NiSsan Micra RevEaled aT Paris Motor Show New 2017

Nissan has taken more than one style cues from the concept of Sway for the fifth gen Micra.

• New Micra has edgier design, higher quality cabin
• It will compete with the VW Polo and Renault Clio
• On sale in the UK from March 2017

The fifth generation Micra has been unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, after several weeks of teasers and tasters, and edgy design can make it stand out from the crowd supermini.

It certainly looks different from previous Micras. Nissan has taken over the styling cues of the concept of Sway recently, shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015. It has a shorter bonnet, a more raked windscreen, and a lower roof than the last generation.

It's also got a nice new grille, which reflects the views of a large family-selling brand crossover, Qashqai and Juke. A prominent character line running from the front to the back, and some big wheels - 16-inch standard, with 17s optional. And there is plenty for personalization, including tires, decals and color combos.

The new Micra is lower, wider and longer than ever before as well, which means more space inside. Nissan also has lowered driving position, and make the seats and steering wheel are fully adjustable, so that the driver would be more comfortable. Micra is moving away from being a city car, and position it along Superminis like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa.

A central touch screen display 7-inch dashboard gives access to the audio system, sat-nav, download applications, and Apple CarPlay. And there was a new personal Bose sound system, consists of six speakers, including speakers in the headrest of the driver - perfect for when you want to close the chat from the passenger seat.

Sticking with the Micra's heritage of safety, there are many useful features that are available at all levels, including Lane Departure Prevention, Intelligent emergency braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, High Beam Assist and Blind Spot Warning.

At launch, the new Micra will be provided with a pair of engines, 0.9-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol, which also features in the Renault Clio, and the 1.5-liter diesel - both developing 90bhp, but diesel has ample torque.

Further down the line, those machines will be joined by a gasoline engine Nissan's own naturally-aspirated 1.0-liter, developing 73bhp - certainly good for low operating costs, and lower prices, maybe less good for quick overtaking moves.

Tech loan from the Qashqai and X-Trail, the new Micra will have Active Ride Control for added comfort, which applies brakes to individual wheels to soft stop the body roll when driving over bumps and peaks; and Active Trace Control to help reduce understeer and provide sharper handling.

When it arrived in the spring of next year, the new Nissan Micra will go up against some big kids, including a Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia, and it may take some sales away from the Renault Clio.

It will go on sale in the UK next March. As usual, no pricing has been revealed, but it was probably around the £ 11,000, rising to around £ 16,000 for the top-spec diesel.

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