Nissan Micra 1.2 DIG-S Tekna CVT 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The Tekna’s 1.2 litre, three cylinder, super-charged DIG-S petrol engine develops 97 bhp at 5600 rpm, while the torque figure stands at 105lb-ft at 4000 rpm. This translates to a top speed of 112mph, while travelling from 0-62 mph takes 11.9 seconds.

Handling is not the Micra's strong suit. The steering feels vague and lifeless and there is a great deal of body-lean through the corners. The supercharged engine works relatively quietly and is particularly refined at higher speed. Unfortunately wind and road noise can be excessive, especially when driving on faster roads.

Most of the dashboard controls are easy to use but some controls are hard to find. All-round visibility is excellent due to the car’s big windows and thin pillars but getting comfortable can be an issue as there is limited adjustment in the steering wheel and the seats fail to offer much support.

The Micra is hardly a head-turner but it's a handsome enough car. The quality of the interior is a little sub-par and is certainly not a match for the quality offered by the Micra's European rivals.

The range-topping Tekna model comes with a great selection of features. On top of the alloy wheels, cruise control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, and stereo with MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity offered as standard on the Acenta model, the Tekna adds rear-parking sensors, satellite navigation and automatic lights and wipers.

The Micra 1.2 DIG-S Tekna CVT is smaller than many rivals but there is still a fair amount of space inside and there is plenty of headroom and legroom for adults in the back. The boot offers only 265 litres with the seats in place and 605 litres when they are folded down. The split-folding rear seats create a step in the boot floor but offer additional convenience when it comes to loading large cargo.

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.

Nissan’s reliability record is and the Micra should offer trouble-free ownership. The car comes with a three-year warranty for 60,000 miles.

The Micra 1.2 DIG-S Tekna CVT is priced at £14,650 and, despite the impressive level of standard equipment, this is an awful lot of money for a Micra.

One of the main benefits of the car is its low running costs. Road tax falls under a low price band (C), as do insurance premiums (under price bracket 9). The car offers 56.5mpg on the combined cycle - exactly the same as the 1.2 12v Tekna 5dr which costs £2,000 less.

If you really have to have an automatic then the Micra 1.2 DIG-S Tekna CVT is a good, if expensive choice, but the cheaper non-supercharged manual Tekna offers far superior value for money.