2015 Nissan Micra Review

Nissan's not so new Micra is now being sold in North America ( Canada only)

Nissan knows Canadians like small frugal cars so its only being sold here, and that's fantastic!

Car companies are finally starting to realize that the Canadian and American car markets are quite different. We love diesels and small hatchbacks up here in "The Great White North" while down south they care for larger more powerful cars. To get back on track, the Nissan Micra is a 2015 car that has been sold for most of 2014 in Canada. It is a subcompact hatchback that is a competitor to the Toyota Yaris and Mitsubishi Mirage. This car is really trying to show you how little you have to pay for a decent ride. Its one of the least expensive cars you can buy in Canada and I gotta say, it actually looks sorta "cute". 

Take a look:

Different Styles:

The Nissan Micra is only available as a small 5 door hatchback. It only has a 1.6L 4 cylinder engine and either a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed auto. The base model is pretty bare bones ( no power windows or locks) so most people will be buying the mid and upper trim.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

I'm not gonna lie, I like the outside look of this little car. There is just something fun and quirky about these tiny cars, like the Mini and Mitsubishi Mirage. Because it has such small dimensions it has to be very upright and "bubbly" looking. I think that all the dimensions and features for the Micra are perfectly sized and everything works well. The wheels in the very corners give the car a somewhat sporty look and it looks very planted on the ground. You can get some fun paint jobs like a strip down the side or different colored mirrors and handles. From certain angles and with certain paint jobs the Micra has a similar look to the Fiat 500. The wheels are sized well and look good. It has a large front two level grill, very different from the almost non-existent grill for the Mitsubishi Mirage. The hatch spoiler also helps with the sporty look and really works well.
Going inside is a slightly different story. In common Nissan fashion they have decided that a less is better approach as just like the Versa it is quite plain with many hard plastics. The difference is, this is more expected for a car at this price point and it actually works pretty well.
Here is a fun fact, both the Nissan Micra and the Versa Note are the exact same except the Versa Note is a bit longer, wider, taller and have an optional CVT. Otherwise they use the same engine and all the same interior materials.
Lets take a look inside:

As you can see it really does look the same as the Versa Note inside, but like I said, for a car in this segment at this price, this is acceptable. Its all dark greys and blacks with simple knobs and controls. Now for comfort. Im not going to lie, this is a small car, just like the Mitsubishi Mirage you do notice how small it really is. But they have done a good job to make the most of its dimensions by making it quite high. So I do just fit in the drivers seat with a comfortable driving position. In the back, not so much. I do still fit, which is impressive for a car this small ( once again, WTF Chevy Sonic?!) but my knees are touching the seat in front if it is in my driving position. There is no way you would want to put 3 people in the back seat, even if they were all small, its just a 2 person seat if you want them to not hate you. 
Finally the cargo space. With the seats up there is just enough room to fit a few carry-on sized suitcases. With the seats down it does offer a decent amount of space but the problem is the seats don't fold completely flat and the backs are not in line with the floor. So you don't have a flat loading space, once again very similar to the Mitsubishi Mirage.
Take a look:

Driving Impressions:

The interesting thing with the Micra is that it has the same engine as the Versa Note, but it has either a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed auto instead of the CVT. This means it actually has a much better power to weight ratio than the Versa Note and It does feel relatively peppy around town. Unfortunately due to the combination small engine and old 4 speed auto this does mean that the engine is loud under any sort of acceleration and it is just always noticeable on the highway. It is very close to how it drives as the Mitsubishi Mirage, but the Micra does have a bit more power and larger tires, so highway driving isn't as terrifying. I really hope they come out with a turbo version of the Micra as that could be really fun. During city coasting it is quiet and feels very planted and in control, but due to its "bubbly" shape, wind noise is a problem on the highway. As this is a very small and economical car it is expected to not be super fun to drive, but Nissan has done a good job with the Micra by giving it a wide stance and large tires so you can push the limits a bit, no matter how low those limits already are. Visibility is pretty good in all directions thanks to large windows. Like other subcompact cars that expect only 2 people to ever sit in the back, it only has two rear seat head restraints, unfortunately they are quite large and do get in the way a bit. Finally due to its tiny dimensions, the turning radius is great, you can easily turn around in the width of a narrow 2 way street. 

Overall:

This is a very small, slightly underpowered car. It has a plain and somewhat cheap interior. However, it is a great car for the price point it is in. This is one of the few cars out there that can show you what a great budget economy car can be. If you really only need a car for short commutes around town, but want it to look cool and funky on the outside (without a care for the inside) then this car will be perfect for you. The Nissan Micra would be a great second car for a small family living close to a large city, or as the first car for a new driver in the family. Once again I must point out that both the Micra and the Versa Note use the same engine and interior materials. Due to the lower price point and the better power to weight of the Micra, as well as the much better exterior style, Id have to say the Micra would get my vote almost any day. Unless you needed a car that could comfortably carry 4 or 5 people and a good bit of stuff, then the Versa Note would be a better choice. 

Facts / Figures:

Price ( for the mid trim level): $17,000+

FWD

MPG (approx*): 27 city /36 hwy

Cargo room (approx*): 14/30 CuFt trunk

Length: 151"

Width: 66"

Tank size (gal): 9.0

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 288
Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $15,000+

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links: 

Nissan Canada

(not available in the USA)

Please leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions on any of the reviews.

J.K.