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16th
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Montreal, QC -- Ah, the small car. Like a teacup poodle in need of a home, they stare at you longingly, willing you to take them home with you. However, like a teacup poodle, it's hard to justify paying many dollars for not a lot of product. These are, after all, small cars.
So, what happens when one manufacturer decides to completely shake up a segment by offering their shockingly good small car for a shockingly small price, one that's under the $10,000 mark? Well, you take notice. Then you visit their showrooms.
Job done.
What is it like to drive a sub-$10k car? I'm about to tell you.
What is a Nissan Micra?
Now in its fourth generation, the Nissan Micra was introduced to be precisely what it is now: a fun-to-drive affordable vehicle. Compact and easy to drive, the Micra as we see it now in its latest incarnation is available in 160 countries.
Another interesting fact is that the new 2015 Nissan Micra will not be sold in the United States. At the moment, the cars in North America are Canada-specific. They were built and adapted specifically for Canadians. This is our car.
2015 Nissan Micra Price & Specs
The 2015 Nissan Micra is on sale now across the country, and its starting price is meant to be shocking. Nissan wants that reaction, and boy did they ever get it. When it was announced that the 2015 Micra would be available from $9,998, the entire Canadian automotive industry collectively did a double-take, and competitors slapped their foreheads in frustration and undoubtedly went back to the boardrooms to talk about incentives and cash-back programs.
So, yes, the starting price is under $10k, however, the price can jump to (for a top-trim level) just over $16k. For that price you get all the bells and whistles (back-up camera, A/C, power windows/locks, USB, steering-wheel buttons, and an automatic transmission).
No matter which trim you choose, you will drive away with Nissan's 1.6L 4-cylinder engine good for 109 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque. Built on the global V platform, the Micra features a suspension specifically calibrated for Canadian roads.
There are two transmission choices: a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. Wait, what's that you say? No CVT? Nope! And while it may have saved the fuel efficiency numbers (that sit in the 7.7L/100km combined range) the cost just didn't equate. The 4-speed is the same seen in the previousgeneration Versa.
Driving the 2015 Nissan Micra
Decked out in bright white with purple details, the Nissan Micra SV awaiting me in the Old Port parking lot was all smiles and ready to please. And please it did.
As an SV model, my first Micra experience was a good one; equipped with the 4-speed automatic transmission as well as all the bells and whistles, and sitting in the mid-teens price range, this car was a solid drive.
Unlike some small cars, the Micra feels quite stable on the road — as long as there aren't any particularly strong crosswinds. Regardless of that, the 2015 Nissan Micra still held its own very well on the twisties, with only a slight amount of body roll. Steering feel is good and connected enough to ensure you know you're pointing the wheels in the right direction.
In the city, the Micra is happier than a pig in mud. Of course, I don't need to tell you that: Small cars are urban dwellers. With a turning radius of just 4.65m (only the Mirage does better at 4.60m), this is the ultimate downtown steed.
After giving the autobox a go, I got behind the wheel of a 5-speed manual in base trim. No power anything and no A/C meant I cranked the windows down, jacked the radio up and enjoyed a sunny afternoon drive. Rowing through the gears is almost an afterthought; it's so simple. Gears are easily found and shifts are forgiving, so those learning manual will appreciate driving the Micra. Handling and road feel are identical to the auto, but the engine feels a little more playful and lively with the manual.
Inside and Out of the 2015 Nissan Micra
We weren't supposed to call it this way, but I can't help it: This car is darn cute. While some small cars suffer from a squished, stunted look, the Micra carries its small stature with gusto.
With a host of customization options available (ranging from $199-$499), Nissan hopes to appeal to buyers' personalities and tap into the all-important emotional connection a buyer makes with a car. With the right colour combination, the 2015 Nissan Micra can be cute and cool.
Inside, it's just as cool. Yes, the layout is simple and easy, but that's the point. This is an entry-level vehicle, and yet the materials aren't cheap and the doors don't close with a tinny clang. The steering wheel feels substantial, and the seats are comfortable whether in base trim or top trim. Space in the rear is surprisingly ample, and the trunk offers up a decent amount as well.
Comparing the 2015 Nissan Micra
Nissan hopes to ignite a fire in the compact car market, and with a sub-$10k price I'm fairly certain they will. This is a highly popular segment in Eastern Canada, and Nissan knows this. With various incentive programs for first-time car buyers (waving credit checks) and recent grads (cash back for a university diploma), Nissan is in it to win it.
