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Nissan Micra dCi 65 SE

There's a bandwagon leaving the station, and at long last Nissan has jumped on it. Diesel superminis are all the rage in our environmentally friendly and fuel-conscious era. Yet for a company that has a long-standing reputation for technical innovation, an oil-burning Micra has taken its time to arrive.

By Craig Cheetham

March 2003

There's a bandwagon leaving the station, and at long last Nissan has jumped on it. Diesel superminis are all the rage in our environmentally friendly and fuel-conscious era. Yet for a company that has a long-standing reputation for technical innovation, an oil-burning Micra has taken its time to arrive. It's 20 years since the first Nissan supermini hit British shores, and much has changed since then. The latest generation, built in Sunder-land, is as far removed from the first Micra as opera is from heavy metal. And finally there's an oil-burning engine option for UK buyers.

A diesel Micra has been available in continental Europe for the past four years, using a normally aspirated 1.5-litre unit borrowed from Peugeot-Citroen, and familiar to owners of Saxos and 106s. It offered excellent economy but the driving experience was dull, and bosses decided not to bring it to Britain. Their reasoning was simple: diesel here, unlike in most of Europe, costs the same as unleaded, so savings were minimal - especially given the performance and economy of petrol Micras.

Even today, the new powerplant isn't a Nissan development. The Japanese firm has delved into the bag of dervs belonging to its technical partner, Renault, and the 65bhp unit is exactly the same as that found underneath the bonnet of diesel Clios.

The transmission comes from the French company, too, but that's no bad thing as it offers a slick shift. And the platform is also a joint venture and will go on to underpin the next Clio, plus a generation of small-car derivatives from both makers. Not that Nissan can be accused of suffering a lack of imagination. The underbonnet hardware might rely on outside help, but the car's character is undeniably distinctive, whether you speak Micra or not. It's unmistakable, retro and eye-catching, although some more traditional buyers might find it a bit over the top.

So is Nissan's first UK foray into the world of compression ignition a smart move? The improved fuel consumption is certainly welcome - even when driven hard, our test car's on-board computer never dropped below a 50mpg average. Meanwhile, the vehicle feels faster than its performance figures suggest thanks to a wide torque curve, developing 160Nm at only 2,000rpm.

That translates to a willing in-gear response and reduces the need to change down at motorway speeds, but it's still a far cry from quick. The penalty for the unit's smoothness is a hesitance when pulling away from a standstill, while noise levels in the cabin are greater than in petrol models, with intrusion from the engine at high revs and notable tyre roar at speed.

Choosing the diesel motor in our SE-spec test car costs an extra ΂£500 over the equivalent 1.4-litre model, so the premium for the oil-burner isn't excessive. However, the 16-valve petrol variant is much more lively and entertaining to drive. In the end, it all comes down to personal choice. The dCi's economy, low running costs and sensible pricing are attractive, but those wanting more poke might wish to wait for the next Micra diesel - an 80bhp 1.5 dCi, here this summer. If it's anything like the Clio with the same engine, not only will it be quicker than the dCi 65, but more economical, too.

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For an alternative review of the latest Nissan Micra visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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FIRST OPINION

    With a diesel variant, the Micra range now has extra appeal, while the car's styling will guarantee sales over bland rivals. The unit is clean, economical and a reasonable performer, but lacks the verve of Nissan's petrol motors.
 
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