Nissan Micra Hatchback (03-10) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 01 May 2009
The Nissan Micra set a new standard for small cars when it was launched in early 2003, and it's still one of the best around today. The looks may not be to everyone's taste but it's well equipped, cheap to run and there are some neat features available (like keyless entry). It's cracking value too - whether you're buying new or used while light steering and good visibility make it easy to drive and park. All the engines are economical, especially the dCi models which can average more than 60mpg and the Micra makes a surprisingly good long distance car. It may not have the youthful image of rivals like the Mazda 2 or Ford Fiesta but it's still a good small car that's hassle-free and affordable to own.
4 out of 5

Other Nissan reviews

4 out of 5

Running costs

The Micra is a cheap car to buy and run. Running costs are kept down by low insurance groups, economical engines, reasonable servicing prices and cheap road tax so it's no surprise it's a popular choice among those who have just passed their tests. Re-sale values compare well with some of the best in the class so the Micra is a very sensible little car all round.

* based on most recent data

Estimated fuel cost for 10,000 miles per year

Unleaded

£1,279 - £1,497 *

Diesel

£1,034 - £1,105 *

The estimated fuel cost figure is a guide to how much this model will cost to fuel each year, so you can compare between cars. It's calculated by using the model's average mpg (calculated from both town centre and motorway driving) and the average fuel price. It's based on the following cost-per-litre: petrol 135p and diesel 141p. Prices are updated daily.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

Petrols every 9,000 miles. Diesels every 18,000 miles

Warranty

Three years/60,000 miles.

Road tax (12 months)

£30.00 - £170.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

4 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
  • B
  • C
    119
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
    163
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

The Micra scores very well on the eco front and with an average of 143g/km of CO2 across the model line-up, its emissions are comparably low for a small car. The greenest model in the range is the 1.5dCi which can average more than 60mpg and emits 125g/km of CO2 (122g/km on the lower powered model).

Find the exact engine and CO2