With most cars a large portion of the story is about what you get for the money, and I suppose that’s the same story with the
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
new Nissan Micra. It’s just that the money is so low for a base Micra S that the story isn’t only about what you get. Rather I’m tempted to dwell on what you don’t get.
Focusing on the negative would do the Micra and you a disservice though. After all, you can buy a brand new, fully warranted 2015 Nissan Micra for just $9,998 plus $1,450 in freight and dealer prep charges. That makes it the lowest priced new vehicle available in Canada. To put the Micra into perspective, the next cheapest car is Chevy’s even smaller Spark with a window sticker almost $2,000 higher at $11,995, and then as if adding vinegar to the wound the bowtie bunch tacks on a pricier $1,600 freight and pre-delivery charge that pushes the Spark’s MSRP $2,147 above the Micra. What about the base Mitsubishi Mirage ES? Also smaller, it’ll cost you $12,498 plus an identical $1,450 in destination and prep charges, although unsurprisingly Mitsu has a $2,500 cash discount on the hood of this little number that puts it dead even with the Micra’s $9,998 price tag. Something
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
to think about if you’ve got $11,500 in hard-earned cash burning a hole in your pocket.
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that most new entry-level car buyers either lease or finance their little bundles of joy. After all, one of the best reasons to buy a new car instead of something pre-owned is no or little money down plus ultra-cheap interest rates, meaning that you can use your cash for something more important like your mortgage (or saving for the down-payment of an upcoming mortgage).
After “building” a 2015 Micra S (mine costing an extra $135 for Metallic Blue paint) on Nissan Canada’s retail site the configuration tool showed an option of leasing at $156 per month or financing at $170. The former was a $0-down/no-trade 60-month lease (with an unspecified buyout), probably workable
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
for most incomes, but the latter was a $0-down/no-trade 84-month purchase plan that your accountant would highly recommend you shorten if you can, both at 5.99 percent annual interest. Still, we’re talking ultra-affordable transportation here. Either option is a mere $78 every two weeks! That’s $39 per week folks… $5.57 per day… yes, forgo your daily ritual Tazo Green Tea Crème Frappuccino and you’ve got this covered! Seriously though, you can get into a Micra S for just a bit more than a bus pass in most Canadian metropolitan areas, and depending on where you live, the insurance will only cost you… well, if you’ve only budgeted for transit you’d better figure that one out before setting off to your local Nissan dealership.
On that note, most people probably think a sub-$10k car is only about point A-to-B transportation,
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
a vehicle to get you to work or school safely, reliably, in reasonable comfort, fairly quickly (or at least quicker than the bus) and warmly (I had to throw that one in for all my friends anywhere east of the Rockies). But honestly, I had way too much fun in the Micra S. Consider that the Chevy Spark I just mentioned is powered by an 84-horsepower 1.2-litre four-cylinder with 84 lb-ft of torque and the Mitsubishi Mirage is even less exciting no thanks to a 74-horsepower 1.2-litre three-cylinder with 74 lb-ft of torque and you’ll see why the Micra’s tire-spinning 109 horsepower 1.6-litre four-cylinder with 107 lb-ft of torque had me smiling all week.
It’s difficult to be responsible in the base Micra S, its acceleration so strong, five-speed manual so engaging, clutch take-up so ideally progressive, ABS/EBD/BA-enhanced
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
front disc, rear drum brakes so capable (it’s only hauling down 1,044 kilos/2,302 lbs after all), and handling so much better than its tall narrow proportions and 15-inch steel wheels on 185/60R15 all-season tires should allow, that it feels like a little rally car. The engine and exhaust note even gets the adrenaline going, likely due (in part at least) by the motor’s dual continuously variable timing control, snorting and gurgling like a tot-sized racer, as mischievous sounding from inside as it is from the outside. Don’t get me wrong as it’s hardly obnoxious, but you can tell the people behind its design are the same rowdy bunch that brought us the zippy Juke Nismo, brilliant 370Z and ultimately insane GT-R. I won’t get silly by claiming the Micra can measure up to the performance of any of these much pricier Nissans, but the DNA is there and the fun factor, even at its ridiculously low price (for the price of a GT-R you can buy 10 Micras and a year’s gas for each one), rates higher than anything else in its class.
