2016 Nissan Micra SV - A Rental Review

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
10/31/2016 at 21:14 • Filed to: NIssan, Micra, Rental

So after my unfortunate accident with my Solstice, the insurance company decided to ignore the “convertible” part in a “compact convertible”, and deemed a compact is a suitable equivalent. So I was presented with either a Hyundai Accent, Nissan Micra, or (guy didn’t tell me initially they had one) a Ford Fiesta Sedan.

(DISCLAIMER: Nissan didn’t want me to drive this, nor did whom paid for the rental, also known as the insurance company of guy who rear-ended me, it just so happen to be on the lot at the time.)

(Actually the guy saw my convertible and was about to put me in a Sonata, and then a Genesis... but I didn’t want to push my luck and end up paying out of pocket...)

So here it is. 2016 Nissan Micra. I mean I guess of the 3, this was the most “similar” to my Solstice. Hey, Solstice competes in the SCCA Showroom Stock B, and the Micra has a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Racing pedigree, right there. And if anything, its !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I mean, come on, Alfa!

...all we know is, it is NOT the Dacia Sandero, but it is the Sandero’s Japanese hobo cousin.

Based on the Nissan V platform, which is also known as Renault B and the Dacia B0 (good news!), it’s actually shared with the larger Versa Note. With the exception that, this car, only has one mission: to be cheap. Just like it’s Romanian cousin.

And it is. At a base MSRP of $9988 Canadian, it is a whopping $7 cheaper than the runner-up, the Chevrolet Spark, making it Canada’s cheapest car you can buy brand new.

What’s there and missing?

So what do you get that $9988? Not much, actually, basically a car. With a capital B in basic. Four wheels, four doors, that’s pretty much it. Oh, and a radio, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! And just like a Porsche, options adds up fast.

The one I got was an SV, which has air conditioning, automatic, Bluetooth (for handsfree only) and power everything (locks, windows, keyless). That brings the price to $14848, which is actually more than the Spark with the same equipment.

Cost cutting, however, still seems standard across the board on all trims. There’s pretty much zero sound deadening going on, depending how you see it, it could be a plus (weight savings, genuine engine noise) or minus. And by minus, this is the first hatchback ever I’ve been in, when you lock and unlock the doors, you hear the actuator striking on metal panels and you can hear it pinging. The other evidence of quality fit-and-finish would be the passenger airbag. If you see that gap above in person, you can actually see the airbag unit under it, and the cover actually flexes.

On the plus side, it is fairly roomy. I’m 6-feet tall, and being a hatchback, it has a ton of headroom, front and back. I actually feel less cramped here than in the back seat of my 328i, even though my knee is starting to dig into the front seat.

Trunk space isn’t bad either, I think a large spinner suitcase can probably go in there.

So how does it drive?

Well, for starters, I think my specimen could use an oil change. It’s got 14k kms on the clock, and the sticker on the top corner says “Oct 11", which I assume it’s “due”, and not “just done” (another reason why NOT to buy an ex-rental).

But even then, it not too bad on power. It’s the 1.6L HR16DE, exact same engine you get in a Versa Note, developing the exact same 109HP with the exact same 107 lb-ft of torque. I haven’t personally driven the Versa (was told it feels slow), but here with only 2375 lbs to lug around, it’s actually not bad. Or it could just be me starting to get old and James May-esque. It’s best described as peppy, and it does get up to torque band revs fairly quickly, but it’s overall quite noisy.

Spare tire wasn’t cut for weight savings!

Steering was fairly light, not too surprising for an electric unit. It does lack a bit of feedback, but response was there. I didn’t take it on a highway yet, only some twisty back roads, and it didn’t tighten up too much. You could tell the car was completely designed for city driving, for the light steering and the super-tight turning radius. This makes it a VERY easy car to drive and park.

Suspension, was, well, fairly average. It’s not hard like the Bilstein coil-overs on my Solstice (duh), but it isn’t Buick/Lexus soft either (double duh). Some road bump is felt, also some body roll while cornering, but nothing serious or extreme.

Now here’s my only mechanical pet-peeve I have with it: the automatic transmission, more specifically, the gearing. Nissan didn’t put the CVT here, it’s a traditional 4-speed unit. But with the gearing, it might as well be a CVT, or even a 3-speed from an old Cavalier. It almost feels like third gear doesn’t exist, shifts like 1-2 and jumps straight to 4, that’s it. But then aside from the gearing, shift quality seems OK, nothing bad but also nothing to take home about, it does its job. Some other reviewers seem to say so as well, you might as well get the manual, at least it’s more fun.

So what’s the verdict?

