (front & rear), power mirrors and keyless entry. Seating is adequate, but the surprise is you can actually fit 2 real adults in the rear seats. The centre restraint in the rear of this ‘5 seater’ is unfortunately only a lap belt, but in reality it’s not going to get a lot of use.
Despite its diminutive nature, one sits surprisingly high in the Micra and all round vision is very good. Dual airbags, active headrests, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist are standard (albeit with only drum brakes in the rear). We would strongly recommend spending the $1,700 on the ‘City Collection’ option to get the additional side and curtain airbags. Unfortunately, electronic stability control is not available in the Micra. There’s one accessory we’d add though, while we’re into making our driving experience safer - the Bluetooth hands-free phone kit.
Nissan’s 1.4 litre engine with two camshafts and 16 valves produces a whole 72 kWs but considering it weighs only 965kg the Micra gets away from the lights smartly. The only transmission available is a 4 speed auto. A CVT would seem better suited to this car but the 4 speed works fine around town. Looking a little top heavy you might expect the Micra to lean around corners but it doesn’t – it drives surprisingly flat and stops without fuss. Instrumentation is minimalist, with a speedo, odometer, and fuel gauge – and no tachometer. All other functions are covered by warning lights. Nissan quote fuel consumption at 6.8 litres/100kms.
Starting at only $14,990 the Micra represents great value and has all the features in an entry level car that anyone could want. Nissan offer a 3 year/100,000km warranty and includes a 3 year 24/7 Roadside Assist package.
As a city commuter, school bus, shopping trolley or first car for your learner driver you’d really be hard pushed to do better than Nissan’s 2008 Micra.

Tested May 2008

Vehicle provided by Nissan Motor Co (Australia) Pty Ltd