Not too long ago small cars were incredibly popular. Nowadays, affordable hatchbacks and other traditional smaller vehicles are fighting an uphill struggle against the ongoing sales onslaught from all things SUV, especially compact SUVs.
However, MPG and economy often win, and nothing else is as economical to buy and run as a small car. With fuel prices still stubbornly high, there’s a big market for small cars not trying to look like a shrunken Range Rover.
They are all great cars for new drivers and city slickers alike, but that’s not why we love them, their compactness is only a tiny part of their awesomeness.
Small doesn’t always have to mean inexpensive either. Some models cater to a bigger budget. But it’s worth noting that small is the operative word here.
Why The Nissan Micra Is A Great Small Car
The Nissan Micra has always been a great small car at Group 1 Nissan dealerships, but until this latest model arrived the styling was so polarising it only appealed to a certain audience. And often one unbothered by power or panache.
Let’s be honest, the original Micra was a bit of a loaf of bread. It might have raised a smile on the face of a small child, but it wasn’t a car many would want to be seen driving around town in.
But that’s all changed. Thankfully, everyone can now enjoy what was always a damn good car, Nissan have changed the styling so much, it looks good enough to match its many rivals.
Although early versions of the Micra were very highly regarded and the second-generation was even named European Car of the Year, the fourth generation was a gamble by Nissan that didn’t pay off.
Production was moved from Sunderland to cheaper countries like Thailand, Mexico, India and Indonesia. Sales soon fell by more than two thirds and the Micra fell out of the top-ten best-sellers in Europe.
Production of this new fifth-generation Nissan Micra now happens at Renault’s Flins facility near Paris, and that’s just the start of the good news.
There’s now modern styling with fashionable squinting headlights and sharp creases all over the Micra. There’s nothing particularly revolutionary about the way this tiny Nissan looks, but at least there’s nothing off-putting about it.
The most popular engine is a 0.9-litre three-cylinder turbo from Renault, and its 90 horsepower is more than adequate for a car of this size. It’s great to drive in the town or city, and it’s not bad on the motorway either unless you try to overtake in the outside lane on a bit of an uphill gradient.
2019 saw a minor facelift on the Micra, it also added a new N-Sport variant abroad, but it’s a bit of a warm hatch rather than a hot one.
The Micra’s new look, good engines, decent handling, top-notch driver-assistance tech makes this an attractive all-round package with impressive driver-assist technology and it now looks like a car for grownups.
Article sourced from: https://motorway.co.uk
