Question 1

History

Accepted Answer

For a car in one of the world's toughest market segments to undergo a complete character transformation takes guts on behalf of any manufacturer. But it gets worse.

The model in question was already one of the cheapest in the market, with quirky looks and not much grunt to begin with. Slashing the price while slicing one cylinder off an already tiny engine might have seemed commercially suicidal yet it helped Nissan's base-level Micra almost double its volume and outsell some very credible rivals in the Light Car category.

Micra had been crucial to Nissan's international presence since 1982; shared its platform and components with other models and even other brands. Before launching its K13 Series Micra to Australia in late 2010.

Nissan was a very minor player in the ever-expanding Light Car category - aka 'Supermini' in Europe and other markets.

The car the K13 replaced was unremarkable and sat well off the sales pace being set by Mazda's 2, the Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Getz.

Money was especially crucial in the Light Car segment and Nissan in 2010 seriously frightened the horses with its $12,990 entry-level contender.

The Micra ST shocked not only because of its undersized engine. At a price point which in years past had delivered little more than an empty tin box there was a mass of equipment like air-conditioning, remote locking, power steering, ABS and multiple air-bags plus five doors and deals on servicing.

Standard transmission was five-speed manual but if you weren't in any particular hurry a four-speed automatic was optional at an enticing $1500 extra.

Of course if you were a Micra buyer with a bit more money you could, until 2013 anyway, still get one with four cylinders. That made particular sense if you were among the majority of buyers who wanted their car with automatic transmission.

No one seems to have tested - or perhaps been allowed to test - an auto-tranny triple but instinct suggests it might not be able to outrun the proverbial pensioner on a mountain bike.

Spending extra money would secure considerably more car in the shape of the 1.5-litre ST-L and Ti versions. At $16,990 the ST-L automatic delivered noticeably improved performance but minimal differences to standard equipment.

For an appreciable gain in specification, Micra buyers needed to dig deeper and spend the full $18,990 asking price for a Ti 1.5 automatic. Climbing into one of those after an ST, the only obvious difference was climate-control air-conditioning, However you did eventually track down other stuff including the fog lights and electric folding mirrors.

For 2013 Nissan moved Micra production from Thailand to India and ceased production of 1.5-litre cars. The shape didn't change and pricing wasn't immediately altered. However the ST-L gained alloy wheels, fog lights and a rear roof spoiler. The T1 gained a spoiler as well but sales still took a hammering, with annual figures for 2013 plunging by 53 percent to an unsustainable 4326 units.

Question 2

On The Road

Accepted Answer

Cars like the K13 Micra are built to contend with the daily commuter grind or perhaps as fleet transport for businesses that don't send their staff very far afield. Take them out of those comfort zones and they are going to struggle.

Manual cars are fun, with light controls and short gearshift and clutch movements. Brakes are disc front/drum rear and a bit touchy until you get a feel for the pedal. Visibility in all directions is excellent and if you can't reverse park a Micra you need a chauffeur.

For those needing to commute an auto is usually the answer and where possible hooked to a 1.5-litre engine as well. This ups power output from 56kW to a respectable 75kW and delivers 36 percent more torque. It's only a four-speed but that was the standard being applied at the time by big-selling rivals like the Yaris and Getz.

Cars like the Micra tend to be saddled with the 'buzzbox' tag but time and technology have moved a long way since the days of Japan's early twin and triple-cylinder products.

While not built like a BMW the Micra doesn't shake, rattle and clank either. Well, not on most roads. Those who have given one a whirl on rough and unsealed surfaces do suggest keeping them away from the outback if you can.

The electric power steering feels taut and the wheel is chunky and height adjustable. Pedal placement in the manual is OK and for a narrow car there's enough foot-well room for most people.

The K13 is claimed to be a five-seater and has seat belts for them all but cramming three adults across that back seat would be deemed cruel and unusual punishment. Plenty of room though for a couple of kids and a child seat. Just be aware of how little metal there is between the rear seating positions and the outside world in the event of a rear-end impact.

Fuel economy is the reason many people will choose a Micra so it had better be pretty damn spectacular. In a world where diesel engines are - literally and figuratively - on the nose it's handy to have a car that will match virtually any diesel in kilometres per litre while running on 91RON or even E10.

Manual 1.2-litre cars achieve average economy of 5.9L/100km, with the 1.5-litre automatic rated at a very respectable 6.6L/100. Around town you would be unlucky to score worse than 8L/100 and feather-footing on the highway could see a manual sneak into the high 4s.

Safety in cars of this size is always an issue but Nissan worked hard in several areas crucial to crash survival and was rewarded with an acceptable Four Star occupant protection ranking. Earlier Micras could manage only three stars but with six air-bags standard, ESC, ABS, belt pre-tensioners and a rear centre sash belt the MY10 and later models warranted the extra star.

For reasons best known to Nissan it took until arrival of its MY15 models - which were accompanied by a long overdue price cut - to include cruise control in the specification of its Ti and ST models.

Question 3

Check Points

Accepted Answer

>> Lightweight cars like the Micra can suffer structural damage from quite minor impacts. The rear hatch is vulnerable and even after being repaired might not sit quite square. Look first at panel gaps, then inspect the hatch seal for damage.
>> By now any Micra fitted with the potentially lethal Takata air-bags should have been modified to eliminate the hazard. Any Nissan dealer can check using the VIN that this important work has been undertaken.
>> Check service history for cars that have travelled 70-100,000 kilometres looking for evidence that short-lived rear wheel bearings have been replaced. Not a big expense if it hasn't been done but best to know before settling on a price.
>> A recall to correct starter buttons that might stick and overheat seems not to have affected very many cars, but touch the button once the car has been running for a while just to see if it is getting warm.
>> The dash-mounted touch screen is integral to the Micra's appeal and an unusual inclusion in cars of this kind. Take some time to have the vendor flick through the various functions including phone and music-system connectivity to make sure everything works.

Used Vehicle Grading
Design & Function: 15/20
Safety: 12/20
Practicality: 15/20
Value for Money:16 /20
Wow Factor: 10/20
Score: 68/100

Also Consider: Toyota Yaris; Hyundai Getz; Kia Rio

Buying a used Nissan Micra (2010-2015)

History

On The Road

Check Points

Tags