Micra 2010 2012 XE Review
Japanese Auto Major Nissan in July, 2010 launched its much awaited premium hatch back named Nissan Micra. With the availability of this model surely Nissan is going to improve its market share. The company is taking every possible step to establish itself in the growing car market, the Japanese car maker under a joint venture with Renault India set up a manufacturing plant near Chennai which has a capacity to produce 4 lakh units per annum but initially Nissan is going to produce only two lakh units of cars. Nissan Micra by the company is known by the name Nissan March in the Japanese market but the company has christened it as Micra for the Indian market. Nissan also claimed that they have planned to launch seven new models in the time period between 2010- 2015. The Micra at present is available in the market in six different variants out of which four are petrol and two are diesel. The petrol variants are named as Nissan Micra XE Plus, Nissan Micra XE , Nissan Micra XL and Nissan Micra XV while the diesel variants are named as Nissan Micra Diesel XV and Nissan Micra Diesel XV Premium. The petrol variant Nissan Micra XE was introduced with 1.2L 12 valve DOHC engine that produces 74.48bhp of maximum power at the rate of 6000rpm and 104Nm at the rate of 4000rpm. The engine comes mated with a five speed manual transmission which further improves the efficiency. Nissan Micra is a combination of new generation cutting edge technology, exceptional design and advanced features. The standard features that this Nissan model is loaded with are Air Conditioning system, CD player in the infotainment section and power steering.
Exterior
The exterior looking of the car is bit sporty with a few styling touches and one of these is the twin boomerangs on the roof and slightly raised rear. At the front there is a single lined chrome upper grille with stylish headlamps, and fog lamps which are placed next toits lower grille. To add to the sportiness of this model Nissan has provided body colored bumpers, door handles and ORVMs. Roof antenna enhance the exterior look as well, the car also comes fitted with rear wiper and washer, Electric Park and fold mirror and electronically adjustable door mirrors . The Nissan Micra comes with superb fit and finish along with the smooth corners. Retaining its compact dimensions, the new car is slightly longer and marginally lowers while its longer wheelbase enables a ‘wheel-at-each-corner’ stance, the main reason behind the roomier interior. The dimensions of Nissan Micra are length - 3,780mm, width - 1,665mm, height - 1,530mm and wheelbase - 2450mm .
Interior
The interior design of the car is very appealing and provides a fairly airy environment. The dash of the car is attractive and is packed with advanced instrument cluster. This Micra model features an integrated audio system with 4 speakers and AUX-In port, this is the most attractive feature as most of the small do not sport factory fitted audio system. It is also fitted with manual Air Conditioner to control the internal temperature of the car. Both these features are placed at the center of the dash in an ultra modern design that enhances its beauty; the AC vents are designed with utmost care and complement the overall dash board concept. The car is also packed with features like power adjustable exterior rear view mirror and tinted glass which reduces the solar heat and protects from UV rays. The car also has adjustable steering wheel which allows you to adjust the steering wheel according to your own need providing a comfortable and safe ride. The Glove compartment is also their which can be used for miscellaneous storage like vehicle registration, insurance, Driving license, CD’s, sweets, books etc. Nissan Micra is a spacious car and provides enough headroom, legroom and shoulder room space. The car also has a class competitive boot space of 226 liters, so that you can fit in the entire luggage in case you are over packed.
Engine and Performance
Nissan Micra XE is powered by an In-Line petrol engine which has 3 cylinders with 4 valves per cylinder in DOHC configuration. This 1198cc engine produces a 74.9bhp of maximum power at the rate of 6000rpm and a maximum torque of 104Nm at the rate of 4000rpm. The bore x stroke of the car is 78mm x 83.6mm and a compression ratio of 9.8:1. The engine is mated with a 5 speed manual transmission that further enhances the efficiency providing a wonderful driving experience. With the power and torque generated we can readily accelerate the car from0 – 100kmph in just 15.2 seconds and can reach a top speed of 158kmph. The engine is also fuel efficient as it delivers a mileage of 14kmpl on the city roads and reaches up to 18kmpl on the highways.The fuel tank capacity of the car is 41 liters so that we can cover an average distance of 656kms once full tank. The engine is complied with BSIV emission norm which is the Bharat Stage Emission Norm IV instituted by the Government of India to keep a check over the pollution caused by the internal combustion engine.
Braking and Handling
The brake mechanism of the car includes large ventilated disc brakes in the front with the drum brakes at the rear . These provide an effective braking mechanism by reducing the deceleration distance. The suspension system in the car is also good, at the front there is McPherson strut with coil spring and anti roll bar while at the rear there is Torsion beam. For handling the car has in it power steering wheel which provides very comfortable driving and provides a turn radius of 4.65 meters.
Safety Features
Nissan Micra has brood of passive safety features in it but there is only one active feature which is the driver airbag, which provides a cushioning effect in case of a collision. The passive safety features in the car are Child safety locks, day and night rear view mirror, passenger side rear view mirror, Halogen Headlamp, rear seat belts, door ajar warning, side impact beam, adjustable seats, engine Immobilizer and engine check warning.
Comfort Features
Along with the brood of passive safety features, Nissan Micra also has in it a range of comfort features. These are power steering, Low fuel warning light, Accessory power outlet, trunk light, vanity mirror, rear reading lamp, rear seat headrest and front cup holder.
Pros
Fuel efficiency, looks, power
Cons
Passenger airbags and split folding seats.
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