MICRA MANAGEMENT (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Here's a very different kind of Nissan Micra. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 51

Nissan reinvents its little Micra supermini as an EV - with more than a little help from Renault. Like its contemporaries at the upper end of the EV small segment, this car sells on style, so it's a very different kind of Micra. And a very different kind of small Nissan.

Backgroundword count: 179

In over four decades of Nissan Micra history, it's hard to spot a consistent design theme. Some were wacky (the bubble-shaped K12 MK3 of 2002), some were conservative (the Indian-built K13 MK4 of 2010) and some just edgy (the most recent K14 model of 2016). What we haven't seen though, since the Micra model line first launched here back in 1987, is much charisma. But with this sixth generation electric version, we've certainly got it now. Nissan's current financial woes are well publicised and probably explain why the brand could do little more for this MK6 design than clone its Renault Nissan Alliance partner model, the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric. The two cars are identical under the skin, Renault did all this Nissan's dynamic development and both models roll down the same French production line. None of which will matter if you like the way that Nissan has redesigned the cabin and (almost completely) redesigned the exterior. Basing your small EV on the Car of the Year-winning must-have model of the moment can't be a bad thing. Can it?

Engines and Tech Specword count: 215

There wasn't much point in Nissan changing the engineering of this Micra's Renault 5 donor model and, sure enough the Japanese maker hasn't bothered to. Which means a primary drivetrain with a 52kWh NMC lithium-ion battery pack energised by a front-mounted 150hp electric motor. An entry-level option with a 40kWh battery and a 120hp motor will also be offered, but Nissan thinks that'll be a minority choice. Suspension tune, tyre size, steering geometry - it's all taken from the Renault. The only thing that's gone the other way is three-level adjustable brake regen system including a 'One-Pedal' drive mode. That's standard from launch on this Nissan, but will be added to the 5. Despite that, driving range between charges isn't quite as good as it is with this Nissan's French cousin, probably because the Micra is a fractionally bigger car. But there's not much in it, with 193 miles claimed for the smaller battery and 253 miles for the bigger one. There are different drive modes that determine response to your right foot. You'll only get close to the stated range figure if you spend almost all your time in 'Eco', but that setting saps power considerably. Maximum output is delivered in both 'Comfort' and 'Sport', with 'Sport' (as you'd expect) offering sharper throttle response.

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