Driven: The Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech
With the car-key in my pocket, I approached my latest test car with much confidence. I tap the keyless entry button on the door handle to unlock it, hop inside and start it by pushing a button. I select the reverse gear which turns my central touch screen display into a rear-view camera and 360-degree camera view next to each other. Now you probably think I’m driving a super-premium German sedan, but I’m not. Instead, I’m driving the new Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech.
The compact hatchback is powered by a 0.9-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, coupled to a turbocharger to produce a humble 66kW of power and 140Nm of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox. Acceleration from rest to 100km/h will happen in 12.1-seconds before reaching its top speed of 170km/h. Now, this may appear to be a bit of a dreary powerplant, and I will admit that the Micra takes take a while to get moving, but the entire process is quite spirited and exciting. Nissan has equipped the Micra with Intelligent Trace Control which adjusts the amount of brake pressure at each wheel during cornering which adds a bit of extra handling to the mix.
The design of the Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech is the real highlight. Comparing it to the previous Micra would be difficult considering how much it has evolved, going from a bland and conservative hatchback to a youthful and vibrant hatch. There are sharp lines all around the car and a set of striking 17-inch alloy wheels giving it a sporty and athletic undertone. The headlights are decorated with a daytime running LED strip, directing your focus to the more aggressive front grille and bumper. At the back, the new taillights slightly protrude from the car adding depth to the design, while a sporty carbon fibre inspired trim piece is embedded into the rear bumper just above a sporty F1-esque lower brake light. The back doors also have hidden handles which give the Micra a bit of a coupe look.
The interior is equally as impressive. The Micra that we tested was equipped with the Energy Orange pack, which replaces the conventional dashboard and trim with orange leather. Up front is a 7-inch touchscreen that manages the infotainment system. It also supports Bluetooth, USB, Android Auto, and my favourite app of them all, Apple CarPlay. The system in the Micra was very straightforward to use and worked flawlessly which isn’t always the case when using third party smartphone apps.
Let’s talk about the features on this little hatchback. Its available with the usual host of bells and whistles that you’d expect from a small hatch, but the Nissan Micra goes the extra mile. Some of my personal favourites include the electric side mirrors, auto dimming rear view mirror, Apple CarPlay (again), the flat-bottomed sports steering wheel with multifuction media controls, the ‘anti-fatigue’ seats, the keyless entry and stop/start button and finally, cruise control. However, I did notice that the cruise control function was not accurately calibrated with the speedometer. When I would set the cruise control to 120km/h, for example, the needle would stray to halfway between 120km/h and 130km/h on the instrument cluster, so I didn’t know if I was really doing 120km/h or around 126km/h.
After spending a few days with the Nissan Micra, I have a new respect for it. I know the price tag of R305,900 might scare a few people but with so many features in a hatchback, I would certainly have it somewhere at the top of my list. The only thing holding it back is the poor low-end performance of the engine, but it’s a minor aspect that I could look past in exchange for a cool car with an even cooler personality.
Do you drive a Nissan Micra? Write a short review of your car and share it with the AutoAdvisor community. We would love to hear what you have to say.
FAQ
Q: What does the Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech cost in South Africa?
The Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech is priced from R341,800 in South Africa, which puts it in the premium end of the compact hatchback segment but still offers decent value considering all the tech features you get.
Q: Is the Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech worth buying?
The Micra Accenta Plus Tech is worth buying if you want a stylish compact hatchback with premium features like keyless entry, a 360-degree camera system, and intelligent handling tech, but you'll need patience with the 66kW engine that takes 12.1 seconds to reach 100kph.
Q: How fuel efficient is the Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech?
The Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech delivers impressive fuel consumption thanks to its small 0.9-litre turbocharged engine, making it an excellent choice for daily commuting and city driving where petrol prices keep climbing.
Q: What are the main competitors to the Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech?
The main rivals include the Volkswagen Polo Comfortline, Toyota Starlet Xi, and Suzuki Swift GL Plus, but none of them offer the same level of tech features and premium touches as the Micra at this price point.
Q: Does the Nissan Micra come with a warranty in South Africa?
Nissan covers the Micra with a 6-year or 150,000km warranty plus a 3-year or 90,000km service plan, which gives you proper peace of mind and helps keep running costs predictable.
Should You Buy It?
The best tech-packed compact hatchback under R350,000 in South Africa is definitely the Nissan Micra Accenta Plus Tech at R341,800. Yes, you should buy it if you want premium features like keyless entry, 360-degree cameras, and intelligent handling tech in a stylish package that looks far more expensive than it actually is. The 0.9-litre turbo engine might not win any drag races with its 12.1-second sprint to 100kph, but it delivers the goods for daily driving while sipping fuel like a responsible adult. Sure, you could save money with a basic Polo or Starlet, but you'd miss out on all the clever tech that makes the Micra feel like a proper premium hatchback. At this price point, the Micra offers the best balance of style, technology, and value in the compact segment.
