- Low cost of ownership due to excellent fuel economy, low maintenance costs, and Japanese Quality, combined with unmatched vehicle value
- Impressive agility, visibility and excellent turning radius
- European style and heritage refined and tailored for Canada with 60/40 split rear seats and rear heating ducts
- Unexpected premium feature content with widely available Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System and RearView Monitor
The Nissan Micra is returning to Canada. The all-new 2015 Micra goes on sale at Nissan’s Canadian dealers in April 2014 offering quality, European styling and unexpected features at a price that’s sure to shake up the entry-level segment.
As an entry-level vehicle, the key innovation offered by Micra can be summed up in two words: unbeatable value. Regardless of grade level, Micra gives owners more than they’d expect: more value, more fun and more attention to detail. Smart packaging ensures drivers can choose the Micra that is right for them, with everything they need and nothing they don’t.
While truly a global vehicle, sold in 160 countries around the world, the 2015 Micra has been tailored to meet Canadian customers’ needs. Micra is designed to appeal to the sensibilities of Canadians, particularly drivers in urban centres who will be drawn by its practicality, agile handling, great visibility and European city-car styling.
Christian Meunier, President of Nissan Canada Inc. said, “The 2015 Nissan Micra is the perfect addition to the Nissan line-up offering Canadians Euro-styling and great value with a Canadian twist. Life is simpler when you own a Micra. Car payments are less burdensome. Driving and parking in the city is easier. And its durability, quality and reliability provide peace of mind. Micra is Nissan’s value flagship, and will re-define the brand in Canada.”
The front-wheel drive Micra S, SV and top-of-the-line SR are available with either a 5-speed manual transmission, or a 4-speed automatic transmission. Each is equipped with an advanced 1.6-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine with dual fuel injection and Twin CVTC (Continuously Variable Timing Control). All Micra models feature impressive fuel economy, a comfortable and confident ride, and a power-to-weight ratio that will be sure to provide fun behind the wheel.
Attractive Euro Styling, Inside and Out
Micra’s expressive and aerodynamic exterior is modern and bold, inspired by its European city car heritage. Up front, the 2015 Micra features the Nissan signature V grille and the eye-catching headlamp design and boomerang roof accents, ensuring style is standard equipment on any trim level. Plenty of available premium design touches further enhance Micra’s on-road presence.
Micra’s visual styling is further amplified by the SR’s black accented side mirrors and roof spoiler, chrome exhaust finisher, lower side sills and the aggressive wrap-around character of the headlights with their dark tinted housing. The premium 16″ machined alloy wheels add to the SR’s sporty character.
Aiming to create the same sense of style inside, Micra features chrome and silver-painted accents along with premium seat cloth panels on the SV and SR grades. The SR grade also adds an accented and coloured French seam on the seats. The dash and console have been designed with the driver in mind, ensuring all audio and HVAC controls are easy to read, access and use. The large gauges in the instrument panel are clear and bright, contributing to the interior’s clean, sophisticated look. As well, the large colour screen of the available display audio system adds vibrant detail to the cabin.
Underpinning the all-new Micra is Nissan’s V-Platform, now tested and proven on several million vehicles globally. By situating the wheels at the far corners of the frame, the slightly longer wheelbase optimizes handling and control. It also increases passenger space, making Micra surprisingly big on the inside and offering plenty of legroom for all passengers. Large openings make it easy for occupants to enter and exit the vehicle, while the long roofline ensures that front and rear passengers have ample headroom.
Interior versatility is further augmented by the standard 60/40-split fold-down rear seats, creating a cargo space that once again defies Micra’s exterior size – with ample storage space for hockey gear, weekend getaways or trips to the supermarket.
The Micra has also been designed to exceed expectations where customer comfort is concerned. For example, a standard acoustic windshield reduces exterior noise. Rear heating ducts (unique to the Canadian Micra) keep passengers warm in the harshest weather conditions.
Other key interior features include standard charcoal cloth seating with 4-way adjustable front bucket seats. A 6-way front driver’s seat with attached arm rest is also available (SV, SR). Also standard are the AM/FM/CD/Aux-in audio system with 4 speakers, variable intermittent front windshield wipers, a rear window wiper with washer, 12-volt power outlet, front door pockets with bottle holders, dual front and rear cupholders, manual windows and locks, front seatback pockets and many more amenities.
The 2015 Micra will be available in seven vibrant colours: Red Alert, Metallic Blue, Brilliant Silver, Magnetic Grey, Super Black, Fresh Powder and Caspian Sea. For those who want to maximize Micra’s personality, accessory style packages will be available, adding side mirror caps and lower body side decals in a variety of colours, as well as chrome door handles.
Confident and Agile
One item that sets the 2015 Micra apart is its agility. Micra is easy to drive and park, thanks to excellent all-round visibility and turning radius, electric power steering and a power to weight ratio that surprises. The available rearview monitor makes Micra even easier to maneuver and park in tight spaces. As well, handling and ride comfort will far exceed expectations.
Micra offers the ideal balance of impressive fuel economy and agile performance, recognizing that today’s entry-level buyers want value beyond the purchase price. Anchoring the front-wheel drive Micra is a DOHC 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine rated at 109 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 107 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm.