There's no doubt players like the Chevy Spark, Mitsubishi Mirage, and Ford Fiesta are looking a little uneasy at the prospect of taking on the gargantuan task of beating the teeny-tiny Micra.
So, what happens when one manufacturer decides to completely shake up a segment by offering their shockingly good small car for a shockingly small price, one that's under the $10,000 mark? Well, you take notice. Then you visit their showrooms.
Job done.
What is it like to drive a sub-$10k car? I'm about to tell you.
 |
What is a Nissan Micra?
Now in its fourth generation, the Nissan Micra was introduced to be precisely what it is now: a fun-to-drive affordable vehicle. Compact and easy to drive, the Micra as we see it now in its latest incarnation is available in 160 countries.
Another interesting fact is that the new 2015 Nissan Micra will not be sold in the United States. At the moment, the cars in North America are Canada-specific. They were built and adapted specifically for Canadians. This is our car.
2015 Nissan Micra Price & Specs
The 2015 Nissan Micra is on sale now across the country, and its starting price is meant to be shocking. Nissan wants that reaction, and boy did they ever get it. When it was announced that the 2015 Micra would be available from $9,998, the entire Canadian automotive industry collectively did a double-take, and competitors slapped their foreheads in frustration and undoubtedly went back to the boardrooms to talk about incentives and cash-back programs.
So, yes, the starting price is under $10k, however, the price can jump to (for a top-trim level) just over $16k. For that price you get all the bells and whistles (back-up camera, A/C, power windows/locks, USB, steering-wheel buttons, and an automatic transmission).
No matter which trim you choose, you will drive away with Nissan's 1.6L 4-cylinder engine good for 109 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque. Built on the global V platform, the Micra features a suspension specifically calibrated for Canadian roads.
There are two transmission choices: a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. Wait, what's that you say? No CVT? Nope! And while it may have saved the fuel efficiency numbers (that sit in the 7.7L/100km combined range) the cost just didn't equate. The 4-speed is the same seen in the previousgeneration Versa.
Driving the 2015 Nissan Micra
Decked out in bright white with purple details, the Nissan Micra SV awaiting me in the Old Port parking lot was all smiles and ready to please. And please it did.
As an SV model, my first Micra experience was a good one; equipped with the 4-speed automatic transmission as well as all the bells and whistles, and sitting in the mid-teens price range, this car was a solid drive.
Unlike some small cars, the Micra feels quite stable on the road — as long as there aren't any particularly strong crosswinds. Regardless of that, the 2015 Nissan Micra still held its own very well on the twisties, with only a slight amount of body roll. Steering feel is good and connected enough to ensure you know you're pointing the wheels in the right direction.
In the city, the Micra is happier than a pig in mud. Of course, I don't need to tell you that: Small cars are urban dwellers. With a turning radius of just 4.65m (only the Mirage does better at 4.60m), this is the ultimate downtown steed.
After giving the autobox a go, I got behind the wheel of a 5-speed manual in base trim. No power anything and no A/C meant I cranked the windows down, jacked the radio up and enjoyed a sunny afternoon drive. Rowing through the gears is almost an afterthought; it's so simple. Gears are easily found and shifts are forgiving, so those learning manual will appreciate driving the Micra. Handling and road feel are identical to the auto, but the engine feels a little more playful and lively with the manual.
Inside and Out of the 2015 Nissan Micra
We weren't supposed to call it this way, but I can't help it: This car is darn cute. While some small cars suffer from a squished, stunted look, the Micra carries its small stature with gusto.
With a host of customization options available (ranging from $199-$499), Nissan hopes to appeal to buyers' personalities and tap into the all-important emotional connection a buyer makes with a car. With the right colour combination, the 2015 Nissan Micra can be cute and cool.
Inside, it's just as cool. Yes, the layout is simple and easy, but that's the point. This is an entry-level vehicle, and yet the materials aren't cheap and the doors don't close with a tinny clang. The steering wheel feels substantial, and the seats are comfortable whether in base trim or top trim. Space in the rear is surprisingly ample, and the trunk offers up a decent amount as well.
Comparing the 2015 Nissan Micra
Nissan hopes to ignite a fire in the compact car market, and with a sub-$10k price I'm fairly certain they will. This is a highly popular segment in Eastern Canada, and Nissan knows this. With various incentive programs for first-time car buyers (waving credit checks) and recent grads (cash back for a university diploma), Nissan is in it to win it.
There's no doubt players like the Chevy Spark, Mitsubishi Mirage, and Ford Fiesta are looking a little uneasy at the prospect of taking on the gargantuan task of beating the teeny-tiny Micra.