Nissan Micra Review & Prices

The Nissan Micra is one of the Japanese brand’s longest-standing models, but this new electric version shares nothing but a name with any of its predecessors. It’s a fantastic car to drive with a slick infotainment system and a stylish cabin, though it’s lacking in rear seat space.

Don’t let that distract you from the fact that the Micra is brilliant, even if it’s pretty much a Scooby Doo villain; peel its figurative mask back and you’ll find a Renault 5.

That’s not a bad thing by any means. The Renault 5 is one of our favourite cars on sale, full stop, though it’s also worth considering other small EVs such as the Hyundai Inster, Fiat Grande Panda Electric and Citroen e-C3.

Nissan Micra: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 196 - 257 miles
Efficiency: 4.1 - 4.3 miles per kWh
Battery size: 40kWh / 52kWh
Max charge speed: 80kW / 100kW
Charge time AC: 3h 59m - 4h 51m 0 - 100%, 11kWh
Charge time DC: 30 - 31m, 15 - 80%, 80-100kWh
Charge port location: Left side front
Power outputs: 120hp / 150hp

That’s a fine-looking bunch, but the Micra edges them all out on cuteness, because it’s really rather funky. Divisive, yes (some of our team love it, most prefer the Renault 5), but it’s far more handsome in person than it is in pictures. The big headlights, round taillights and excellent shade of blue paint turn a lot of heads as you drive by.

The interior is where the mask really slips, as the Micra’s cabin is identical to the Renault 5’s, bar the material choices. It’s a touch more grown-up in the Nissan, with a navy-or-cream leatherette-trimmed dashboard and seats on higher trim models. The entry-level car gets all-black fare, which is a bit dull and spoils the fun design.

All models come with a 10.1-inch infotainment display, but only the upper two trim levels come with a 10.1-inch driver display, too (it’s 7.0-inches in the Engage model). It’s a fairly slick system with easy-to-navigate menus and fun graphics, but the real highlight is the row of physical climate controls mounted on the dashboard.

Interior space up front is good, and the stepped-back dashboard design means the cabin feels even airier than it is. The driving position is highly adjustable, but back seat passengers don’t get the same luxury as rear-seat space is severely lacking. The tight rear leg room comes at the benefit of a generous 326-litre boot, which is miles ahead of a Mini Cooper Electric and a BYD Dolphin Surf.

There are two battery options available, the smaller of which translates to a 196-mile range, while the larger unit offers up to 257 miles of range from a full charge.

A plus point of the Micra being related to the Renault 5 is that it’s a phenomenal car to drive. Around town it’s not the comfiest small hatchback going, but it’s perfectly fine at tackling speed bumps and potholes, it’s peppy away from the lights and the brakes are easy to judge. It’s properly good fun on a country lane, too, and aside from a little road noise it’s refined on the motorway.

Verdict

The Nissan Micra is a curious case. While it’s easy to recommend over the likes of a Mini Cooper Electric or Vauxhall Corsa Electric, it’ll be the styling or attractive deals that convince you to buy one over a Renault 5 - because it’s identical to drive and live with. Yet, at the same time, that’s pretty much the highest praise we can give it.

You can get a great price with Carwow’s Nissan Micra deals, Micra lease deals and used Micra offers through our trusted dealer network. You can also browse other used Nissans, and when it’s time to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that, too.

The Nissan Micra offers great value, and at the time of writing it’s eligible for the electric car grant (ECG), which drops its price further – from about £21,500 for the smaller 40kWh battery and £23,200 for the larger 52kWh one with the full £3,750 ECG off.

There are three Micra trims to choose from, with the entry-level Engage only offered with the smaller battery. Standard kit includes 18-inch alloy wheels, the twin-screen infotainment setup and a heat pump to help your range in cold weather. You can’t have any of the fun colours in this spec, however.

Mid-spec Advance models are offered with both batteries and add a bigger instrument screen, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera. Top-of-the-range Evolve versions have the big battery and a Harman Kardon sound system, heated front seats and steering wheel and a one-pedal mode.

The Micra is easy to drive in town and fun on a good road, but it could be a little quieter on the motorway

In town

The Nissan Micra is in its element in town, but that’s a given considering its compact proportions and nippy electric motor. Even the lower-powered model is quick enough away from the lights, while the steering is easy to flick around without being overly light.

It’s also remarkably easy to place on the road, while the tight 10.8-metre turning circle and standard-fit rear parking sensors make it a breeze to park in tight spots. The Micra isn’t unsettled by speed bumps, either, though potholes and broken roads can jiggle you around a touch.

On the motorway

Motorway journeys are surprisingly easy for such a small car, because the Micra’s wheel-at-each-corner stance means it feels stable and planted, while the suspension smooths out at higher speeds. Keep it in comfort or sport mode and the little Nissan gets up to motorway speeds with ease, too, though eco mode reigns in the acceleration in the name of battery life.

A smidge of wind noise and tyre roar makes its way into the cabin, but you never need to raise your voice to talk to passengers, while standard-fit cruise control takes some of the strain out of cross-country journeys. Advance and Evolve models get active, lane-keeping cruise control, but it’s not the most confidence-inspiring system out there.