The engine includes a range of cutting-edge technologies, including a dual fuel injector system that allows a wider injection of fuel (versus traditional single injector systems). The smaller nozzles deliver a spray approximately 57 percent finer than the previous generation single injector design’s particle size to help achieve more complete combustion. The result is an increase in power and improved fuel economy.
The compact, lightweight engine also utilizes a Twin Continuously Variable Timing Control (CVTC) system mounted on intake and exhaust ports (versus conventional CVTC systems, which are mounted only on the intake port) similar to the system used on the flagship Nissan Maxima. Using a CVTC on the outlet port increases thermal efficiency, decreases inhalation resistance and offers an approximate four percent improvement in fuel efficiency (over the previous engine design).
“Micra makes innovation accessible to everyone offering an attractive, affordable design that’s fun to drive, easy to park with outstanding functionality thanks to its surprising interior space,” added Meunier.
Safety is standard
Micra is designed to not only meet or exceed Canadian safety regulations, but the high expectations of Canadian drivers as well. Micra’s standard safety systems include the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) (includes front supplemental air bags, front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS).
Child seats can be safely secured using the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system. Braking is provided by standard power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes with standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.
Micra – Made for Canada
While Micra is the Japanese car that grew up in Europe, the Canadian version has been exclusively tailored for this country. Extensive testing has been conducted in Canada to ensure that Micra meets the unique challenges of our roads and climate.
For example, road testing in Montreal resulted in the power steering and suspension being fine-tuned for Canadian roads. When it came to adjustments to handling, a wide range of factors were considered – even the way roads are crowned here in Canada. Front and rear sway bars were tuned and added to tighten handling, and the rack and pinion steering was further adjusted to improve the turning radius. As a result, Micra could well be Canada’s most agile urban vehicle.
Other upgrades include features perfect for Canadian winters including heated outside rear mirrors and rear heater ducts to keep back seat passengers warm. A redesign of the rear seats to create the 60/40-split bench ensure hockey sticks can be easily transported to the rink. In many countries 14 inch wheels are standard equipment, but the Canadian Micra comes with 15 or 16 inch wheels – sizes that are widely available as snow tires.
This fourth generation Micra is manufactured at the Aguascalientes 1 plant in Mexico, renowned as a one of the world’s top facilities for vehicle quality.
Serious about Canada
“It’s very rare to offer a car in Canada that is not also offered in the United States and with Micra, Nissan will be the only mainstream automotive brand to bring a high volume car specifically for the Canadian market,” said Meunier. “There has been extensive support from the global leadership team to make this happen, recognizing the potential of the Nissan brand within Canada, and the importance of bringing cars that will resonate with Canadian consumers.”
In fact, Micra is a key pillar in fulfilling Nissan’s NP88 objectives for Canada: achieving 8% market share and selling 150,000 vehicles by FY2016.
With Micra’s launch, the vehicle will attract many new customers to the Nissan brand, including a significant portion of the population that prefers smaller, European style vehicles. In particular, Micra will have strong appeal to drivers in urban centres.
Value is an important part of the equation. “We expect Micra will shock the market,” said Meunier. “We’re offering Canadians the quality, reliability and modern safety standards of a new Japanese vehicle, with an unexpectedly attractive starting price. We are going to expand the entry-level segment with Micra.”
For Nissan Canada, Micra not only represents the potential for substantial incremental sales growth. The vehicle will also redefine consumers’ perception of Nissan’s value proposition, drawing fresh attention to the entire line-up. This creates the opportunity to turn a legion of first-time buyers into loyal Nissan customers, thanks to the quality they experience, supporting Nissan’s long-term growth goals in Canada.
Exceptional Value at Every Grade
The all-new Micra will be offered in S, SV and SR grade levels, offering Canadians unparalleled value and choice in an entry-level vehicle.
In addition to standard features, the Micra S with 4-speed automatic transmission adds air conditioning, cruise control with steering wheel switches, as well as silver accents on the shift knob and steering wheel.
The SV includes outside mirrors that are heated and body-coloured, as well as body-coloured exterior door handles, a 6-way driver’s seat with attached armrest, a cloth front door trim accent and a cargo cover. Most notable though: Micra is the only vehicle at this price point equipped with the Bluetooth® Hands-free phone system. Other features include power windows, power locks, remote keyless entry and steering wheel controls for audio and phone. Optional on the SV trim is a convenience package that brings a USB input, an impressive display audio system capable of displaying album art and rearview camera system.
The top-of-the-line SR features Micra at its most expressive, with black painted side view mirrors and a rear roof spoiler sporting a high mount LED stop light. Other upgrades include the sport front and rear headlights, side sills, front foglights with a chrome finish and a handsome 16-inch machined-black painted alloy wheels.
Inside, the SR comes equipped with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and sporty seats with contrasting French sewn stitching, revealing an attention to detail that you wouldn’t expect in an entry-level vehicle. Technology features include a 4-speaker audio system with a 4.3-inch colour display, a RearView Monitor, and a USB connection port for iPods, smartphones or tablets.
Said Meunier, “Canadians will be surprised to discover that a car this great can be so affordable. Micra makes practicality fun, at an unexpected price. Owning the right car has never been easier.”