Meet the brand new 2014 New Nissan Micra

Some car designs are irredeemably feminine, but they still have a strong, unique character. The previous generation Nissan Micra (March in some markets) was one such car. 

With its oval headlamps, the simple, compact front looks and the nearly semi-circular roofline, the previous generation Micra was a bit effeminate, but undeniably cute.

The current generation Micra, launched in India in 2010, lost much of that ‘stand-out in the crowd’ looks. There was an attempt at bringing in some of the design elements from the previous-gen, but it was over-focused on practicality and less exciting in terms of design. Don’t get me wrong, the current generation Micra is a good car, it is just not very eye-catching.

A mid-generation facelift has been overdue. So Nissan’s plan to launch a refreshed version of the Micra soon is very welcome news. 

The new, refreshed Micra has seen the most number of changes at the front. All the three body panels (two side and bonnet slab) and the front bumper have been changed and the result is a more aggressive and completely new frontal looks. The bonnet grille gets a honey-comb pattern and there is the new V-theme built into the chrome sash that adorns the grille just below the Nissan logo. This theme extends onto the V-shaped ridge on the bonnet and the airdam below the grille.

The headlamps feature a new design now, though the peeled back, bug-eyed overall appearance continues. A curved bottom edge and the kink on the outer corners of the headlamps give them a new look. The lamps’ combination has also accordingly changed. The bumper is now larger and bulges forward even more, swallowing almost all of the facelifted Micra’s increased length of 45 mm. The top variants of the Micra will now also feature a triangular foglamp with chrome housing.

The rest of the Micra’s exterior design has been retained. The roofline, the straight shoulder line, the door design and the door mirrors are all the same as the previous generation’s. However, the rear of the facelifted Micra gets some changes including a new bumper and a new set of tail-lamps with a line of LED brake lights. The overall design of the tail-lamps remain the same.

 The exterior design changes finally gives the current generation Micra a bit more character and uniqueness. There is also the feel of a more premium build quality that comes through. This is a very essential trait for the Micra given the fact that the affordable small car from group brand Datsun is due out by early next year.

 Interiors

 

The exterior facelift leaves a bigger impression on you than the changes to the interior, but some additions in the cabin have improved the Micra’s appeal. The new piano black panelling with polished aluminium side panels for the centre stack immediately grabs your attention when you get into the car. 

There is also the addition of steering mounted controls for the music system. The seat upholstery has been changed to a more plush beige velour fabric that offers more comfort and grip at just the right places. The door inserts too use the same fabric. The overall fit and finish quality seems to have improved marginally, but the dashboard plastic quality remains the same. The rest of the interior remains the same as the pre-facelift model.

The refreshed Micra’s overall length has increased by 45 mm, but that has not translated into an increase in the wheelbase. So, there is no increase in the space available inside the car. But, that is no reason to complain, because the Micra was always quite spacious, with considerable legroom at the rear. 

We test drove a mid-trim variant of the facelifted Micra and the amount of equipment available is quite good, with many of the features being standard across variants. Nissan engineers have supposedly worked on improving the NVH (noise, vinration and harshness) levels to improved comfort levels in the cabin. While the cabin felt quieter in the petrol variant, there didn’t seem to be much of an improvement in the diesel variant. If the music system had offered speed-sensing auto volume control, maybe the cabin noise level wouldn’t have been that obvious. The only other gripe is that the steering wheel that has been carried forward from the predecessor feels puny. 

Performance 

The new facelifted Micra features the same two engines in the same state of tune. The 3-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine has seen a slightly bumped up peak power level (80 PS) in some other markets, but here it continues to offer the same 76 PS of peak power at 6,000 rpm and 104 Nm of peak torque from 4,000 rpm. The diesel engine is also the same 4-cylinder, 16-valve, 1,461cc mill that generates 64 PS of peak power and maximum torque of 160 Nm from a low 2,000 rpm.

The only difference is that now the petrol version of the Micra is also being offered with an automatic transmission. The same CVT gearbox used in the Sunny XTRONIC CVT has been put to work in the Micra. This continuously variable transmission continues to be set at a high ratio of 7.2 and has been paired with the 1.2-litre engine to offer higher fuel efficiency than the 5-speed manual transmission version. Nissan claims that the new petrol CVT powertrain offers a mileage of 19.34 kmpl (Nissan internal estimates, not ARAI rated), whereas the manual transmission variant offers a mileage of 18.44 kmpl. 

One of the outcomes of that strong focus on fuel efficiency, especially in city driving conditions, is that the Micra CVT feels quite dull on the highway. Stomp the throttle and there is considerable gearbox whine, though there are no shift shocks as the transmission progresses from one notional gear slot into the next. The response from the engine seems delayed and then seems restrained intentionally. In sport mode, the response is better, but the efficiencies are most likely to be much lower. 

The diesel version is offered with the same 5-speed manual transmission and this combination is still rated to offer 23.08 kmpl in test conditions. 

Bottomline 

There are three variants (trim levels, including one CVT variant) of the petrol engine, and four variants of the diesel engine to choose from. 

The facelift has improved the overall appeal of the Micra. Standard equipment levels including some safety and comfort features will certainly boost the value proposition too. Hopefully, Nissan will keep any price increase on the new versions to a minimum. Currently the prices for the Micra range from Rs 4.3 lakh to Rs 6.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The 2014 Micra will be available at Nissan showrooms by the end of this month. 

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