Review: Nissan Micra EV

Nissan’s sixth-generation Micra presents as a heady multicultural mix of all-electric hatchback that wears its identity boldly on various bits of body art. It may be instantly recognisable as a close relation of the new Renault 5, and be built in the same French factory, but there are images of Mount Fuji stamped inside its boot aperture and on the rubber lining of its wireless phone charging plate. Furthermore, a range of optional wraps mean that you can emblazon a bold mural which blends a Union Jack and Mount Fuji across the roof of your Micra. Alongside the Micra’s round LED light clusters, this throws more than an air of Mini-aping design into the mix, evoking a sense that this is something of a French-Japanese-British mash-up. There is, however, a purposeful cohesion in the new Micra’s design. Nissan’s partnership with Renault has served up a funky urban runaround. Prices start at a very competitive £21,495 for the Engage trim version, once the UK’s £1,500 UK electric car grant is accounted for. Advance trim starts from £23,495, with the range-topping Evolve, tested here, available from £26,115. Buyers can opt for a 40kWh battery offering a 196-mile range and a 118bhp power output good for a nine-second dash to 62mph, or a 52kWh battery claiming 257 miles and a 148bhp output which trims a second off that acceleration benchmark. Micras fitted with the 52kWh battery feature 100kW rapid charging capable of delivering a 15-80 per cent charge in just 30 minutes. Like the Renault 5, all Micras come fitted with a heat pump as standard, warming the cabin quickly and efficiently in winter. Inside, the cabin’s layout is near identical to the French EV. However, the £400 Chill faux leather seats and tactile dash covering add a Nissan flourish to the 5’s already impressive cabin. Two 10-inch screens are cantered towards the driver, one providing access to Renault’s Google-powered infotainment system, the other a configurable instrument display. Space in the rear is a little restrictive, with little room to accommodate passengers’ feet, but boot space is a respectable 326 litres. The Micra’s driving position is good, and its suspension set-up is unchanged from its French sibling. That means a firm ride but a level of agility that makes it a biddable back road companion. With the more powerful drivetrain, the Micra is plenty quick enough too. Some Nissan loyalists might have liked a more supple side that could further differentiate the Micra from the Renault 5, but there is real fun to be had behind the wheel. All in all, Nissan has made modest changes to transform Renault’s platform into its first all-electric Micra and, to my mind, that is no bad thing. Nissan Micra 52kWh Evolve Price: £26,515 (as tested) Engine: 52kWh battery Power: 148bhp Torque: 245Nm Transmission: single-speed Top Speed: 93mph 0-62mph: 8 seconds Range: 257 miles (WLTP combined) CO2 emissions: 0g/km