Nissan Micra 1.2 12v Tekna 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The Tekna’s 1.2 litre, three cylinder, 12v petrol engine produces 79bhp at 6000 rpm, while the torque figures stand at 81 lb-ft at 4000 rpm. This translates to a top speed of 106mph, whilst the car takes a rather length 13.7 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.

Handling is not a stand-out attribute where the Tekna is concerned and there is a lot of body-lean through bends. The light steering becomes heavier the faster you travel but lacks feel and the car fails to give the driver confidence in corners. The engine is relatively quiet, particularly at cruising speeds, however a lot of wind and road noise infiltrates the cabin.

Most of the dashboard controls are easy to use but a couple of instruments are hidden from view. All-round visibility is excellent due to the car’s big windows and thin pillars but getting comfortable can be an issue as the steering wheel and driver's seat lacks adjustment and support.

The Micra is not the most exciting car to look at, but at least it is a more conventional looking car than its predecessor. The interior feels a little dated however and the plastics inside the cabin feel cheap and flimsy.

In terms of equipment, this Tekna model offers rear parking sensors, satellite navigation and automatic lights and wipers in addition to the already extensive list offered by the cheaper Acenta model. This comes with alloy wheels, cruise control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, a stereo with MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

The Micra is smaller than many rivals but there is still a decent amount of space inside, with enough headroom and legroom for adults to be comfortable in the back. Unfortunately the boot is smaller than in some of its rivals, offering 265 litres of storage capacity with the rear seats in place and 605 litres when the seats are folded down.

All Micras come with front, side and curtain airbags, emergency brake assist, stability control and an alarm as standard safety features. However, its four-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating is not as good as some of its rivals.

In terms of reliability, Nissan’s record and reputation are excellent and the Micra should be endlessly reliable. Buyers should benefit from years of trouble-free ownership but a three year warranty for 60,000 miles is offered just in case.

The Tekna is priced at £12,650 which is more expensive than its rivals the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. This top of the range model offers an impressive array of standard equipment but buyers may find that the cheaper, more basic models offer better value for money.

When it comes to running costs, the Nissan Micra is fairly economical and this model comes with low road tax costs under price band C. It incurs low insurance premiums under insurance bracket 5 and has excellent green credentials with a Euro 5 emissions rating and a carbon footprint of 115 g/km.