Nissan islaunching its new 5th-generation Micra compact hatchback in South Africa this week! Take a look at what you can expect in terms of specification and pricing for the newcomer…

Nissan is hoping to rattle some cages with the introduction of its new Micra which will rival cars such as the new Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and Hyundai i20 to name a few.

Engine power

The new Micra is powered by a 0.9-litre, 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine (sourced from the Japanese company's alliance partner Renault) with peak outputs of 66 kW and 140 Nm of torque. The powerplant ismated with a 5-speed manual transmission and combined average fuel consumption is claimed at 5.1 L/100 km.

Key design features

There are three trim levels for the new Nissan Micra: Visia, Acenta and Acenta+

From a styling perspective, the new Micra is a massive improvement over the previous generation with sharper, curvy lines giving it a more modern and youthful appearance. The front-end features Nissan's V-motion grille in chrome and gloss black, which is complemented with boomerang LED daytime running lights. A blacked out C-pillar gives the Micra a floating-roof effect with hidden rear door handles;a roof spoiler and new boomerang taillights roundoff the Micra's design. The new Micra will be offered with 3 trim levels to choose from including Visia, Acenta and the top-spec Acenta Plus, which comes fitted with two-tone, 17-inch alloy wheels. The base-spec Visia derivative rides on 15-inch steel wheels while the mid-spec Acenta wears 16-inch alloys.

On the inside, the Micra features a thoroughly improved interior. A T-shaped "gliding wing" dashboard design with chrome and gloss black details gives the Micra's cabin a more premium look and feel. Cloth seats are standard, but come in a variety of designs depending on the trim level you choose. The Micra Visia comes with casual black upholstery, while the Acenta derivative benefits from black and grey upholstery. The top-spec Micra Acenta-Plus features the vibrant Energy Orange upholstery.

A multifunction D-shaped steering wheel is fitted and the gear lever is surrounded by soft-touch knee pads. A 7-inch colour floatingtouchscreen display with navigation and Apple CarPlay is offered on the Acenta and top-spec Micra Acenta Plus, while the entry-level Visia derivative gets a more rudimentary audio system with Bluetooth, MP3, USB and iPod connectivity. Cruise control is standard across the new Micra range.The luggage bay of the new Micra is sizable at 300 litres.

In terms of safety specification, the Micra comes specified with, inter alia, 6airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD).We will be driving the new Nissan Micra at the local launch this week so look out for more details later in the week.

New Nissan Micra – Price in SA

Micra Visia – R233 500

Micra Acenta – R257 400

Micra Acenta Plus – R272 400

Pricing includes a 6-year/150 000 km warranty and a 3-year/90 000 km service plan.

Buy a new or used Nissan Micra on Cars.co.za

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