Used Nissan Micra (Mk5, 2016-date) review

Verdict

When the Micra Mk5 arrived, it was a massive leap over its predecessor, but that hasn’t stopped Nissan’s sharp-looking supermini from doing poorly in our Driver Power surveys, with owners unimpressed by too many aspects of ownership. Some owner reviews on our sister website carbuyer.co.uk focus on disappointing reliability and a lack of support from Nissan or its dealers, whereas other buyers are more impressed with the overall ownership experience. Given that the Micra lost out to the SEAT Ibiza and Suzuki Swift in a group test, it’s clear that when buying the Nissan you have to home in on the right engine and trim level to get the most out of owning one. But if you take your time to pin down the right model for your needs, you should really enjoy being a Micra owner.

The Micra has been a staple of Nissan’s price lists for 40 years, the small runabout having been launched four decades ago in the Japanese market as the Nissan March.

The following summer the Micra reached the UK, where it sold in big numbers, thanks to its combination of excellent reliability and keen prices. Over the years, the Micra has grown ever more sophisticated, and after a hiccup with the underwhelming fourth-generation model, the current Mk5 version (codenamed K14 by Nissan) was far more impressive when it was unveiled in 2016. More than 17cm longer than its predecessor, almost 8cm wider, but 5.5cm lower, the fifth-generation Micra was packed with the latest comfort and safety tech.

History

Apart from a few early deliveries in March, the Micra reached UK showrooms in April 2017. Buyers could choose between 70bhp 1.0-litre (IG 71) and 89bhp turbocharged 0.9-litre (IG-T 90) petrol engines, or there was an 89bhp 1.5-litre diesel (dCi 90) option. All examples were fitted with a five-speed manual transmission.

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The range remained like this until the start of 2019, when Nissan overhauled the engine options. The 89bhp 0.9-litre engine was upgraded to 99bhp to become the IG-T 100, which came with a five-speed manual or CVT automatic gearbox. At the same time the 116bhp DIG-T 117 was introduced, also with a turbocharged 0.9-litre engine; this came only with a six-speed manual gearbox.

A range refresh in November 2020 added extra standard equipment, such as LED headlights, to N-Sport and Tekna versions.

Which one should I buy?

We’d go for any of the turbocharged engines, because the entry-level IG 71 unit feels rather lacklustre and is best avoided unless you do just local journeys. If you do a lot of longer drives, the diesel version is capable of spectacular economy.

The Visia is the entry-level model and brings automatic headlights and wipers, electrically adjustable door mirrors, a two-speaker radio, Bluetooth and electric front windows. Visia+ adds air-con and stop/start, while the Acenta comes with 16-inch alloys, a seven-inch touchscreen, cruise control and a multifunction steering wheel.

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The N-Connecta has privacy glass, nav, a DAB radio and climate control, while the range-topping Tekna adds 17-inch alloys, keyless go, a rear parking camera and sensors, plus a four-speaker Bose hi-fi.

Alternatives to the Nissan Micra

One of our favourite all-rounders is the Ford Fiesta, which is plentiful, roomy, well equipped and great fun to drive. The Fiesta is also affordable, just like the Vauxhall Corsa, which is also widely available and spacious. The SEAT Ibiza looks smart, is easy to live with, is keenly priced and comes with some great engines, just like its cousins, the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo.

If value is more of a priority, take a look at the Kia Rio and its cousin, the Hyundai i20, both of which are well equipped and come with long warranties. Other superminis to shortlist include the Renault Clio, Mazda 2, Peugeot 208 and Toyota Yaris. If practicality is key, home in on the Honda Jazz, with its spacious and versatile interior.

What to look for

Mobility kit

Micras come with a tyre mobility kit rather than a spare wheel, but there is a wheel well in the boot that accepts a spare.

Lights

Front and rear lamp units can suffer from condensation, especially noticeable in the tail-lights. This is normal, because the lamp units are vented.

Diesels

Be wary of any diesel-engined Micra that hasn’t covered many miles; driving only short journeys will result in a clogged diesel particulate filter.

Stop/start

The IG-T 90 engine was only available with stop/start, the IG 71 didn’t have it. The dCi 90 engine had stop/start except on entry-level Visia models.

Common faults

You can expect decent reliability from the Micra, but it’s no longer exceptional. New electronic systems cause gremlins across the board for car makers, and the Micra is not immune. Still, reliability should be on a par with rival superminis.

Interior

After the Mk4, the Mk5 Micra’s dashboard is a revelation, with its higher-quality materials and a much more grown-up design, although the instrumentation is busy and the infotainment systems are bettered elsewhere.

The front seats are comfortable, with plenty of adjustment, but those in the back will find the head and legroom tight, with the rising window line making things feel claustrophobic.

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Boot space is average for the class, at 300 litres, or 1,004 litres with the back seats folded down, but this doesn’t affect its functionality.

Prices

We found 1,000 Micras for sale and just one in 20 was a diesel, while one in five was an automatic. These are all two years newer than the earliest manual Micras, so most autos have covered a low mileage.

Visit to our Find a Car service to get a great deal on a used Peugeot 508, or to check prices on a specific model head over to our valuation tool.

Running costs

All Micras need to be serviced every 12 months or 12,500 miles, alternating between Minor and Major for the first three years. These cost £229 and £329 respectively for petrol-engined cars, or £269 and £369 for diesels. After this there are Standard, Premium and Ultimate services, priced at £159, £219 and £279, or £179, £259 and £339 for diesels.

Service plans are available for two, three or four years at £19.99 per month, or £459.77, £659.67 and £859.57. Use official dealers and with each service, you’ll get a year’s RAC cover. All engines are chain-driven with no cambelts to replace. The three-year/ 60,000-mile warranty can be extended to 10 years/100,000 miles.

Recalls

Nissan has recalled the Micra K14 four times so far. The first time was in August 2017, because of faulty ignition barrels, which could lead to the car switching off while it was being driven, with no possibility of restarting it. This affected Micras without keyless go built up to April 2017.

In March 2018, just 14 Micras built in September and October 2017 were recalled, because they left the factory with sub-standard wheel hubs, which could crack. The third campaign, in September 2019, was because airbags could tear during deployment in 12,119 Micras made between October 2016 and November 2017.

The most recent recall came in October 2019 because 1,985 Micras were fitted with incorrect VIN labels at the factory. All of the vehicles affected were made between July and November 2018.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

The Micra is an important car for Nissan, but it didn’t appear in our 2020, 2021 or 2022 Driver Power new-car surveys. The model made its Driver Power debut in the 2018 poll, in 15th place, making it the highest-placed supermini that year. But by 2019 it had dropped down to 63rd place (out of the top 75 entries). By then the Micra scored poorly in most areas other than ergonomics, safety features and economy.

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