For
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
those not as interested in pure performance, the Micra’s highway ride was a lot better than I expected too, with smooth and comfortable control at slightly higher than posted freeway speeds, plus absolutely no unnerving bounce from the suspension when going over expansion joints or uneven pavement, something smaller cars can do when they reach high-speed roadway imperfections. Likewise it was a joy around town, not a bit rough even over less than ideal inner-city pavement and oh so easy to maneuver through tight lanes and even tighter parking lots.
And yes, power steering is included with the base Micra S, and not just any power steering but the speed-sensitive type that actually firms up as you go faster and becomes easier to steer while parking, while the steering column tilts to improve comfort
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
and visibility of the primary gauges. Those gauges are an attractive set that includes a central speedometer and tachometer just to the left, plus a grouping of warning lights making up the majority of the right-side “dial”, a small LCD trip computer with an odometer and fuel gauge just below these. The steering wheel is naturally without switchgear, a multifunction leather-wrapped one available higher up in the trim range, but it had a thick and comfortable polyurethane rim with nicely shaped thumb spats.
Looking across the dash to the centre stack reveals a fully integrated LCD display audio system featuring an AM/FM radio and single CD/MP3/WMA player plus an aux plug, but alas no USB port. It gave me an excuse to dig through my mostly unused
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
drawer of electronic gadgets to find my old 12-volt dual-USB adapter (don’t need that much anymore) and my old aftermarket Bluetooth hands-free device (ditto). The four-speaker audio system sounds pretty good by the way, its standard speed-sensitive volume control compensating for my exuberant right foot and Radio Data System (RDS) technology letting me know which new band was filling the cabin with tunes.
As good as this sounds let’s be clear about the Micra S, though. It’s ultimately devoid of creature comforts. Lay down your $10k and change and you’ll need to roll down your own windows, unlock and lock each door separately by using the key (or by first locking the doors from the inside and then pulling the outside door handles out while closing them in the old fashion style – the rear doors don’t need
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
you to hold the door handle while closing), and ladies you better bring along your own mirror if you want to check your smile as there’s nothing under the sun visors except roofliner. Still, the wipers are variable intermittent, the standard floor mats are high-quality carpeting with “Micra” embroidered on each one in white, nice chrome and satin-silver trim graces the interior, the glove box is massive, front and rear seating area plenty spacious (although the rear cushions are a bit hard), 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks standard (but you’ll need to remove their headrests to get them down and they don’t fold completely flat), the cargo
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
area is capacious at 408 litres (14.4 cubic feet) behind those rear seatbacks or 820 litres (28.9 cubic feet) when they’re flipped down, while the standard menu also includes stability and traction control and a full assortment of airbags. Nice big door pockets have ample room for maps, sunglasses and even the one-litre refillable water bottle that I take everywhere, although I had to remove it before rolling down the windows – sigh. Ah, the things we take for granted in most modern cars that quickly become apparent when something simpler and much cheaper tempts us.
Speaking of temptations, you might want to spring for the upgraded Micra SV after testing the S. There’s something wonderfully elemental about the base model, I know, but after spending a week unlocking and locking each door separately, not to mention the hatchback, I was wishing for power door locks at the
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
very least. I think Nissan should make these a standalone option, but as it is you’ll need to spend a considerable $3,700 to get them, along with a great deal more of course. Remote keyless entry is included with the powered locks, while the aforementioned Bluetooth hands-free phone pairing is also standard with this option. Additionally the SV includes illuminated steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls plus air conditioning (these two standard if you get an S with an automatic transmission, but that ups the price by a whopping $3,300 – only $1,000 in other trims), as well as body-colour door handles, body-colour mirror caps with remote powered and heated mirrors within, powered windows with one-touch driver’s up/down, a six-way manual driver’s seat (although my base seat was very comfortable), driver’s seat armrest, upgraded cloth upholstery and door trim (the standard black peach fuzz – not the best descriptor, granted – was nevertheless warm and cozy), a passenger’s side assist grip and a rear cargo cover.