Well it does its job, I’ll give it that. The small size and easy maneuverability makes it the perfect first car. But that’s about it. However, once you add options, it does get pricy, and I’m not too sure about the value anymore.

Good thing now though, I believe it’s actually the last year for this particular Micra, so if you’re in the market for one, you might get some hefty discounts for a good deal. On the flip side though, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , except it’s not confirmed whether that will be in North America this time.

DISCUSSION (11)

punkgoose17 > 404 - User No Longer Available
10/31/2016 at 21:31

It sounds like the Versa Note and Spark are a better value. I have never driven a Spark, but I have driven a rental Versa Note: it felt like a tiny van, driving characteristic wise.

dogisbadob > 404 - User No Longer Available
10/31/2016 at 21:34

Nissan should sell this down here. Especially if it can start that cheap up there, they can definitely do it down here with lower taxes and shit and a bigger market.

The Micra is fairly handsome, one of the best-looking cars under 20k, and still has real visibility. The light weight is nice, too.

404 - User No Longer Available > punkgoose17
10/31/2016 at 21:34

Well Versa Note was marketed as a mini-MPV in Europe, which explains its van characteristics, and I would assume it’s roomier.

And I would agree about the two being slightly better, at least in its current form. Yet to be seen how or if Nissan will market the next-gen.

fhrblig > 404 - User No Longer Available
10/31/2016 at 21:36

Thing is, with cars of this type it’s pretty pointless to pile on the equipment. Once you get into that 14k range it’s up against better cars. Hell, my partner got an Elantra GT for right around that amount and it has heated seats for God’s sake, not to mention way more power. I’d have to insist on the barebones base model if I bought one of these (or a Spark, which is actually sold here).

404 - User No Longer Available > fhrblig
10/31/2016 at 21:38

I would agree with that as well, but you’d need to find a dealer that actually stock one. 99.99% it’ll be an air+auto ad special, and the salesman will just upsell you to something else.

404 - User No Longer Available > dogisbadob
10/31/2016 at 21:41

The lightweight was certainly a bright spot. I could see why they started a spec race for this.

And to be honest I’m not sure if I agree on looks. I prefer the Note over this. New one looks much better.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > 404 - User No Longer Available
10/31/2016 at 21:57

We had one at the partsource I was working at a couple winters ago. Complete base model. It did have a radio, but no a/c or power locks or power windows.. Still an auto because multiple drivers.

Surprisingly fun little car. We were pretty well encouraged to hoon (but not break laws) and drive aggressively to keep delivery times low. This was easily my favourite car there. Next up was the absolutely trashed Echo (200,000 km of being thrashed around the city) because it was also so thrashable. The HHR we had just felt heavy and unwieldy, the Focusses actively resisted being hooned, and there simply isn’t space on a city street to hoon a Silverado without attracting waaaay too much attention, although I did prefer it third in line, because truck yeah.

Cool story, I know.

fhrblig > 404 - User No Longer Available
10/31/2016 at 21:59

Yeah, that’s usually true. Though it does seem like we have more dealers in Colorado who are ok with stocking the base models. I see a surprising number of base Sparks, Versa/Versa Notes, and Mirages on lots here.

I inherited my love of stripped down models from my mom. The two new cars she’s bought in her life were a super basic ‘86 Civic hatch, and the other was a $124/month lease on a ‘96 Sentra with A/C but nothing else. She loved them both. Both were fun to drive, too.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 404 - User No Longer Available
10/31/2016 at 22:18

Cool review! I think the current-gen Micra, like the one in your review, is handsome enough. Not beautiful, no, but it looks OK. I also have a love of stripped down models. Give me this with a stick shift and maybe A/C (and I wouldn’t even NEED that), and I would be perfectly happy.

My current ‘09 Accent is pretty much the same story, but from 2009. I think you could also get my gen of base model Accent for $9999 in it’s time. No options at all (not even ABS), stick shift and no A/C! :P

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > 404 - User No Longer Available
10/31/2016 at 22:36

When we bought our Fit the Versa Note SV was on the list if we could find one in Metallic Peacock. I think we made the right choose going with the Honda.

That said if the Micra was sold in the US I’d consider it. I mean a cheap little hatch with a stick that weighs under 2400bls and is a brand new car. Sounds good to me. Just not as a family car and it sounds like that 4 speed auto would dive me nuts where as the FIt’s 5 speed auto is actually pretty nice, if a bit jerky at times.

404 - User No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/31/2016 at 22:50

I’m starting to see a common theme on Oppo about base stripper models lol. And I’m starting to feel for driving basic cars too, which was my mindset going into the Micra. I think otherwise it would be hard for any average driver to find any positives, the airbag gap would be enough to deter most.