Car Review UK

Menu
  • Home
  • Road Tests – Road test reviews.
        • 4×4
        • Commercial
        • Coupe
        • Executive
        • Hatchback
        • Saloon
        • Sports
        • SUV
        • Genius + soul = JazzFebruary 24, 2021
        • Audi A6 saloon – green machineFebruary 6, 2021
        • Ssangyong Tivoli – no nonsense valueJanuary 28, 2021
        • Volvo XC40 – recharged and readyJanuary 11, 2021
      • All Road Test Reviews
    • Close
  • Articles – News & First Drives
    • News
          • Lotus Evija – the electric rocket shipFebruary 12, 2021
          • The Renault lollipop – licking pollutionOctober 12, 2020
          • Volkswagen California – life’s a beachOctober 12, 2020
          • Ford Fiesta ST – fine tuningOctober 5, 2020
    • First Drives
          • Kia e-Niro – efficiency to the maxSeptember 29, 2020
          • Kia Soul EV – our friend’s electricMarch 3, 2020
          • Porsche 718 Spyder – interstellar overdriveNovember 20, 2019
          • Disco dances to a new beatOctober 21, 2019
    • Close
  • Brands – Manufacturers
    • Abarth
    • Alfa Romeo
    • Aston Martin
    • Audi
    • Bentley
    • BMW
    • Chevrolet
    • Chrysler
    • Citroen
    • Dacia
    • Daihatsu
    • Dodge
    • Ferrari
    • Fiat
    • Ford
    • Great Wall
    • Honda
    • Hyundai
    • Infiniti
    • Isuzu
    • Jaguar
    • Jeep
    • Kia
    • Land Rover
    • Lexus
    • Maserati
    • Mazda
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes-Benz
    • MG
    • Mini
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
    • Peugeot
    • Porsche
    • Proton
    • Renault
    • Rolls-Royce
    • SAAB
    • SEAT
    • Skoda
    • Smart
    • Subaru
    • Suzuki
    • Toyota
    • Vauxhall
    • Volkswagen
    • Volvo
    • Close
  • Music – Driving Tunes
        • Leon Russell – Delta LadyNovember 14, 2016
        • Juliette & The Licks – Long Road Out of HereMarch 19, 2016
        • Blossoms – At Most A KissMarch 7, 2016
        • Escondido – ApartmentFebruary 27, 2016
      • All Music Picks
    • Close
  • Contact

Featured · Nissan · Reviews · Road Tests

Nissan Micra – bespoke tailoring

  • by Mike Torpey
  • September 13, 2017

SPLASHING out an extra few hundred quid can make all the difference in transforming an attractive car into a real eye-catcher.

When that model is already light years ahead of its predecessors then the effect of adding that personal touch can be dazzling. The new generation Nissan Micra is a case in point.

When it hit UK streets in late spring the newcomer brought not only big, but also premium, car values in a supermini shape.

This latest Micra doesn’t just look sharp and futuristic but also boasts the fit, fittings and upmarket technology of several classes above – even if these leaps in quality are reflected in higher pricing.

But Nissan is going a step further with its new five-door mini marvel, offering owners a personal touch courtesy of a personalisation programme with more than 100 combinations.

The demand is high too, with approximately one in four buyers choosing these add-ons.

And retailer feedback has revealed that while customers are on average spending £500 to personalise their new Micra, the most popular personalisation choice is Energy Orange.

By coincidence our tested variant, in Echo Grey and top grade Tekna trim, included an interior Energy Orange pack at £400 and an exterior in the same hue – plus 17-inch alloy wheels – for £550.

The orange extras are understated but extremely effective, adorning the likes of body side mouldings, door mirror caps, bumper finishers and alloy wheels while decals can be applied to the bonnet and roof.

Otherwise the Micra, which costs from £11,995 to £18,765, is up for grabs with a choice of two petrol engines – a 1.0-litre non-turbo developing 71PS and the tested 0.9-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol with 90PS – plus a 1.5-litre dCi 90 diesel.

Making use of Nissan’s alliance with Renault, the turbocharged IG-T engine is a proven performer from the French manufacturer’s Clio and feels far more lively than its 0-62mph time of 12.1 seconds would suggest.

