From rest the Micra kicks to 60mph in a deeply impressive 10.5sec, obliterating the claimed time of 13.9sec which Nissan engineers admit is conservative, and leaving most similarly priced rivals trailing in its wake, including Skoda’s far more powerful Fabia which gets closest on 10.8sec.
The overtaking urge is just as impressive. The Micra scoots from 50-70mph in fifth in a usefully brisk 14.0sec compared to 15.1sec for the Fabia while the Polo languishes in the distance with a languid 20.5sec.
The zingy, all-alloy engines have always been a major part of the Micra’s appeal and nothing about this new 1.2 unit changes that impression. The 104mph maximum we recorded on Millbrook’s banking matches Nissan’s claim.
There’s a distinctly Ford-like feel to the way the Micra’s relatively stiff suspension resists roll and maintains its composure under pressure, encouraging the driver to attack the road ahead. The electrically assisted steering has less feel than the conventionally powered rack Fiesta fitted, but few drivers will complain in practice, especially when that the weighting is so even and well-judged.
Don’t think that Nissan has forgotten that a large majority of its drivers will take little interest in door-handling its latest baby, because the Micra is just as adept at handling the everyday stuff such as the urban crawl and motorway jaunts. Nothing can match the Micra’s tiny turning circle. At just 9.2m it’s better than any rival and makes the Micra one of the easiest cars to manoeuvre in town.