Nissan Micra long term review first report

The approach lane to my house has been almost completely chewed up by the rains and that tells me that the Micra’s ride is a bit choppy on such roads. While the suspension is silent and medium-sized potholes don’t thud through, even on smaller imperfections, the ride feels quite busy.

Since we have the mid-spec Micra, it lacks steering-mounted controls.  But Nissan has cleverly extended the horn button into that space on either side, making the horn very accessible. Also, the car is fitted with most features you’d need for everyday motoring. However, I was surprised that this variant lacks a rear windscreen defogger and ABS – both are sorely missed in the monsoons. Another feature I would have liked is electrically adjustable wing mirrors because my car-washing chap wipes them clean every morning and that changes their angle (he does a great job nonetheless). 

Truth be told, it isn’t the most aspirational car in the parking lot, but as a city runabout, the Micra fits its purpose very well. It’s extremely easy to drive, the visibility is fantastic, it carries four in good comfort and doesn’t burn a hole in my pocket — reasons enough for me to reach for its key for my short commute home. Yes, I admit that the Micra may not top my list for a nice weekend out of town. But till that happens, for me, the small Nissan is almost the perfect tool to tackle the urban jungle.

So, what about the problems? For the 8500km we have had it, the Micra hasn’t had a hiccup yet and everything works perfectly. However, the suspension has been taking quite a beating from the monsoon-battered roads. No rattles yet, but to know how it held up, watch this space.

ADITYA BENGALI

Odometer: 8470km
Price: Rs 6.04 lakh (on-road, Mumbai)
Test economy: 14.6 kpl
Maintenance costs: None
Faults: None