Nissan Micra 2026 review | More affordable than a Renault 5?

What is the Nissan Micra?

The Nissan Micra has been a household name for many decades. Introduced in 1982, the earlier K10 and K11 versions were particularly highly regarded, and became default cars for those who wanted affordable, reliable and surprisingly fun motoring.

Now, this new, sixth generation model is here – and it’s a battery electric vehicle. There is no petrol option, so if you’re after a small, piston-engine car then you’ll need to look to alternatives like the Hyundai i20 or VW Polo. As for the Micra, it has to compete with the Hyundai Inster, BYD Dolphin and BYD Dolphin Surf, Peugeot e-208, Fiat Grande Panda, Vauxhall Frontera and the Citroen e-C3, among others.

Taking style inspiration from the bug-eyed Mk3 Micra, this latest electric Micra is just under 4-metres long. Being based on the same ‘AmpR Small’ platform as the Renault 5, it gets the same 2,540mm wheelbase, although at 3,974mm long overall it’s a whole 5cm longer than the Renault.

Nissan is unashamed of the fact that the electric Micra is simply a restyled version of the Renault 5. The R5 is, after all, the best car in its class and has been a big hit since it arrived, so why fix what ain’t broke? Nissan hasn’t even changed the suspension tune, never mind the powertrain.

That means that you’ve got a 40kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery that gives a WLTP range of up to 192 miles, or a 52kWh lithium-ion NMC battery with its official range of up to 253 miles.

How practical is it?

The Nissan Micra is practical enough for a small car, albeit not as roomy as some of its more crossover-shaped rivals. You’ll get a couple of average-sized adults in the back seats. There’s not much foot space under the seats in front and there’s no centre armrest, but it’ll be fine for the kids.

The 326-litre boot is a decent size, but there’s a big drop over the high load lip and down to the boot floor, and the seats leave a step up when they’re folded. It’s still one of the biggest boots in the class, and there’s a bit of underfloor storage for charging cables, so by small car standards the Micra’s boot is pretty good.

Up front, the dash is – again – all recognisably Renault 5. It feels smart, and if you go for the top-spec model you even get interior trim inspired by a Japanese zen garden. There’s also an outline of Mount Fuji in the centre console, which is cute but some might argue also a bit ironic given that the Nissan Micra is made in France…

What’s it like to drive?

The Nissan Micra drives just like the Renault 5, which is no bad thing. Why? Well, the Renault is brilliant to drive, and therefore so is the Micra. Go for the 52kWh Micra and you get a 152bhp electric motor driving the front wheels (the Micra is front-wheel drive only). The smaller battery makes do with a 121bhp electric motor, meaning that the Micra will do 0-62mph in 8.0- or 9.0 seconds depending on which battery you go for.

It's got a lovely balance of compliant yet neatly controlled suspension, a keen turn-in when you swing into corners, light but precise steering… It all feels fun yet unintimidating, and more than composed enough to be an easy motorway driver if you need it to be. It’s fun and sprightly, yet also easy to drive.

The Micra also gets three-level brake regen, which is controllable via paddles on the steering wheel. The regen system is nice and smooth, with predictable responses as you modulate the throttle regardless of which mode you’re in. It’s a great feature to have, as it means you can use the regen almost as you would downshifts in an automatic petrol- or diesel car.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

The Micra is available in three trim levels: Engage, Advance and Evolve. All get a suite of advanced safety assist systems including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and autonomous emergency braking. All also come with a large touchscreen infotainment system with Google Maps and other Google app functionality, which is easy to use and usefully better than many other native satnav systems that car manufacturers use.

You also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and luxuries such as heated seats can be had from the mid-spec model and up.

As with the Renault, you can only have the 40kWh battery in the base (Engage) trim, while Advance will be offered with both batteries, and the top-spec Micra Evolve only has the 52kWh battery. Vehicle-to-load charging is optional across the range, allowing you to power smaller devices from the Nissan's battery (handy for camping or charging an e-bike).

Nissan Micra running costs

The Micra costs from just under £23,000 in entry-level Engage trim, although at the time of writing a £15,000 governemnt EV grant brings that down to just over £21,000. That makes it a couple of hundred pounds less than an entry-level Renault 5 Evolution with the same battery.

At the other end of the range, a top-spec Micra Evolve will set you back just over £26,000 including the government grant, for which you get the bigger 52kWh battery, 18-inch alloy wheels. two-tone metallic paint, a premium sound system and heated seats and steering wheel. There are some impressive lease deals out there, with prices from less than £200 per month with a 12-month initial deposit. That's about £60 per month less than we could find an equivalient lease on a Renault 5...

Real-world range sits at about 190 to 230 miles for the 52kWh Nissan Micra depending on driving style and ambient temperature (EVs are less efficient in very cold weather). The smaller battery car has a real-world range of around 150 miles.

Nissan Micra reliability

The Micra is too new for us to know much about reliability. It comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile vehicle warranty, while the battery is covered for eight years and 100,000 miles. The former, in particular, is a bit underwhelming next to the longer warranties from Hyundai, Kia and BYD.

As an overall brand, Nissan came a disappointing 25th out of 31 manufacturers surveyed in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey. Renault, however, came 9th, which is arguably more representative of the Micra given it shares so much with the Renault 5.