In addition to 4 decades of career, the Micra has gone from the status of a reliable car but without much charm to that of muse of the beautiful districts … before falling little by little. In 2016, the Japanese manufacturer, then allied with Renault, tried everything for all with a 5th Opus with a dynamic drawing which takes up the underside of the Clio and is made in Flins, in the Yvelines. But, once again, success is not there and, When the Micra leaves the Nissan catalog in 2023, many believe that it is definitely.
Even if the relations between Renault and Nissan are no longer what they were at the beginning of the century, it is however from the French manufacturer that the Renaissance will come. Indeed, The Japanese manufacturer decides to revive the micra, no longer using the elements of the Clio but by developing a very close cousin of the Renault 5 E-Tech. And, once again, this micra will be made in France Since it will be produced on the channels of the Douai factory.
Almost compliant copy
When it is said that the new Micra is a very close cousin of the R5, it is not a simple formula. Of course, these two models share their bowels will not surprise anyone since these divisions have become commonplace in the automotive industry. So, The Micra is based on the CMF-B EV/AMPL Small platform and uses 40 kWh/120 hp engine couples and 52 kWh/150 hp engine. For the moment, no entry-level variation taking over the 95 hp mechanics and the 40 kWh battery, which Renault markets under the name of Renault 5 E-Tech Five, is announced.
What shocks more is that the Japanese takes up a large number of visible French pieces: pavilion, doors, glazing … Admittedly, both the stern and the bow have been completely redesigned around round optics which give it a mutin air. But the family air with the Renault remains very pronounced. The future, and the order book, will tell us if this represents a brake on purchase for a large part of the customers.
Inside, the efforts are still much less since the furniture is taken up identically. Only a few presentation details are specific to the Micra. From a strict objective point of view, this interior is successful. The presentation is quite original, with harmonies of colors that avoid endless marriage and gray, the materials fairly neat and if the assemblies are not at the top level of the category, they do not reveal any major weakness.
A technical sheet without surprise
The composition of the French range of the Micra is no longer a mystery, since orders were opened a few weeks ago. However, the first deliveries will only intervene until the end of the year.
The pricing grid is close to that of the Renault 5 E-Tech, with a first price set at € 28,000 for the 40 kWh/120 hp versions and € 33,500 for the 52 kWh/150 hp. For this first leg, we had the high -end version 150 CH Evolve, billed € 36,000. Like the entire Micra range, it is eligible for the boost (ex-ecological bonus) whose minimum amount is € 3,100.
Among the serial equipment already confirmed, there are the heat pump, the Google multimedia system with connected navigation, two screens, including a tactile, 10.1 “, and a warranty of 8 years/160,000 km on the battery.
Nissan also announces autonomies in the 317 km WLTP mixed cycle for the 40 kWh battery and 416 km for that of 52 kWh, with maximum speed powers of 80 and 100 kWh. If the autonomy announced in the case of the big battery is identical to that of the equivalent Renault, it is 5 km greater with the small.
Everything is a matter of settings
The Renault 5 having been tested several times, especially in 150 hp version, by us, we did not expect any surprise from this first try. Barely installed, we actually find our marks, wedged in the driver’s siege enveloping and oblong steering wheel in our hands.
And, indeed, from the first push on the right pedal, there are known sensations. By tilting from one driving mode to another, each of them acting on the power, the responsiveness of the direction or even the air conditioning, The micra does not lack good will. Accelerations are very frank for a car with such a weight/power ratio, as long as you are in sport mode.
The proximity of a winding section therefore sounds like the promise of an excellent moment to spend with this Nissan. How not to imagine finding the bite of the front axle and the precision of the cousin’s direction from Renault? And yet …
Whether tight or not, however, the curves pose no problem with the Micra. Road behavior is neutral, even in a pin covered at high speed, and ESP is only requested in extreme cases. However, the impression of a slightly more soft steering than at Renault settled immediately. Faced with a dynamic Renault and a sports Alpine, would the Nissan have chosen sweetness to stand out?
Just browse a few kilometers on a pitious road and/or skewed to note to note, that indeed, the directors at the point have clearly chosen the comfort. The suspension absorbs bitumen imperfections better than that of the French. And, objectively, it is undoubtedly the character that best suits a car in this category.
Our test will have unfortunately been too short and carried out at an too high pace, far from the constraints of an open road, so that we can draw realistic lessons in terms of consumption and, therefore, of autonomy. But there is no technical reason for this data to be distant from that of the Renault 5 e-tech Autonomy Comfort 150 hp.
Not quite the same
It could have been feared that the Micra was only a Renault 5 decked out with projectors and round rear lights. In which case its commercial future would have seemed, at least in France where the image of the little Renault is very strong, quite blocked. But, by choosing a positioning more focused on comfort, it should seduce a significant part of buyers who will take the trouble to try it.