Top six differences between the old and the new Nissan Micra

By Stuart Johnston

There is a seven-year gap in South Africa between the previous-gen Nissan Micra and the current car, launched in mid-2018. In almost all respects the new car is a giant leap forward, but unfortunately that includes the price tag.

The latest Nissan Micra is the third-generation of this city car that we’ve seen in South Africa, although overseas the car is now in its fifth rendition. It is particularly popular in the UK, where Nissan has a plant building them.

The previous-generation car was very conservatively styled, and while Nissan hoped this would increase its mainstream appeal, it didn’t make a huge impact in the competitive A/B small car segment here, as it was not perceived as a particularly attractive car.

The new model changes all that. It is arguably the most modern-looking and most attractive small car on the block. It is based largely on the Renault Clio, with which it shares its 0,9-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo engine. It’s also far more luxurious. For a launch report of the latest-generation Nissan Micra

So, what are the main differences between the old and new Micra?

1. Size and styling. The old car had a bland, rounded, blob-like appearance that didn’t do the Micra too many favours. The new car has cutting edge looks with hi-tech headlights and tail lights and a razor-sharp frontal view that complements the wedge-shaped profile. Size-wise, the new car is 219 mm longer, and the wheelbase has grown by 75 mm.

2. Engine range. To paraphrase Henry Ford with regard to his famous  Model T only being available in black, with the new Nissan Micra you can have any engine you like, as long as it is a petrol-fueled 66 kW 0,9-litre three-cylinder turbo! This is in contrast to the previous-gen Micra, which was launched in 2011 with a 1,2-litre 56 kW three-cylinder  or a 1,5-litre 73 kW petrol engine. And you could also get a 47 kW diesel version.

3. Interior. The previous-gen Nissan Micra had a very rudimentary interior, heavy on shiny plastics. Its equipment level was limited to an audio system with Blue-Tooth compatibility, and a rather rudimentary trip computer, although the top Tekna model had six airbags. The latest Micra has an ultra-plush interior with a seven-inch infotainment screen, with smart-phone compatibility to enable navigation. It has lots of soft-touch, stylish elements that make you believe you are in a premium-level small car. There is also cruise control available and a multi-function steering wheel. And all models now have six airbags.

4. Wheels and tyres. The latest Micra is all about making a great first impression, and this extends to the wheels. The new wheel sizes range from 15-inch on the entry-level Visia model  to 17-inch alloys on the top-of-the-range Acenta Plus Tech. The previous-gen Micra had 15-inch alloys fitted to the top-spec Tekna model.

5. Performance. Interestingly enough, the old Micra had performance pretty much  equal to, or slightly superior to the new version, depending on the model. It probably reflects the changing tastes and priorities in city-car motoring, where performance is perceived as less important than a smart interior with connectivity and plenty of features.  Fuel consumption  is also important, of course. The old Micra was rated at  about 6,2 litres/100 km (the diesel was good for about 5,6 litres/100) whereas the new car has a claimed average of 5,1 litres/100 km.

6. Price: This is a bit of a shocker. When launched in 2011, the Nissan Micra’s price ranged from R108 400 to R143 400 for the top Tekna model. Pricing for the new Micra starts at R242 900 and tops out at R299 900. So the new car, some eight years down the line, is pretty much double the price of the original. The good news is that the warranty has increased from three-years/100 000 km with an optional service plan,  to six years/150 000 km with a three-year/90 000 km service plan included in the price.

* In defence of the Micra, it should be noted that the A/B  class bench-mark  VW Polo cost between R147 000 and R211 000 in 2011. Current Polo prices range from R245 000 to R314 000.

For good used examples of current-gen and previous-gen Nissan Micras, click here.