It's been a long and ardous journey for Nissan India. They kicked started in India with the X-Trail and the Teana and then the Japanese company said, Well, hold on there, we think India is a good market to invest in. And then we saw back to back launches of the hatchback-Micra and the sedan- Sunny. Though we Indians liked the car, we didn't go ballistic about it and attributed most of the 'non-buying-criteria' to the price of the car, when compared to its competitors. But Nissan India has taken this criticism to task and has just showed what it can really do.
To be very frank, one of the other weakest points of the Micra has been the interiors. No one is pointing their fingers at the quality, but you do admit that it was bland and lacked flair. But, that was then and now, Nissan has taken a giant leap and the interiors are more than just warm and welcoming.
With the new piano black gloss trim around the center console, and the fabric on the door pads, the interiors, get a much needed facelift and now get a more premium look. Of course, you get more equipments in the inside like Bluetooth and USB connectivity on all trim levels, and a rear view camera on select models. Putting that much into a car will surely up the ante for Nissan, as the competition is already fierce in this segment.
The revised front-end certainly makes a strong statement for the Micra. The frog-look is done away with and it looks like the Micra just put on a tuxedo and is now ready to party. The stately front-end design transforms the appearance of the whole car.
The Micra is not the shy car anymore, it is confident, attractive and a looker. The minor changes to the rear end do play a role here, but, mostly, the credit goes to the front end with its Samurai helmet inspired upward moustache in the front grille. The new alloy wheels just add to the overall appearance of this rejuvenated hatch.
When I first drove the predecessor, it was one of the most enchanting experiences of my life. The diesel more so was even more pleasurable as I remember chasing down a 3 Series without a hitch on the highway.
Might I say, all those qualities of fun, comfort and stress-free driving have been retained and this face-lift version is a samurai on four wheels - quick and agile. With 64bhp power at your disposal and 160Nm torque at as low as 2000 rpm, the 1.5 litre diesel engine once again proves its versatility as it offers a phenomenal performance in both city and highway conditions, coupled with good fuel efficiency.
This time around though, Nissan focuses more on the CVT transmission offered with the petrol engine. Nissan is touting it as one of the most efficient engine-gearbox combos in its segment. We have seen the same CVT in the Scala and the Sunny, and well, it has its plus and minus points.
While the efficiency is touted to be more than that of the manual transmission, it does have a certain lag when it comes to power delivery. The rubber band effect, which is a signature problem with CVT transmissions, only seems exaggerated in this case because of the low torque output of the 1.2-litre petrol engine.
It is a spritely character - the Micra and considering the road conditions in India, Nissan does a good job in keeping the car stable and up to the mark. It could certainly do with additional damping to attenuate the engine noise, which, at higher rpm's, is more of a yell than a small cry. Other than that, the car is a breeze to drive - the controls are light, it's easy to handle, and the driving experience is pleasing.
Nissan has made a point and this well built, attractive, spacious, and well equipped Micra does justice to all the effort that the Japanese company has taken to up the ante. It has managed to give it qualities that will make it a success here. With prices starting from Rs 4.80 lakhs ( ex-showroom Delhi) , Nissan has certainly gone out the whole hog and made a proposition, you just cannot refuse.
It did not give me any trouble for eight and half years, then the alternator developed an intermitent fault as well as a faulty exhaust gas sensor. On the whole I am quite happy to have a car that can give me reasonably trouble free service for nine years. I am happy with any car that can last for ten to twelve years of reasonably trouble free service
Apart from one or two small things like the windscreen wiper motor, nothing has gone wrong with it in all the time that I have owned it. it starts easily. It uses more fuel than when it was new but the tax is low and has just passed its mot with only a few problems with lights.
57-reg Petrol, Owner for 1 to 3 years
I needed a small economic reliable car having had a disastrous experience with my Renault.My Micra has turned out to be all of those things except for journeys of over 4 hours when it can get to beuncomfortable.But it is a low priced car and I was aware of what I was getting.
55-reg Petrol, Owner for 1 to 3 years
Good value, very reliable, boot is a bit small, diesels are hard to find used, nothing gone wrong other than replacement tyres and servicing - we own two at the moment and are considering replacing the older one with another newer one in about two years time
2007-reg Petrol, Owner for 1 to 3 years
Cars central locking became very noisy just outside warranty. apparently nissan knew of this problem. very expensive to fix. electric roof also has developed an expensive to solve problem. Spark plugs are a special type and need replacing on a major service.
1997-reg Petrol, Owner for 1 to 3 years
It's had some problems due to age, but compared to other old car's I've had, this one has been the most reliable and I'm not afraid to go out in it and have it break. Costs most in repairs due to age. fuel is expensive - but that's purely the price I think.
1998-reg Petrol, Owner for more than 5 years
Been excellent since I bought it second hand. most reliable car that I have ever owned. Cheap to run except insurance is higher than I would expect for a old 998cc engined car. ( I have a 31 year clean driving record) .
2009-reg Diesel, Owner for 3 to 5 years
Zero reliability problems. Excellent fuel costs.no spares required other than consumables.tyres a sensible aspect ratio and therefore reasonable price.service costs
2005-reg Petrol, Owner for more than 5 years
It is usually reliable, although I have had problems with the keyless locking and the boot refusing to shut, thus draining the battery. I don't really drive it enough to have an opinion.
