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Cape Town - ‘As long as it takes me from A to B’… is a proverb in the world of motoring often used to describe a vehicle that may not tick all the boxes but does what needs to be done.
And that’s what you get in the new Nissan Micra Active edition. The vehicle itself may lack in sense of occasion, stature or prominence… however when you purchase a this vehicle, you come to understand that you're buying a car for a different purpose.
'Movers and shakers'
The automaker says that they have taken inspiration from the "new generation of movers and shakers, the aficionados and urban warriors." On that note, I seemed to have struggled extracting those adjectives from the vehicles given that its quite a simple car more than anything else really.
In the case of a cheaper, compact car… simple is not a bad thing, less is in fact more with the Micra.
READ: Budget beater: Nissan launches Micra Active in SA
That said… here is why the Micra is a decent car to own, particularly in this day and age with soaring fuel prices.
1. Price tag
With a price tag of R159 900, you get a lot more value for your money.
2. Easy to drive
For the novice, the Micra is perfect as a start-up car. The steering is light and nimble and holds its own when dealing with a road full of curves. Shifting gears is a breeze as you wont find the clutch biting back at your left foot… which is a characteristic of a ‘cheaper’ car.
3. Fuel efficient
Nissan claims the Micra Active will return 5.2-litres/100km, which should, theoretically, give it a fuel range of 789km on its 41-litre fuel tank. Not bad.
4. A good level of comfort – doesn’t feel too cheap
Despite its reasonable price tag, its build quality is quite good. When closing the doors, it doesn't have that cheap plastic sound to it. Sitting on either the front or rear seats are reasonably comfortable despite its lack of legroom.
5. Safety features
With driver and passenger air bags, satellite navigation and ABS, you get more for your money from the usual compact car.
Image: Rouel van Nelson
Simple interior
Inside the cabin, the Micra is compact and comfortable. Given its lack of space on both the rear and front seats, the Micra does well to accommodate four people. Any more than that and the driver would be labouring through the second and third gear.
One can argue that the boot is quite tiny but that’s a given… it is a compact car after all.
Whats it like to drive?
Lets make one thing clear, the Micra is by no means a Mercedes-Benz because there is nothing sophisticated about its drive. It’s as basic as one can get from a compact vehicle. It does however take getting used to. In traffic, the clutch can feel a bit jumpy and you will find yourself having to nurture the pedal with concentration. Nonetheless, there is nothing to suggest that it’s a bad vehicle to drive.
Why buy the Nissan Micra?
As a simple, straightforward compact car, you can't go wrong with the Micra. You get the basic practicality needed without the vehicle feeling ‘cheap’. In essence, the Micra is the perfect ‘A to B’ car.
