Nissan unveils facelifted Micra 05 | 06 | 2013
NISSAN IS BIDDING to shed the Micra of its budget tag by giving it a substantial makeover, both inside and out. The changes, which include new looks for the front and rear ends of the car's exterior, are part of a mid-life revamp.
According to the Japanese manufacturer, the changes are “comprehensive”, and go “deeper than a mere makeover”.
In a targeted effort to move the car upwards, away from the budget end of the supermini sector and towards the established sector leaders, such as the Ford Fiesta, the Micra also benefits from a glut of new technology and entertainment options.
The revamped model enters Scottish showrooms in September, with only a nominal price increase expected over the pre-facelifted versions.
Externally the new Micra gets a new front grille, bonnet, bumper, headlights and foglight surrounds. At the rear, in addition to a redesigned bumper, there's also new LED lights and revised tailgate trim.
There's also a host of new options, including new alloy wheel designs, a park-assist system, more exterior colour choices and a panoramic glass roof.
Inside the Micra's cabin, there's also a new centre console with a larger, 5.8-inch touchscreen featuring the latest NissanConnect infotainment system, complete with Google search technology.
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The car's visual appearance is boosted by the addition of new trim and higher-quality fabrics and textured plastics.
Nissan has also opted to increase the standard spec of the entry-level Visia: mid-range Acenta and top-spec Tekna versions have also been improved.
There's now multiple airbags, ABS, ESP, power steering, a CD player with auxiliary and USB connections, remote central locking, and electric front windows on the entry-level Visia.
The mid-range Acenta models now get automatic wipers and lights, front foglights, Bluetooth connectivity and 15in alloys.
By stepping up to the range-topping Tekna, in addition to the Acenta spec, buyers also get parking sensors, park-assist, keyless start, the 'NissanConnect' sat-nav and media system, climate control, 'suede-like' seat fabric, folding door mirrors and 16in alloys.
Owners of the new Micra, from the Acenta spec upwards, can also stylise their own car with a selection of personalisation tweaks. These include customising the gearknob, air vents, gear-stick surround and floor mats, as well as specifying the colour of the wheel centre caps and door mirrors.
Engine line-up remains the same, with Nissan's entry-level 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol and the 1.2-litre supercharged petrol DIG-S. The latter emits just 95g/km of CO2 and manages a claimed 68.9mpg.
All cars come with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, though a CVT transmission is optional.
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Jim McGill