Nissan Micra XV DCi - Design Review

The previous generation Micra was a cute looking car with a retro influence in its design. This made it a cult favourite in both Japan and Europe. But Nissan seems to have lost the cuteness part a bit with the current one. The bulbous front-end features a split grille flanked by the headlamps that gives it an… innocent face rather than a cute one. The roofline rises up and then arches steeply towards the back while the shoulder line becomes very prominent towards the rear in a very London taxi kind of way. The rear end still has the retro influence with the itsy tail lamps and small-ish hatch opening.

The Micra can divide opinions about its styling and I guess, couples arguing over it will be a common sight as the Micra just isn’t what men would like to be seen in.

Step inside and you’re greeted by a funky-looking dash. The circular theme on the center console is well-executed, but the positioning of the buttons takes time getting used to. I found the steering wheel a tad bigger but it at least gets a chrome Nissan badge that the Micra didn’t come with initially. The clocks are simple and readable while the digital counter displays basic trip data.

The funky centre console goes with the youthful vibe inside. The smallish silver-finished enclosure holds the audio system and a there is a very cool looking orange stripe running across it. The circular arrangement for the buttons, especially the ones for the radio presets, take time getting used to. The petrol variant also gets a big circular layout for the climate control, which is absent in the diesel. The mixer knob controls for the AC look a little passé and I wish Nissan kept the interesting looking unit standard across the range.

The grey and beige theme in the cabin, with the large greenhouse elevates the impression of space. On the inside, the Micra feels roomy. Rear seat legroom is adequate although three passengers back here would still be a squeeze. To give the car better headroom, the seats are placed comparatively lower and this robs them off under thigh support. This can be tiring over long journeys. Thankfully, you can stretch your legs a bit under the front seat.

The Micra DCi comes with the usual goodies like air-conditioning, power windows, power steering, keyless entry, electric mirrors and push button start, though climate control is sorely missed and alloy wheels are an option. The quality of the materials is top notch and Nissan hasn’t compromised anything to cut costs. Any improvements? Yes, we’d certainly want better seats!