- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He
Little long-liver
The Nissan Micra is a compact front-wheel drive car produced by Nissan (Japan) since 1982. At different times it had different bodies: 3 and 5-door hatchbacks and convertibles. As of 2021, there are already five generations on the market, the last of which, a hatchback restyled in 2020, can be purchased in Israel.
In Japan, Asia and Latin America, the car is known as the March. The first and second generation Micra was produced for ten years in a row. With its ‘bulging’ headlights, the third generation resembled a frog. The fourth generation was sold in over 160 countries. Designed primarily for Europe, the fifth generation car has been produced since 2017.
The first generation
It was produced from 1982 to 1992. Back in 1976, the famous Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro showed to the Nissan management his sketches of a compact car designed for the European market. At that time, the Japanese were already working on a similar project and loved the stylish Italian design. First, a prototype was created on its basis, and the production model went on sale in Japan in 1982.
The car was originally produced in a 3-door body only, featuring an advanced 1.0-liter all-aluminum engine with an overhead camshaft. The lightweight and resourceful engine was a revelation against the background of old primitive cast-iron engines. In 1989, the 5-door version debuted. It was possible to order a new 1.2-liter electronic controlled carburetor with 60 hp.
The Nissan Micra practically did not break down. In 2006, Auto Express conducted a study that showed that almost 30% of the models sold in 1983-1992 in the UK were still up and running! In total, approximately 1.65 million first-generation March/Micra cars were manufactured, of which 888 thousand were sold in Europe.
The second generation
It was produced from 1992 to 2003. The second Micra was available in 3 and 5-door versions, had rounded shapes and quickly became popular among young people. Technically, the car changed a lot. It acquired a newly designed highly efficient 1.0- and 1.3-liter 16-valve engine with two overhead camshafts, which was equipped with a fuel injection system and developed 55 and 75 hp, respectively.
The Nissan Micra was equipped in a similar fashion to the higher-end cars: power bars in the doors, seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters, anti-lock braking, airbags and climate control. The second Micra won the European Car of 1993 title. The little Nissan was the first Japanese car to win this important award.
The car remained popular for 10 years, during which time some improvements were made: the 1.3-liter engine was replaced by a more powerful 1.4-liter (85 hp) version, while the 1.0-liter engine was boosted to 60 hp. In total, approximately 2.54 million second-generation vehicles were produced, of which 1.3 million were sold in Europe.
The third generation
It was produced from 2002 to 2010. The third-generation Micra showed that the alliance with Renault was good for Nissan. The rounded elements, bulging headlights and equipment typical of big cars impressed journalists and buyers alike. The new model set the standard for all super compact cars that followed. Distinctive features of the third Micra included: a large passenger compartment, a choice of four engines, superb equipment. The car could provide the following non-standard for that time perks: a removable rear seat, which made it possible to choose between the comfort of passengers or a place for luggage, a neat compartment under the front passenger’s seat, which was used for second pair of shoes, an on-board computer, which, for example, could congratulate the driver on his/her birthday.
In 2005, the car acquired new bumpers strengthened for the contact European parking lots, improved interior trim and a new 1.6 liter (110 hp) engine. About 1.63 million third-generation vehicles were produced, of which 822 thousand were sold in Europe.
The fourth generation
It was produced from 2010 to 2017 only in a 5-door hatchback version. The fourth Micra, created on a new corporate platform, combined excellent dynamics with high fuel efficiency. The car acquired new 1.2-liter 3-cylinder petrol engines (80 hp and 98 hp with direct injection). Most of the competitors became significantly larger, but the Micra remained a small city car of almost the same size with rounded shapes, but with a more modern design. The superb equipment included several innovative systems: navigation and a parking control system.
In 2013, after the restyling, the car featured a new front face, designed in compliance with the general corporate style of other Nissan models, new LED taillights, an upgraded interior with a completely new console and the latest NissanConnect telecommunications system.
The fifth generation
It was produced from 2017 to the present, and was restyled at the end of 2020. The new Micra has become completely different. The car immediately attracts attention with its characteristic body lines, an expressive radiator grille, boomerang-shaped headlights, sharp sidewall lines and a ‘floating’ roof. The 2017/2018 Nissan Micra 5-door hatchback is lower, wider and longer, equipped with more compact turbo engines, a sports chassis and many innovative safety systems.
It is equipped with several engines to choose from: a 0.9-liter turbocharged petrol 3-cylinder engine and a 1.5-liter turbocharged diesel, both developing 90 hp, as well as a 1.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine (70 hp). The increased body width and wheelbase have created one of the most spacious interiors in its class. Additional parts and elements for personalizing the car, both inside and out, allow 125 different options to be created, enabling the owners of the new Micra to assemble the car based on own preference.
The new Nissan Micra is equipped with features that are traditional for the premium segment, such as the around view monitor and active lane keeping assist. In addition, for the first time, an intelligent emergency braking system with pedestrian recognition as well as traffic sign recognition and blind spot warning systems are offered.
2020 restyling
Back in 2019, Nissan completely renewed its engine range: the previous 0.9-liter engines were replaced by new 1.0-liter turbocharged engines with 100 or 117 hp. The restyled model has acquired a CVT (prior to it, there was only a manual transmission). The Xtronic CVT is paired with a 100-hp engine.
The 2020 Nissan Micra has not experienced too many significant changes. Its exterior features a different pattern of the radiator grille, while its interior has a new media system. But there is a new N-Design version, which, among others, is sold in Israel and is the most important one. This hatchback is most easily identified by the two-tone 16-inch alloy wheels and special inserts on the bumpers, doors and side mirror housings (silver or black to choose from). The passenger compartment features fabric upholstery of the seats with gray inserts and imitation leather on the dashboard, center tunnel and door panels.
