Nissan Micra review: Supermini leads new wave of electric Nissans

September 15, 2025 Matt Allan

The Nissan Micra is back, and it’s all-electric, but does it have the spark to rival the Citroen E-C3, BYD Dolphin Surf and Renault 5?

The Nissan Micra is one of those cars that seems to have been with us forever.

Anyone you speak to probably has a Micra story, whether they learned to drive in one, had one as their first car, or remember popping to the shops with their granny in hers. But for the last three years, there has been no Nissan Micra. The fifth generation car ended production in 2022 and Nissan has been without a supermini contender ever since.

However, 2025 marks a new beginning for Nissan. As well as launching an all-new Leaf, the Japanese brand has brought the Micra back to compete in the growing electric supermini sphere.

Reviving a familiar name is a smart commercial move – we all know what a Micra is, after all – but while the name is an old one, the car is all new. Sort of. Because behind the badge, this is fundamentally the same car as the Renault 5.

Nissan will tell you it’s a joint project developed by the Franco-Japanese alliance, but the Renault arrived first, leaving Nissan fighting to establish the Micra as its own thing.

Nissan Micra design, interior and technology

You can’t hide from the fact that the Nissan Micra is a reskinned Renault 5, but Nissan has done what it can to give the Micra some individuality and, if you’re not a car nerd, you might be convinced it’s a unique model.

2025 Nissan Micra headlights — The new Micra’s headlights are a nod to the third-gen car

The bonnet line is higher and softer and, in a nod to the K12 Micra of the early 2000s, the headlights are encircled by two curved running light units that reference the old model’s round headlamps. That motif is mirrored in the round taillight units that are clearly different from the R5’s vertical arrangement. There’s also a chunky rub strip on the lower doors that isn’t present on the Renault and a “gelato scoop” line running below the side windows. There are even a couple of Mount Fuji motifs hidden around the car. But step back and look at the roof line and overall shape and it’s clear to see the French fancy beneath the Japanese suit.

Inside, there’s even less difference, but that’s not a bad thing. Among the most obvious changes are the faux-leather upholstery on our top-spec Evolve car – something you can’t have on a Renault. You can also specify heated seats and steering wheel on mid-level Advance, a luxury limited to only top-spec R5s. They’re minor differences, but the sort of thing that could sway some buyers.

Apart from that, the Micra uses the same smart, modern arrangement as its French cousin. Materials are good on key touch points although the plastics lower down do reflect the sub-£23k starting price. The neat two-tier dash is angled towards the driver with sensible physical switches for the climate controls beneath a 10-inch touchscreen. This is powered by Android Automotive and is, by some margin, the best infotainment system ever fitted to a Nissan. It’s simple, clear and responsive, with navigation that automatically factors in the car’s battery status when route planning, providing charging locations and duration in one simple interface.

The Micra is 3.97m long, meaning interior space is always going to be at a premium. That said, there’s generous room up front and plenty of adjustment in the driving position, so even tall drivers will manage fine. The rear seats, however, really are only suitable for children or very occasional use. That’s true of any car in this class, and being a five-door gives the Micra a practical advantage over three-door alternatives. The Micra also boasts a 326-litre boot that’s plenty big enough for day-to-day needs and bigger than the offerings from BYD, Citroen or Mini.

2025 Nissan Micra interior — The user interface in the new Micra is the best of any Nissan yet

Battery, motor and powertrain

The Nissan Micra comes with two powertrain options – there’s an entry-level version which uses a 40kWh battery and 118bhp motor, or a 52kWh battery version with 148bhp.

The smaller battery version offers up to 198 miles of range and a 0-62mph time of 9 seconds. The 52kWh variant I drove manages 0-62mph in 8 seconds and covers up to 260 miles on a charge.

In both cases, the Nissan Micra offers seven miles more range than the equivalent Renault 5 thanks to its less angular front design – another small but potentially decisive advantage.

From the wheel, the 148bhp motor feels a good match for the car. The Micra is no hot hatch but there’s an immediate response from the throttle and plenty of pep right up to motorway speeds. That’s matched by well calibrated and natural feeling braking regeneration which, in higher-grade models, features four selectable levels, including one-pedal driving via e-Pedal paddles on the steering wheel.

matt allan nissan micra review driving image — The Micra drives brilliantly around town and on the open road

There are also four driving modes – eco, comfort, sport and the customisable “perso” – none of which make a massive difference to the driving experience.

That’s okay because the Micra drives sweetly whichever mode you’re in and wherever you are. The relatively compact footprint, well-weighted steering and nicely balanced throttle mean it’s easy to thread around busy urban environments. But at motorway speeds it feels solid, controlled and impressively refined. For a small car, the ride is impressively compliant without verging into spongy.

When it comes to charging, every Micra will accept an AC charge at up to 11kW, while DC varies by battery. The 40kWh version tops out at 80kW, the 52kWh one at 100kW. In both cases that translates to a 15-80% charge in around 30 minutes.

Nissan Micra price and specification

Anyone hoping the Nissan Micra might undercut its French stablemate will be disappointed. Nissan’s pricing structure is identical to Renault’s, but that still means the Micra is attractively priced, with Evolve spec starting at £22,995.

For that, you get the smaller battery and a pared-down equipment list. It still comes with a heat pump, automatic air conditioning, rear parking sensors and the 10.1-inch touchscreen, but it does without the alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control or the 10.1-inch Google-powered instrument display fitted to the Advance trim.

The Advance grade also adds LED headlights, front parking sensors and a reversing camera as well as wireless phone charging and the e-Pedal. With the smaller battery, it’s an extra £2,000, while the Advance 52kWh (our pick of the bunch) is £26,995.

If you want heated seats and steering wheel as standard, or a Harman Kardon stereo and two-tone paint, you’ll need to find £29,895 for the 52kWh-only Evolve trim.

At the time of writing, all versions of the Nissan Micra also qualify for the UK Government’s Electric Car Grant, knocking £1,500 off their on-the-road price.

Verdict

From price to performance and interior design, there is no escaping that the new Nissan Micra is almost identical to the Renault 5. But, if you’re going to borrow, borrow from the best.

The R5 was World Car of the Year and the Nissan shares all the qualities that earned it that title, making the Micra one of the very best electric cars on sale.

Which of these brilliant superminis is for you will come down to brand loyalty, aesthetic preference or who has the more attractive offers at the dealership.