subject: The Nissan Micra [print this page] The Nissan Micra The Nissan Micra
Walk up to the car, merely press the "request sensor" and tug on the door handle. There isn't a need to insert a key anywhere; as long as you are carrying the key fob, the doors will unlock. Step in, shut the door and you'll be pleasantly surprised with the premium sounding "thud". Once inside, you'll feel that Nissan's design studio hasn't ever heard of the straight-edge ruler! The interiors carry a circular theme, nearly everything has a rounded shape here! The circular climate control layout with its orange backlighting looks like a Sony Discman. The stock audio arrangement is funky enough too. A generous greenhouse (glass area) lends an airy feeling to the Micra's cockpit. The light greige (grey + beige) interiors feel fresh & chirpy. That said, Nissan should definitely have given some darker accents to break the monotony of "greige". Simply put, the grey effect is excessive.
The dashboard is well laid out. Dials are easy to read while the silver finished center console looks great, and feels nice to the touch too (no cheap shiny plastics). No temperature gauge provided though, not even a digital unit. The large steering wheel is good to hold, while its horn pad extends to the spokes for the Indian version (not so in the export variants produced at Chennai). The OEM horn is meek and wouldn't even suit a rickshaw (feedback already given to Nissan). The driver's seat is not height-adjustable, but it's not positioned too low either. Hence, frontal and lateral visibility is top notch (except for really short drivers). The A pillars don't create a blind spot nuisance, and the large windscreen gives a super view of the road ahead. This is a rare modern car where the driver can actually see the bonnet. The front seats are deep and support is overall good. There's steering tilt adjustment and finding the right driving position is pretty easy. The seat's soft cushioning works well within the city, but wouldn't be ideal for long drives (where a firm compound is preferred). On the flip side, the pedals are placed too close to one another. Also, I personally felt that they are slightly offset toward the right (and not dead in the center). The center console has a subtle tilt to the left, and looks away from the driver, as if it's geared for left-hand-drive variants.
Each control feels relatively solid to use. Interior part quality is much better than in the Swift, and fit / finish are above the segment averages. Don't get me wrong though, the Fabia & Polo are in a different league altogether with their classy interiors. Micra plastics are of good quality, and some bits like the switchgear really impress with their premium feel. Hyundai's success has proven how quality interiors can win over hatchback customers, the Micra hopes to leave you with the same impression. Front seat occupants get excellent space. There is sufficient clearance between your knee and the steering wheel as well. The Japanese sure know how to get the most functionality out of their interiors. Headroom is sufficient, front and back. The rear seat has adequate legroom; outright space is more than the Swift / i10, and amongst the better of the segment (save for the Indicas). However, the bench could use better cushioning. The under-thigh support is very poor! On the other hand, the large rear windows are welcome. Glass area at the back is generous and yes, the windows do roll down completely. The headrests (neck restraints) themselves are placed too low and aren't adjustable either. Translated, they are useless. The elderly are well-advised to watch ingress / egress as the hip point is fairly low.
Brownie points go to the air-conditioner that instantaneously chills the interiors. Even in the hot Chennai heat, and sans any sunfilm, the Micra kept us comfortable. Storage space isn't abundant as the main glove box is tiny (XV variant gets a second glovebox on top) and the door pockets are slim. There are three cup holders (two front and 1 at the back) while the driver gets an additional cubby hole (next to the handbrake). Both the front doors have bottle holders where 500 ml Bisleris can find a home. The 226 liter boot has a useful layout. Unfortunately the rear seat doesn't split into a 50:50, but if you want, it can be folded down completely.
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