The all-new sixth-generation Nissan Micra returns as a fully electric supermini with Renault 5 underpinnings, retro-futuristic styling and up to 257 miles of range from under £22,000
The Nissan Micra has always been one of those cars that quietly got on with the job. It was never glamorous, rarely outrageous, and yet somehow became deeply woven into British motoring culture. Your mum had one, your driving instructor had one, your mate learned to heel-and-toe in one, and somewhere out in the sticks, there’s probably still a battered K10 surviving on sheer stubbornness and WD40 fumes. But now the Micra enters a whole new era because this all-new sixth-generation model is fully electric, thoroughly modern, heavily digitised and, perhaps most surprisingly of all, good value and rather likeable.
I got a chance to drive the new Nissan Micra EV at SMMT Test Day at Millbrook Proving Ground, immediately after driving the original first-generation Micra, which created a fascinating contrast between old-school simplicity and modern electrification. Yet despite the huge gulf in technology and philosophy, there are traces of the original Micra’s compact charm still hiding within this futuristic little hatchback.
And yes, I know what you’re going to say, this is fundamentally a reskinned and rebadged Renault 5 EV. The platform is shared, the architecture is shared, and the profile silhouettes match. But Nissan has done enough visually to give the Micra its own distinct identity. Those circular lighting graphics front and rear, hark back to the third generation, K12 model. The unique front-end treatment, the sculpted side details and the rear styling give it a personality all of its own. It looks playful without looking childish, futuristic without becoming ridiculous, and in bright colours (like the Renault), it pops with real visual presence.
Compact Outside, Surprisingly Serious Underneath
The new Nissan Micra sits firmly in the compact EV hatchback segment, but visually it has a much chunkier, almost crossover-inspired stance. It feels planted and purposeful rather than tiny and timid. Yet despite that tougher visual attitude, the dimensions remain city-friendly. At just under four metres long with a tight turning circle, this is clearly designed to thrive in urban environments.
Two battery options are available. The standard-range 40kWh version produces 120hp and offers up to 198 miles of WLTP range, while the larger 52kWh battery model produces 150hp and up to 257 miles of range. Fast charging allows a 15-80% top-up in around 30 minutes, and prices start from around £21,495 including the Electric Car Grant, rising to around £26,115 for the range-topping Evolve version with the larger battery. This is partly thanks to the £2750 EV grant being applied, as well as Nissan’s keen pricing.
Frankly, in today’s market, that pricing feels almost suspiciously reasonable. At a time when many EVs seem priced for hedge fund managers and crypto evangelists, the Micra feels refreshingly attainable.
Performance is brisk too. The 52kWh version manages 0-62mph in around eight seconds, which means this Micra would absolutely obliterate it’s first generation ancestor which would turn up exactly 10 seconds later! Though that was never the point was it. The main thing was it got you there, no matter what!
Interior Impressions: Stylish but Slightly Snug
Inside, the Micra feels modern, interesting and properly contemporary. Dual 10.1-inch screens dominate the dashboard and the interface is clean, crisp and reasonably intuitive. There’s Google built-in functionality, wireless smartphone integration, e-Pedal driving and multiple drive modes including Eco, Comfort, Sport and the somewhat anomalous “Perso” personal mode, which of course confirms the car’s French origins.
Material quality is generally impressive for the class. There are plenty of nice textures, clever detailing and ambient lighting touches that lift the cabin above the usual budget EV blandness. Even the roof lining caught my attention because it genuinely looked distinctive and interesting rather than feeling like an accountant-approved afterthought.
Rear space, however, is a slightly more mixed story. Sitting behind my own driving position, I found too tight to travel in. In fairness, I had exactly the same observation when I drove the Renault 5, so this appears to be one of the compromises of the compact EV platform packaging. For smaller families and children it’ll be perfectly fine, but if you regularly carry tall adults in the back, you’ll definitely want to try before you buy.
The boot appears practical enough for the class, and the overall packaging remains sensible, but there’s no escaping the fact that this prioritises compactness and style over outright practicality.
Surprisingly Enjoyable on the Road
This is where the new Micra proves a pleasant surprise. Many EVs are quick, competent and technically impressive, but emotionally detached. They often feel like highly efficient domestic appliances that happen to move at alarming speed. Fast washing machines. Aggressive air fryers. Silent road rockets with all the emotional warmth of a letter from the Inland Revenue.
The Micra, however, actually feels entertaining. Straight away, the steering response is sharp, the turning circle is excellent and the chassis feels genuinely eager. It changes direction quickly, settles confidently into corners and feels compact around the driver in a way that immediately inspires confidence. Visibility is helped by the shape of the bonnet and front corners, making the car very easy to place on the road, which is exactly what you want in an urban-focused hatchback.
On Millbrook’s tighter roads and handling sections, the Micra revealed a genuinely playful side. The body control is impressively disciplined, grip levels are strong and while the steering lacks real tactile feel, the weighting is nicely judged. You can throw this thing into corners with surprising enthusiasm and it simply gets on with the job without drama or awkwardness.
Sport mode sharpens responses nicely, and although the one-pedal driving mode takes a little acclimatisation, the overall calibration feels well judged. Importantly, the car never feels heavy or cumbersome in the way some EVs do. Instead, it pivots neatly around the driver and feels genuinely chuckable on a twisting road.
Now context is everything here, so don’t come away from this thinking the new Micra is some sort of miniature Nissan Z car. It isn’t. But it is more enjoyable, engaging and entertaining than the lower expectations most enthusiasts typically bring to driving an EV.
And that does matter, because even in an era of electrification, software updates and autonomous anxiety, people still want cars with personality. Cars that make them smile. Cars that encourage them to take the long way home occasionally. And remarkably, the Micra manages to deliver some of that spirit.
Verdict: A Small EV with Big Character
The all-new Nissan Micra EV could easily have been a cynical badge-engineered exercise. A generic small electric hatch wearing a familiar nameplate for nostalgic leverage. Instead, Nissan appears to have created something with genuine charm, strong visual identity and unexpectedly engaging road manners.
Yes, rear space could be better. Yes, it shares DNA with the Renault 5. And yes, some traditionalists will still grumble that a Micra should weigh less than a packet of crisps and be repairable using little more than gaffer tape.
But taken on its own merits, this is a genuinely likeable little EV. It looks good, drives well, offers decent range, charges quickly and feels refreshingly fun at a very appealing price point. In a market increasingly flooded with soulless electric crossovers shaped like inflated kitchen appliances, the new Micra manages to stand out by remembering something important.
Small cars are supposed to be fun. And this one actually is.
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