On a twisty road

It may be a city-friendly hatchback, but the Micra is a barrel of laughs on a good country lane. It may not be marketed as a sporty car, but the truth is that it - and its Renault 5 counterpart - are more fun to chuck around tight bends than a lot of expensive hot hatchbacks.

The sharp brakes give you confidence when scrubbing off speed into bends, but considering how grippy the Micra is and how stable it feels over higher-speed bumps, you can zip along at the speed limit on a twisty road with ease.

A good-sized boot comes at the expense of rear seat space

Don’t go expecting heaps of room inside, but the Micra holds its own for interior space and storage…up front, at least. Tall, long-legged drivers might feel a bit squeezed-in, but there’s a solid amount of adjustability in the seats and steering wheel, while your front passenger won’t be left feeling short-changed. ISOFIX points in the passenger seat are a delightful addition for parents travelling solo with an infant.

There’s a good, if not great, amount of interior storage space, too. There isn’t much room for large items, but a pair of cupholders, a hidden cubby under the armrest, slender door bins (they’ll just about take a bottle) and a phone pad ought to cover most odds-and-ends. The glovebox is pretty small, though.

Space in the back seats

If you thought the front could do with more space, then you’re in for a shock in the Micra’s back seats. With a tall driver in place you’ll struggle to fit a medium-sized adult behind them. Four six-footers? Good luck.

It’s not just knee room that’s tight, but there’s barely any foot space under the front seats and headroom isn’t great. Three abreast is wishful thinking, but at least the rear doors make it easier to clamber in the back than in a Mini Cooper Electric.

There isn’t much in the way of storage, either, as you don’t even get a flip-down armrest with cupholders. The door pockets are small, too, but you’ll find a pair of ISOFIX points in the outer seat seats.

Boot space

The Nissan Micra’s boot is larger than you’d probably need from such a small car, but that’s the benefit of having such tight rear seats. At 326 litres large, the Micra can fit more junk in its trunk than a Citroen e-C3 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric. Only the Fiat Grande Panda Electric can carry more for a car of this size, with a whopping 361-litre boot.

There’s a tall load lip to contend with and just a basic pair of shopping hooks, so there aren’t many clever boot features - save for some under-floor storage. At least the back seats are easy to fold down, though they don’t fold totally flat.

A stylish cabin with slick infotainment, but the entry-level trim feels barren

The Micra diverges from its Renault 5 counterpart in its interior trimmings, even if they share near enough the same basic layout and design. It’s a bit more grown-up than the Renault is, with slightly more ‘normal’ material choices such as leatherette or cloth in place of denim on the dashboard.

Upper trim levels come in rather swish shades of beige or navy blue, but it’s a shame the entry-level Engage model can only be had in all-black inside, which is woefully dull by comparison.

Regardless of which version you choose, the Micra comes with a cool-looking, retro-inspired, two-in-one display on the stepped-back dashboard with a 10.1-inch infotainment screen. The driver instrumentation measures 7.0 inches on the base model, while Advance and Evolve trims feature a fancier 10.1-inch item instead.

Only the upper-rung models come with Google-based tech, which is fantastic and easy to use. You don’t need to bother with Apple CarPlay – unless you really want to – as the built-in Google Maps is better; showing you your charge level on arrival and factoring in stops.

Material quality is generally high, though as to be expected in an affordable little car there are a fair share of scratchy plastics around the centre console, lower dashboard and on the door cards.

No matter which battery and motor combination you opt for, the Micra isn’t well-equipped for long-distance road trips. There’s a cheaper option with a 40kWh battery and 120hp electric motor that’ll take you 198 miles from a full charge, while the more expensive 52kWh battery and 150hp motor version offers up to 260 miles of range.

Charging speeds are fine, with a maximum rate of 80kW for the small battery and 100kW for the bigger one. That means a 30-minute ‘rapid’ charging time from 15-80%, or six and a half hours to fill the car from empty on a 7.4kW home box. Again, this is the same as a Renault 5 and ahead of a Hyundai Inster or Fiat 500e.

Being an EV, you pay the lowest rate of first-year vehicle excise duty, while the affordable price means the Micra steers well clear of the luxury car supplement from years two-to-six. Company car drivers who fancy the dinky Nissan are only subject to the base rate of Benefit-in-Kind tax, too.

Nissan Micra Euro NCAP Score (2024): 4/5

Adult occupant: 80%
Child occupant: 80%
Vulnerable road users: 77%
Safety assist: 68%

The Nissan Micra earned four-out-of-five stars when tested by safety experts Euro NCAP in 2024, or at least, its Renault 5 twin did, and they share a result as they’re identical under the skin.

As standard the Micra comes fitted with lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and a driver attention monitoring system, too.

The Nissan Micra’s three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is the bare minimum required in the UK. That puts it in line with the Renault 5 as well as other small cars such as the Fiat Grande Panda Electric. A Toyota Aygo X, meanwhile, offers a mighty ten-year warranty, so long as you keep up annual dealer servicing.

Nissan came in 15th place out of 31 brands in the 2025 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, which is pretty much the middle of the pack. That’s neither confidence-inspiring nor concerning, but considering this is in essence a curvaceous Renault 5 (Renault came sixth), the Micra should give you more peace of mind than other Nissan models.