Nissan Micra Tekna 1.2 DIG-S

What is it?

THIS is a new, super-charged model that Nissan has added to its new Micra range, the basic versions of which went on sale in the UK at the start of the year. Its principle claim to fame rests on achieving the holy grail of higher performance with much lower emissions, making it more fun while strengthening residual values. The model tested is the 1.2 DIG-S in Tekna trim, priced at £13,650.

What’s hot?

• 97bhp but zero VED/London congestion charge
• Sober and clean, contemporary styling
• Nimble to drive with a real sense of pace and fun
• Chassis well-attuned to English roads, soaks up bumps
• Claimed combined mpg of 65.7
• London cab turning circle of just 9.3m
• Class leading maximum luggage space of 1,132 litres…
• …thanks to Micra’s tall architecture
• Understated even by supermini standards
• Corporation tax: qualifies for 100% FYA

What’s not?

• Definitely no hot hatch
• Hard, utilitarian interior betrays world car design
• Too expensive
• Avoid the CVT transmission option, which is noisy
• Three cylinder engine quite throbby

What you need to Know?

P11D Value:	13,650
Monthly Rental*:	197 (CH)/£236 (PCH)
Tax Band when posted:	10%, 10%, 11%
Monthly BiK:	Click link for BIK
Engine:	1.2 litre, 3 cyl, super-charged
CO2 Emissions:	99g/km
Power/torque:	97bhp/104 lb/ft
Economy:	65.7mpg

Monthly contract hire (CH) and personal contract hire (PCH) rentals generated by Concept Vehicle Leasing. Based on a 36 month lease at 10,000 miles a year, 3+35 payments.

Business Car Manager Road Test Rating

Nissan believes the average age of its Micra customers will be 54. That may fall a bit for this model but the emphasis of the DIG-S, supercharged version is on deepening the Micra’s thrifty appeal rather than turning it into a hot hatch, which it was never meant to be. The clever supercharging actually reduces CO2 over the normally aspirated base model, landing this model in Band A, allowing businesses to claim 100% first year capital allowances and makes it free for London’s C-Charge, while allowing the Micra to keep up better on M-Ways. As such, the car is a clever package.

The new Micra is more of a world car than its predecessors, however, and the hard interior plastics betray this one-size-fits-165-countries approach. If you like the Ford Fiesta, Nissan would prefer you to step up to its Juke, which you can do for less than the price of the DIG-S Micra. So we reckon that most Micra customers are likely to head for lesser Micras, which begin at £9650 OTR.

Certainly the supercharged Micra drives with much more alacrity, but it is difficult to swallow the price penalty, which will tip the scales at over £14k when you add the expensive optional paint (even for black). At that level, not only could you have bought a Juke, but also a Note with £3k in change.

Meanwhile, the entry-level Pixo, still with five doors, starts at £6,995. But the clean styling of the Micra will appeal to its well established fan base, while the roomier interior with excellent luggage potential makes it the sober balancing act to the Juke and a doddle to drive in an urban setting.