Just
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
above the SV is the Krom edition, which seems like more of a tuner-influenced custom than anything a mainstream brand would envision. In actuality Nissan has offered Krom models before, the wonderfully oddball (and sadly now deceased) Cube Krom adding yet more spice to that literal high roller. For $14,797 the Micra Krom adds chrome side mirror caps, chrome exterior door handles, chrome side mouldings and a chrome trunk entry guard to the SV model, plus extremely cool 15-inch piano-black painted alloy rims, a large roof graphic, “KROM” badging and a 4.3-inch colour display audio system upgrade with a rearview monitor.
And remember I mentioned the leather-clad steering wheel? That comes in the top-line Micra SR, which I must admit is a car that I’d like to play with. For just $15,748 it gets some of the same upgrades as the Krom, including the 4.3-inch display audio/rearview camera system and chrome exterior accents, plus special sport
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
headlights and taillights, front fog lamps, black side mirror caps, side sill spoilers, a black rear spoiler, a chrome exhaust tip, and a superb looking set of 16-inch alloys on 185/55R16 all-season tires, plus inside it comes with a leather-wrapped shifter knob when you stick with the manual gearbox, plus sport cloth upholstery, and that coveted USB port.
All of this sounds exciting, but let’s get back to the reality of my Micra S for a moment, as quite likely you’re reading this review because money is an issue. Take comfort in knowing that Nissan won’t leave you without a few ways to dress up your racy little runabout via dealer-added accessories that can be opted for anytime after your initial purchase. For instance, the standard matte black mirror caps and door handles can be swapped out for a very cool Nismo-inspired metallic wine
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
colour (or four other colours), the former as part of the $199 City package that also adds sport stripes or as a $139 standalone option, and the latter a standalone option costing $239. A rear roof spoiler can be added as well for $399, or a chrome exhaust tip for $49, coloured wheel caps for $139, but then again if you’re going to dress up plastic wheel covers why not go for a set of real 15-inch alloys at only $799. There are loads of additional accessories available to help you personalize your Micra, and also remember that some of the more critical equipment that comes as part of the SV, such as Bluetooth connectivity, the USB port, etcetera, can be bought in the aftermarket allowing you to enjoy a truly inexpensive car with all of today’s necessities included.
At the end of my very busy week that caused me to drive right across the city and back
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
twice plus all about town for umpteen errands, none of which had me driving even close to my usual eco/wallet-conscientious hypermiling crawl (the Micra was way too fun for that), I dropped a mere $23 worth of regular unleaded into its 41-litre tank at $1.20 per litre. And that’s the other big Micra story, great fuel economy. Its Natural Resources Canada numbers are 8.6 L/100km city and 6.6 highway for the manual and 8.8 city and 6.6 highway for the four-speed auto, not that much off of the comparatively anemic Spark’s 7.5 city, 6.0 highway rating for the manual and 7.7, 6.1 rating for the autobox, although not as good as the Mirage manual’s 7.0 city and 5.5 highway rating or that car’s even better 6.4, 5.3 auto rating. But then again, you can buy a lot of gas for the $2,500 you’ll save on the Micra at the time of purchase.
This
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
is obviously how most Canadians see it, as the new Micra outsold the Mirage by almost two-to-one last year with sales of 7,815 units compared to 4,048, whereas it completely obliterated the Spark’s measly 1,577 unit total, and that’s only after a partial year (it went on sale in April 2014). If the Micra manages to maintain last month’s sales of 679 deliveries (and let’s face it, last month was a bit of an economic downer) it’ll go on to sell a total of 8,148 units, which will put it on par with subcompact stalwarts like the Toyota Yaris and Ford Fiesta. That wouldn’t be bad for a newbie with a classic nameplate. Of course, it could also do a lot better once news about just how good the Micra is gets out.
Helping people take notice, the Mexican-built Micra is way better looking than the Korean-made Chevy or Thai-assembled Mitsu, or at least that’s my take. Others I asked like the little tyke too, mind you, with something along the lines of “cute” being the usual comment, while the aerodynamically wavy roof design is brilliant!
So at the end of a weeklong test, what’s my advice? If you’re searching for a truly entry-level car, have way more fun and save way more money with the Micra.
©(Copyright Canadian Auto Press)
