Nissan Micra

On the inside, the Nissan Micra lacks that sense of novelty which is highly required in the present era of cut-throat competition. The overall round theme of the exterior has been pronounced furthermore by the steering wheel with round centre boss and circular buttons on it, round AC vents, and round casing for the manual AC controls.

The center console looks a bit dated, however the Micra’s 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system acts as a grace saver. The other noteworthy features in the cabin of the Nissan Micra are push-button start with keyless entry, height adjustable driver’s seat, electrically adjustable and foldable rear view mirrors. However, we would have loved to see few more modern day features which could have helped to mask the dated appeal of the interiors of Micra. Apart from that, the Micra further impresses you with its decent knee room and ample legroom, making it one of the most spacious entry-level cars in the country.

As compared to the ravishing all-new Micra sold in Europe, the UAE market continues getting the previous generation Micra, which from day one has remained understated in terms of design. While it certainly isn’t bad to look at, it doesn’t generate a ‘wow’ factor in today’s day and age.

At the front, you do get two bulging curvy headlamps, with the characteristic V-shaped chrome grille from Nissan at the centre. We would have definitely loved to see LED elements in the front headlamps, though Nissan has chosen to go the path of simplicity in the overall design. The rounded profile of the hatchback continues on the sideways as well. However, the side profile looks a bit bland in our opinion, with the rounded edges for the windows and no character lines on the sides making it look a bit plain by today’s standards. The only pretty thing on the side happens to be the beautiful 15-inch alloy wheels. At the rear too, things are not too great, with the petite LED tail lamps and the large curvy windshield completing the look at the back. However, the roof mounted spoiler adds some sportiness to the otherwise generic appeal of the Micra.

Given the tall boy stance, the Nissan Micra might not be as fun to drive as its many other similarly priced rivals. However, the light steering and taut suspension – independent struts at the front and torsion beam at the rear – are tuned for a light and stress-free driving in city conditions. Also, the large 15-inch wheels and a small turning radius of 4.7 meters make the Micra a perfect car for your city commutes.

The little hatchback from Nissan is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which it shares with the Nissan Sunny. The engine is good enough to produce a maximum power output of 99 PS and a peak torque output of 137 Nm of torque. Mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, the engine feels responsive if not overly powerful, with a smooth and refined linear power delivery making the Micra a breeze to drive.

Despite being an entry level city-oriented compact hatchback, Nissan has tried to equip the Micra with the basic essential safety features. The Micra does get dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, tire pressure monitoring system, traction control, and electronic stability program.

Given its previous generation notion, the Nissan Micra available in the UAE does lack the novelty appeal and might not impress you with its dated exterior design and interior cabin. However, there is more to the Micra than what meets the eye. The interior cabin space, engine performance, supple ride quality and city maneuverability are perfect enough to make it a practical family car at entry level point.