Nissan Micra Road Test: A Small Electric Car with Big Personality

Forget the drab, unassuming look of the past! Nissan is reviving the legendary Micra as a stylish electric car. The Japanese model shares its technical platform with the equally charming Renault 5 E-Tech. But visually, the Micra goes its own way with its distinctive round headlights and futuristic rear end.

It’s a real eye-catcher—and the new Micra is a pleasure to look at. Gone are the days when this Japanese car was just another plain, unremarkable vehicle in the supermarket parking lot. The designers dug deep into the nostalgia box and reinterpreted the distinctive “googly eyes” of the successful third generation. The result is a real head-turner that brings a noticeable breath of fresh air to the city center. Underneath its striking exterior, however, beats a French heart, as the Micra uses the AmpR-Small platform from its alliance partner, Renault.

The modern impression continues inside. Behind the wheel, the driver is greeted by a well-executed combination of two large digital screens and enough real, physical buttons for climate control. The choice of materials in the mid-range Advance trim is well thought out: Wherever you look or touch, pleasant fabric upholstery conceals the otherwise partially exposed hard plastic.

The front seats are perfectly suited for long-distance travel, while the rear seats are somewhat tighter due to the vehicle’s design. Adults over 1.80 meters tall will quickly find their knees bumping against the front seats, and the headroom for rear passengers can be a bit tight, but it’s certainly enough for kids. The trunk, with a capacity of 326 to 1,106 liters, offers plenty of storage space for a week’s worth of groceries, but suffers from a rather high loading sill.

Put the key in your pocket, press the start button—and hear nothing. True to its electric-car nature, the Micra rolls silently out of the driveway. For our test, we have the top-of-the-line model with a 110 kW (150 PS) electric motor. What sounds like modest performance on paper turns out, in practice, to be the perfect powertrain for the urban jungle. Since the maximum torque of 245 Newton-meters is available from the very first revolution, the Micra sprints away from traffic lights with incredible pep. When pulling away from traffic lights, it effortlessly outpaces many bulkier combustion-engine SUVs.

The suspension shines with its well-balanced tuning: The Nissan Micra sits firmly on the road and, when needed, weaves through tight corners with extreme agility. The pleasantly direct steering provides good road feel at all times. Even on the highway, this compact electric car cruises confidently up to its electronically limited top speed of 150 km/h. However, when driving over bumpy cobblestones or rough potholes, the firm suspension makes itself felt, and the impacts are sometimes transmitted unfiltered to the passengers.

How does the 52-kWh battery perform in everyday use? Nissan promises a WLTP range of just over 416 kilometers. In mixed test conditions—including highway segments, country roads, and city traffic—energy consumption settled at around 15.5 kWh per 100 kilometers. This translates to a realistic range of about 335 kilometers, which is more than enough for a city car. When the battery is empty, it can be recharged at a DC fast charger with a maximum power of 100 kW. This reduces the charging time from 10 to 80 percent to just over 30 minutes.

Now let’s talk about prices. The Nissan Micra starts at 27,990 euros for the base “Engage” model with a small 40-kWh battery and 90 kW (120 PS). The “Advance” variant we drove in our real-world test—featuring the large 52-kWh battery and 110 kW (150 PS)—is available starting at 32,990 euros. In return, the Advance trim comes standard with features such as an efficient heat pump, Google infotainment including smartphone mirroring, and a wide range of driver-assistance systems.

In a direct comparison with its sister model, the Renault 5 E-Tech, however, things get tricky: The French model is already available with comparable tech features for 31,290 euros. This makes the Japanese model about 1,700 euros more expensive, a difference attributable to the fact that Renault recently lowered the prices for the R 5 significantly. We’ll have to wait and see if—and how—Nissan will follow suit in the near future. (aum)

Nissan Micra Specifications

Length x Width x Height (m): 3.97 x 1.74 x 1.49
Wheelbase (m): 2.54
Drivetrain: electric, FWD, 1-speed transmission
Power: 110 kW / 150 PS
Max. torque: 245 Nm
Top speed: 150 km/h
Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h: 8.0 sec.
WLTP average consumption: 14.7 kWh
Test consumption: 15.5 kWh
Battery capacity: 52 kWh
WLTP range: 416 km
Curb weight / Payload: min. 1527 kg / max. 403 kg
Trunk volume: 326–1106 liters
Max. towing capacity: 500 kg
Base price: 32,990 euros