In a nutshell
- New Nissan Micra ditches the diesel to offer just one engine choice - a 1.0 turbocharged petrol.
- The new IG-T 92 engine promises to be more efficient and less polluting than any of the previous mills.
- Trim levels remain the same, but there’s uprated tech and more goodies.
- Exterior looks tweaked slightly to give the Micra ‘more elegant and athletic appearance’.
- On sale later within days.
If you crave simplicity in an age filled with choices, the no-nonsense Nissan Micra is the car for you.
For the car’s 2021 update Nissan has decided that just one engine will be available to owners - a super-efficient new petrol unit.
With the previous version you could have opted for a punchy 117 PS diesel powerplant or a 100 PS petrol unit, but both of those have been jettisoned to make the range as pared-down as possible.
What you’re left with is a new turbo-charged ‘IG-T 92’ engine that promises ‘improved fuel-efficiency and reduced emissions’, though Nissan hasn’t revealed precisely what those figures will be.
What the firm will tell us is that an ‘enhanced torque delivery curve’ gives the car more potency with fewer gear changes, ensuring a smoother more responsive drive that should prove perfect for navigating busy cities.
The engine itself should be good for around 92 PS, as the name suggests, which should translate to a 0-62mph time under 10 seconds.
The old 100 PS petrol engine was good for around 51 miles to the gallon, and emitted 103g/km of CO2, so you can expect those figures to be improved upon with the new model.
As before there are four trim levels to choose from - base Visia, through to Acenta, N-Sport, and the range-topping Tekna.
And the swankier of those trims have been improved in terms of the equipment they come with.
For example, LED headlamps are now standard on both N-Sport and Tekna grades, while 17-inch diamond cut alloys are also now standard on Tekna cars.
The Tekna models also gets an ‘Intelligent Around View Monitor’ - ie, 360 degree cameras to stop you reversing into the nearest lamppost.
When it comes to the interior, the N-Sport boasts Alcantara upholstery, as well as on the dashboard, and also features ergonomic seats designed to cosset your posterior on long journeys.
The Tekna also comes with a Bose stereo with ‘Ultra Nearfield’ speakers built into the driver’s headrest, giving you maximum enjoyment of your tunes. .
And all trims from Acenta and above come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
The exterior has been gently tweaked, too, giving the Micra what Nissan says is a ‘more elegant and athletic appearance, whilst maintaining its technologically advanced reputation’.
A Nissan spokesperson adds: “With the refreshed line-up for 2021, we have refined what we know people love about Micra.
“We’ve made it easier for customers to find the ideal grade for them and ensured the new engine keeps our drivers up to date with the latest requirements. By building on its success, and listening to our customers, we’ve arrived at a place where Micra is stronger than ever.”
And so continues the evolution of a super-mini that first debuted in Europe almost 40 years ago.
The 2021 Micra goes on sale this month. Currently lease prices are available on our Nissan Micra page here.
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