 | Nissan Micra Active Luxury |
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PUT A LITTLE LUXURY IN YOUR LIFE
Who says small car owners can't have big car luxury? Certainly not Nissan, as Andy Enright reports
The Colour Group arm of London-based Nissan Design Europe has a lot to answer for. Not many manufacturers would team chrome, black, porcelain and copper together in a car but the Nissan Micra Active Luxury combines these themes to surprisingly classy effect. Taking its inspiration from the latest clubwear, this model offers a premium feel at a distinctly mass market price.
The Active Luxury trim level slots in above Tenka in the Micra three and five-door hatchback range and above Essenza in the Micra C+C line up, with prices starting at £10,695. Various different models are offered, with a choice of 88bhp 1.4-litre and 109bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines or the 1.5-litre 82bhp dCi diesel which is only available if you select a hatchback. Likewise, an auto gearbox can only be teamed with the 1.4-litre hatch.
Micra Active Luxury customers get 16-inch alloy wheels as part of the deal. All cars get chrome-trimmed headlights and a choice of either unique pearlescent Porcelain paintwork or metallic Nero Black. There are also side sill extenders, a rear spoiler and front fog lights along with body coloured mirrors and door handles. The Colour Group really blew the budget on this one. The latest Micras feature a revised chrome grille and headlamps with less of a bulbous look that incorporate a light blue tint. Meanwhile, the sporty front bumper that was once the preserve of the 160SR is now common across the range.
"Few small cars feel as if much thought has been paid to design beyond the purely functional. This Micra feels rather special in that regard"
Inside, the unusual Active Luxury finishes and colours continue. The seats are trimmed in pearl grey nappa leather with perforated Alcantara inserts that do a good job of gripping your posterior and holding it in place. The suede-effect section of the seat also features a thin copper stripe which is also prevalent in (of all places) the glove box liner and the stitching of the leather trimmed steering wheel. A satin chrome finish to the dials, air vents and door handles plus aluminium sill kicker plates are other Active Luxury touches. An MP3 player socket is now standard on all models.
Although some of the detailing may seem a little gratuitous, the value proposition for the key features isn't actually that bad. Given that a 1.5-litre dCi Active Luxury retails at £11,855 ? just £500 more than the equivalent Tenka ? the leather seats and body kit look good value for with the rest of the bits and pieces adding a bit of trimming. Factor in heated seats, rain sensing wipers, front seat lumbar supports and automatic lighting and you've got a competitively priced package.
Of course, much will hinge on how easily the Micra's styling rests on your eye. Few small cars generate such a 'Marmite' love it or hate it response. It's been tweaked in recent times to give a cleaner more modern look. The sporting models feature more aggressive rear bumpers and a body coloured roof spoiler, apparently the Nissan design team needed to beef-up the bumpers to cater for the French market where these get knocked on a routine basis.
Other small changes have been made to the switchgear and Nissan have worked hard to improve the Micra's refinement, fitting thicker front door glass, improved door seals and revised wheelarch liners. Engine noise has been reduced by stiffening body panels and the roof while an engine isolation pack has been developed with thicker insulation material and better bulkhead sealing to keep noise out of the cabin.
The common rail 1.5-litre, eight valve four cylinder turbo diesel ? developed by Alliance partner Renault ? is probably the pick of the powerplants, offering a very creditable balance between power and economy. The car takes 11.9 seconds to get to 60mph with its all-out maximum just another 46mph around the dial. What's more important is the astounding economy. Averaging 60mpg should be possible and Nissan claim a 65mpg average on longer trips.
The C+C Active Luxury is a car with a hardtop that can be raised or lowered without having to wrestle with any latches, clips or handles. What's more, it can even be done while on the move and takes 22 seconds to complete its action. While this may not be the quickest system around, it's worth watching this piece of automotive origami as the double-hinged boot lid flips up and swallows the roof. When the roof's in place, the boot opens conventionally at the top. Development and production of this roof has been helped by experts Karmann, who have established a facility in Sunderland to build the hardtop modules.
The C+C is lower and longer than the standard Micra, an impression helped by a windscreen that's raked back at a sharp angle. This means that the roofline is 110mm lower than the standard hatchback while the overall length of the car increases by 90mm. If you think of a Micra as a sit up and beg supermini, the C+C may well come as quite a surprise.
We're made to feel guilty about so many of the small luxuries that make life worth living. Here's one that will rest easy on your conscience.
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