Insurance Group: N/A
MPG: 56.5
CO2: 115
0-62 Mph: 13.7 secs
BHP: 79 BHP
Range: 510 miles
PROS: The Acenta is the pick of the range and provides great features such as alloy wheels, climate control and cruise control at an affordable price. It is easy to drive, offers excellent fuel economy and has a spacious cabin.
CONS: The Micra falls behind some similarly priced rivals when it comes to the quality of the drive, handling, refinement and interior quality.
The Micra’s 1.2 litre, three cylinder, 12v petrol engine produces 79bhp at 6000 rpm, while the torque figures stand at 81lb-ft at 4000 rpm. This translates to a top speed of 106 mph, whilst 0-62 mph takes a fairly length 13.7 seconds.
The alternative 97 bhp DIG-S unit is supercharged but is designed for economy rather than performance. Whilst it is stronger than the lower-powered 1.2 unit it still lacks pace compared to rival models.
Handling is not a stand-out attribute where the Micra is concerned and there is a lot of body-roll and lean through bends. The light steering becomes heavier the faster you travel but lacks feel and the fails to instil confidence in the driver.
The engine is relatively quiet and refined at cruising speed. However there is a lot of wind and road noise, especially when travelling at faster speeds.
Most of the dashboard controls are easy to use, but a couple of instruments are hidden from view which can cause difficulties. All-round visibility is excellent due to the car’s big windows and thin pillars.
The steering wheel adjusts for height but not reach and there is no seat-height adjustment. The seats also fail to provide enough support for drivers and passengers, meaning comfort levels are a little compromised.
The Micra is not the most exciting car to look at but the revamped headlamps on the latest version are an improvement. Unfortunately, the plastics inside the cabin feel cheap and flimsy.
This mid-range Acenta comes equipped with a good level of equipment, including alloy wheels, cruise control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, a stereo with MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.
A metallic paint finish, rear-parking sensors and satellite navigation are available at additional cost, with the higher grade Tekna offering the latter two of these features as standard fittings.
The Micra is smaller than many rivals but there is still a fair amount of space inside. There is enough headroom and legroom for adults to be comfortable in the back but the boot is smaller than some competitors with 265 litres of space offered when the seats are in place and only 605 litres available when the seats are down.
All Micras come with front, side and curtain airbags, emergency brake assist, stability control and an alarm as standard. However, its four-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating is not as good as some of its rivals.
That being said, Nissan’s reliability record is excellent and the Micra is one of its most consistent performers, so it should be trouble-free. The car comes with a three-year warranty for 60,000 miles for additional reassurance.
The Acenta is priced at 11,150 which is more expensive than the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen up!
The Micra 1.2 12v Acenta has low running costs and comes under a low road tax band: C. It incurs a low insurance premium coming under insurance bracket 5 and also benefits from excellent green credentials with a Euro 5 emissions rating and a carbon footprint of just 115g/km. Fuel economy is excellent, with the Micra delivering 56.5mpg on the combined cycle.
The Micra 1.2 12v Acenta is a good prospect for families and first time buyers who want an affordable, economical supermini.
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