The updated Nissan Micra for Europe has been revealed and surprisingly it takes a different route than the one taken for the March’s mid-life facelift we saw in Bangkok recently. It gets a different nose with sharper styled headlamps, while there’s a lot more toys to be had inside than ever before in a Nissan supermini.
Since its introduction to the European market three years ago, the Micra has enjoyed mild success and is Nissan’s third best-selling model after the Qashqai and Juke. Within its own category however, it lagged behind class leaders such as the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta. The new car’s updated looks and glut of new technology and customisation is aimed to address that shortcoming.
The exterior changes required new sheetmetal – not common for mere facelifts – and the interior has been given a substantial makeover. The cabin finishing touches are all new, and the centre console is now based on the current Almera’s, ditching the outgoing car’s cutesy circular-themed dashboard.
Among the notable changes are new instrument cluster graphics, splashes of gloss black and silver trims on the centre console and new seat fabric choices (including a suede-like material for the top models). Best of all is the optional new NissanConnect touchscreen multimedia system; the same one fitted to the UK-only Nissan Juke n-tec special model.
Another new addition is the Parking Slot Measurement system that alerts the driver whether the car can fit in a parking space or otherwise. It’s a similar gadget to the one the Citroen C5 offers, but this one goes a step further and adjusts the space calibration on account of the driver’s parking skill – amateur, normal or expert. Hilarious!
Under the hood there’s a choice of two engines running the front wheels – an 80 PS 1.2 litre three-cylinder motor or a supercharged version that’s good for 98 PS. The latter DIG-S direct-injection unit returns a diesel-like 24.1 km per litre and emissions from just 95 grammes per kilometre. Transmission option is either a five-speed manual or CVT.
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hello TCM, do you know that there’re cars called Nissan Micra, March and Note????
Nissan never fails in the ugliness department. Nissan FTW!
Wrong! they fail coz the new Sentra/Sylphy 2013,GTR and the NV200 mini van r pretty! anyway this car is not pretty but not ugly too… best for students or who’s want the easy parking car.
i think the front, esp the nose design is not that bad
TCM says, Hello, why like to ask2, just buy what we provide here. Take it or leave it
I am seriously amazed…Nissan cars just can’t failed to be fugly. They should hire some real designers like KIA and Hyundai.
I think Nissan just cut cost by hiring old chinese geely designer…. :P
O mc Donald had Donut e ya e ya O
I saw donut again & again & again in Nissan new fuel-econ car. So Almera is just the beginning.
The philosophy goes like this: 1st time U saw it is ugly, 2nd, 3rd … time also ugly, but after 98th, 99th the design came out amid public curse, it has become the de-facto design. … Remember Waja design ^_^