Nissan Micra DIG-S Tekna - Efficient Supercharged Engine

Nissan’s fourth-generation Micra has lacked the love and fun that characterized previous models, coming across more as a cheap provider of utility motoring. Now it gets a makeover to boost its appeal.

The nose now sports a Qashqai-like chrome ‘V’, creating a semblance of a Nissan face in place of the anonymity featured before. The front bumper and lower air intake are similarly on-brand, and a further sharpening aft tidies the tailgate and bumper.

The car gets a prominent makeover that adds a more up-market expressive look to the adorable character of the Micra.

Inside, Acenta and Tekna versions get a gloss black center console and a display screen above, able to house sat-nav and other connected telematics. The instrument graphics are sharper and the steering wheel gets a leather rim. Base Visia versions lack these enhancements, leaving the hard plastics that the top-end model’s glitz aims to distract you from.

The center console and gear shift lever also get silver finish. The added equipment includes keyless entry, start-stop button and the new parking aid system.

For all that, the Micra – least in 97bhp DIG-S from as tested here proves a much better drive than you might expect. It feels solid and steers precisely and keenly, coping well with bumps and handling with fair verve. In this commendably lightweight home (the car weights 955kg), the supercharged three-pot motor feels keen and Revvy while pulling vigorously from low engine speeds.

For all that, the Micra – least in 97bhp DIG-S from as tested here proves a much better drive than you might expect.

The range, intended to compete with Hyundai’s i20 and Kia’s Rio, begins cheaply with the base 1.2 at $14,925. The DIG-S Tekna looks less tempting at $21075, although the 95g/km CO₂ score is a draw.

The major change lies in the front end of the new Micra which is prominent and completely redesigned.