Used Nissan Micra review: 2007-2015

It's all about style, and the Nissan Micra has it in spades, particularly in the model sold here from 2007 till 2010. Cheeky looks and bright colours have attracted many buyers and Nissan's ongoing reputation for reliability has kept them happy.

October 2010 saw the introduction of an all-new Micra, styling took a similar theme, though some regard it as less conservative than in the 2007 iteration.

A major facelift in April 2015 everything forward of the Micra's windscreen renewed. The door and seat trims were restyled, as were the instruments and centre cluster. Not many of these are on the used market yet, but it's worth keeping an eye out if your budget can stretch that far.

Micra is generally used as a city car but can be cruise on the open road and motorways without really feeling out of place. Corrugated dirt might be stretching the friendship, though.

On-road dynamics are safe and competent but it would take a stretch of the imagination to call the Micra exciting to drive. A good set of tyres can give it a surprisingly good feel, but will set you back a bit.

Micra is simple to drive thanks to excellent all-round visibility and a tight turning circle

There's very good interior space for a car in this class. Rear seat legroom is acceptable to most adults, although the sloping roof can cause hassles for taller passengers. It's sold as a five-door hatch, in a market segment where many lower priced hatches only have three.

The rear seat slides back and forward to let you juggle passenger/luggage room. The rear seat backrests have a 60/40 split.

Nissan Micra is simple to drive thanks to excellent all-round visibility and a tight turning circle. The steering is light and responsive as the little Nissan is engineered to suit European drivers. The suspension is firm in a semi-sporting manner, but is comfortable enough for most tastes.

The 2007 Micra is powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine that drives through a four-speed automatic so performance is on the dull side. Fourth gear can be locked out if you are travelling on hilly and/or winding roads. There is no option of a manual gearbox in this Micra model.

The new model of late 2010 has a choice of a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, or a 1.5-litre four-cylinder. A manual gearbox was offered for the first time, it has five forward ratios. However, the automatic transmission is dragging the chain and still only had four speeds.

The 1.2 engine works fine around town, but you're probably better off with the 1.5 if you plan touring in the country.

Nissan has been well established in Australia since the 1960s. There are plenty of dealers, including good representation in country areas due to Nissan's strength in 4WDs.

Leave all safety related items to professional mechanics

You may not find less-common spare parts for the little Micra in the bush, but these can generally be shipped out within a couple of working days. Parts prices and servicing costs are reasonably low.

A good home mechanic can do quite a bit of their own work on a Nissan Micra and the underbonnet area isn't overly crowded for this class. As always, it makes sense to have a workshop manual on hand. Leave all safety related items to professional mechanics.

Insurance costs for the Nissan Micra are about average for this class of car and we haven't found much difference in premiums between any of the major insurance companies. Still, it might be worth shopping around for your individual quotes.

Up to date service records from a Nissan dealership or an independent professional with Nissan experience may add to the price of a used Micra, but are often a worthwhile investment. Keep them up to date to protect your resale value.

What to look for

Make sure the timing belt has been replaced according to the maintenance schedule as a slipping belt can cause major damage within the engine.

Look for damage to the wheels and tyres caused by clumsy parking, the front-left is usually the first to suffer.

Check for crash repairs by looking for paint colours that don't quite match and small droplets of paint on non-painted surfaces or panels that aren't as smooth as they should be.

Be sure that the engine starts easily and settles into a steady idle within seconds of firing up.

Manual gearboxes with noisy changes and/or that baulk on fast downshifts may be in need of an overhaul.

Listen for a clicking sound from the front wheel hubs when the Micra is driven on full steering lock in either direction. This indicates worn universal joints. It's best to do the test at very low speeds, quiet carparks are ideal.