Nissan Micra long-term test review
Nissan has given its fifth-generation Micra a radical makeover, so can it now compete with the best small cars? Six months of everyday use should provide the answer...
- The car Nissan Micra 0.9 IG-T 90 N-Connecta
- Run by Hemal Mistry, digital reviews editor
- Why it’s here Nissan claims it has created a no-compromise supermini, with a striking new look, plenty of personalisation options and some impressive technology, but can it rival the best in the market?
- Needs to Do what all the best superminis do – be practical, refined and frugal, deal with motorway jaunts and, importantly, be fun to drive.
Price £16,115 Price as tested £19,110 Miles covered 5102 Official economy 61.4mpg Test economy 46.4mpg Options Powder Blue paint (£575), Vision+ pack, includes 360deg camera, blindspot monitoring and moving object detection (£550), Exterior pack including 17in alloys and chrome trim (£800), Interior Powder Blue personalisation pack (£350), Intelligent Key (£200), Bose personal audio pack (£500)
5 October 2017 – Nissan Micra fifth report
When deliberating over the various options to choose for the Micra, I was adamant the Vision+ Pack was selected as it seemed on paper the most useful extra addition to adorn the little Nissan with.
Costing an additional £550, it does seem pricey added to a supermini and it would need to start proving its worth almost immediately. The pack itself adds rear parking sensors and moving object detection monitoring system, a 360deg camera system and blindspot monitoring – features all designed to provide extra security when you're driving or manoeuvring.
The biggest asset of the pack is the the camera, which gives you the benefit of a birds-eye view, alongside a rear or front view and side camera angles to protect those Exterior Pack black alloys from gaining any unsightly scrapes from the kerb.
You may be thinking 'it’s only a small car – such technology is overkill', but you will be surprised. The Micra isn’t necessarily the easiest car to see out of, due to its high windowline making it difficult to spot low objects when parking. Which is where the overhead view that the camera system provides becomes priceless.
The blindspot monitoring is a useful visual and audible indicator that a car is lurking in your blindspot on the motorway or dual-carriageway. It's highly useful but also has drawbacks. Namely, it makes you become complacent when changing lanes, looking out for an orange visual marker on the wing mirror, and less inclined to check your blindspot properly yourself.
You make think it’s not a problem, but switch to a car without the system and you realise immediately how dependent upon it you have become.