It feels rewarding to drive, is agile, has positive feedback from the steering and piloted conservatively can achieve within 10 miles of the official average fuel return of 61.4mpg.

Inside, the Micra is well kitted at base Visia level amd a tour de force of technology and comfort at top end Tekna.

There’s two-tone trim, soft touch plastics, cup holders, cubbies, electric windows and ample passengers space, while safety features include lane drift warning, hill start assist, emergency braking with pedestrian recognition and a speed limiter.

Piece de resistance is a Bose sound system specifically designed for the Micra and boasting speakers in the headrests and sound stage control.

It all marks new territory for the Micra, but it is properly armed to take on and match the Teutonic heavyweights.

  • SPEC CHECK

  • MAKE Nissan.
  • MODEL Micra 0.9 IG-T 90 Tekna. 
  • ENGINE 898cc, 3-cyl turbo petrol.
  • POWER 90PS at 5,500pm.
  • PERFORMANCE 0-62 in 12.1 secs, top speed 109mph.
  • ECONOMY 48.7mpg Urban, 72.4 Extra Urban, 61.4 Combined.
  • CO2 EMISSIONS 104g/km.
  • BiK RATING 19%.
  • INSURANCE Group 4 (1-50).
  • PRICE £19,370 on the road.

  • WHAT’S HOT

  • Style, space, equipment, accessories, economy.
  • WHAT’S NOT
  • Price of top spec models.
  • RATINGS  {Out of 5}

LOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

RIDE AND HANDLING . . . .4

PERFORMANCE . . . . . . . . . 4

VALUE FOR MONEY . . . . . .5

 

Tags: BoseEnergy OrangeMicraNissanTeknaTurbo

— Mike Torpey

Mike Torpey is freelance Motoring Editor of the Liverpool Echo, past Racing Editor and also a travel/golf writer, music reviewer and rock music nut. Tweet @michaeltorpey1

  • Previous story Peugeot Traveller – a magic carpet ride
  • Next story Land Rover Discovery – digital dynamite

    Explore More

  • Infiniti Q70 – dressed to thrill October 11, 2016
  • Qash is king in crossover craze June 19, 2017
  • Fiat 124 Spider – spinning back to the 60s March 30, 2017
  • The Nissan man with 40 phones June 1, 2016
  • Menu
    • Abarth
    • Alfa Romeo
    • Aston Martin
    • Audi
    • Bentley
    • BMW
    • Chevrolet
    • Chrysler
    • Citroen
    • Dacia
    • Dodge
    • Ferrari
    • Fiat
    • Ford
    • Great Wall
    • Honda
    • Hyundai
    • Infiniti
    • Isuzu
    • Jaguar
    • Jeep
    • Kia
    • Land Rover
    • Lexus
    • Maserati
    • Mazda
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes-Benz
    • MG
    • Mini
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
    • Peugeot
    • Porsche
    • Proton
    • Renault
    • Rolls-Royce
    • SAAB
    • SEAT
    • Skoda
    • Smart
    • Subaru
    • Suzuki
    • Toyota
    • Vauxhall
    • Volkswagen
    • Volvo
  • Recent

    • Genius + soul = JazzFebruary 24, 2021
    • Lotus Evija – the electric rocket shipFebruary 12, 2021
    • Audi A6 saloon – green machineFebruary 6, 2021
    • Ssangyong Tivoli – no nonsense valueJanuary 28, 2021
    • Volvo XC40 – recharged and readyJanuary 11, 2021
    • Nissan Juke – two-tone chartbusterJanuary 4, 2021
    • 4×4
    • Commercial
    • Coupe
    • Executive
    • Hatchback
    • Saloon
    • Sports
    • SUV
  • More

    All First Drive Reviews All Road Test Reviews All News Features Click MUSIC for all our previous picks
  • Search

  • Home
  • Featured
  • Nissan Micra – bespoke tailoring
          • Home
          • Driven
          • News
          • Sitemap & Archive
          • Contact

          Copyright © 2014-15 CarReviewUK | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy