What is it?

The new Micra arrives in South Africa in 2018, but Nissan's local subsidiary is "pulling a Polo Vivo" by retaining the outgoing model, which will be sold as a budget offering alongside the newer, high-tech Micra. Okay, there's nothing groundbreaking here and admittedly this Micra is getting on its years, but the strategy is a clever one: while the new Micra will take on the new Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta, this older Micra Active will compete against the popular Volkswagen Polo Vivo and Renault Sandero, to name just 2 rivals. Given its price tag, is it worth your time and energy, or should you be looking elsewhere?

The Good

A simple and fuss-free motoring experience awaits you from behind the wheel of the Nissan Micra

Inherent solidity

It's hard to describe the feeling of substance, but we'll give it a go. See, many entry-level cars feel notoriously flimsy and thin in places; almost as if it would be a miracle if they (the cars) would last beyond 100 000 km. This Micra, however, is a little different. It has a reassuringly solid feel to it as if it has been designed to handle whatever hard use its owner or occupants can subject it to. It may be basic and affordable, but it feels tried and tested, not flimsy.

Ride and drive

That feeling of solidity continues in the way the Micra Active drives. While some (typically skinny-tyred) budget cars feel so light on their... wheels, so much so that they're vulnerable to crosswinds, the Active offers good stability and its cabin incorporates a fair level of noise, vibration and harshness suppression. At sea level, the little 1.2-litre 3-cylinder motor pushes out 56 kW and 104 Nm, which combines well with a neatly-spaced 5-speed manual gearbox. The engine is also reasonably thrifty and while the claim of 5.2 L/100 km is a little hopeful, we were happy to see returns of around 6.0 L/100 km.

Customisation

It may be marketed as a vehicle aimed at thrifty buyers, but you can have some fun with some visual upgrades such as a rear spoiler (R2 893), 14-inch black alloy wheels (R5 070) and metallic paint (R1 350). All of these were fitted to our test unit, which gave the Nissan an extra bit of street cred. No one said budget has to be boring and in this segment, you're not spoilt for choice when it comes to new cars with some visual personality...

The metallic paint and black alloy wheels add some personality to the Nissan Micra Active

Features

Even though the Micra Active is a cut-price offering, it still boasts a reasonable amount of kit as standard. Remote central locking and electric front windows are nice-to-have features, but we were surprised to find that an audio system is an optional extra. The good news is that this touchscreen audio system is an item well worth ticking on the options list because it boasts AM, FM, CD, MP3, RDS, auxiliary & USB inputs, Bluetooth with audio streaming AND satellite navigation. In terms of safety features, the Micra Active includes a driver and passenger airbag and ABS, which is on par for the segment. Nissan was offering a killer deal when this vehicle launched, where the satnav audio system was added on for free. Perhaps there are still some units floating around?

The infotainment system features navigation, Bluetooth streaming and a nice touchscreen interface. We'd like it to be a little brighter though.

The Not-so-good

Engine doesn't quite have enough

We've already said that the Nissan's engine is adequate for general use, but when you consider that the little car will have to work as hard as it can to lug 4 occupants, plus a capacity load of luggage/cargo in the thin air of Johannesburg, the outlook looks less than rosy. For those who are not aware, the higher you climb, the less dense the air is, resulting in a power drop for naturally aspirated vehicles. Typically non-turbocharged cars lose around 17%, which for the Micra means it's now pushing out a paltry 50 kW. Thankfully the proven powertrain should be able to withstand this sort of treatment now and again.

Verdict

Simple and affordable, with a splash of personality. The Micra Active will be sold alongside its newer brother when it arrives next year.

It's a clever ploy by Nissan to tap into the budget car segment. If it has worked for Ford (Figo) and Volkswagen (Polo Vivo) then there's no reason why this Active derivative won't do well alongside its newer sibling. If you can get past the looks and don't have to lug much cargo, then the Micra should be on your shopping list as its price is hard to argue against. Save up to get the radio as an option, you won't regret it. At this price point, there are very few cars that offer as much car as the Micra does.

View the Nissan Micra Active at Group 1 Nissan here, or visit a dealership near you and test drive a Nissan Micra Active today!