The all-new Nissan Micra is full of personality but we probably won’t get it

Have you heard of the Nissan Micra? In case you haven’t, it’s the Japanese automaker’s long-running small hatchback nameplate (also known as the March) in various markets around the globe. Here in the Philippines, you might know it as one of those converted used cars from Japan.

And while it has remained mostly nondescript in terms of its looks and specifications since it came to being, Nissan has realized some new potential in it and has given it a massive glow-up for its sixth generation which will be sold in Europe starting the latter part of this year.

Yup, that formerly vanilla hatchback is now full of personality with a very distinct exterior. Body cladding gives it an SUV-like feel, while the 18-inch wheels give off a funky vibe whether you opt for the Active variant which gets wheel covers, or the Iconic and Sport versions which get alloys.

In front are rectangular headlights surrounded by a circular light signature which also perform a welcome wink where the front lights pulse from left to right and then right to left when unlocked. The rear gets circular taillights as well which will definitely keep this very distinctive especially at night.

Adding to its personality is the option for 14 different color combinations. The two-tone paint option allows the owner to pair their choice with either a black or gray roof.

While Nissan has gone all out with the exterior, they went for a more functional approach inside. It features a layered and driver-centric dashboard design. A single angled panel houses a 10.1-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

It’s also proud of its Japanese heritage, having a moulded outline of Mount Fuji in the storage area between the front seats. A two-tone color scheme further adds more character.

This new generation also brings the Micra into the world of electrification, now exclusively available as an EV. Powering it are two different electric motor and battery configurations.

The first option produces 122 horsepower and 225 Nm of torque, paired to a 40kWh battery that allows for a 308km estimated driving range. The second option produces 150 horsepower and 245 Nm, paired to a larger 52kWh battery which brings the estimated driving range up to 408km.

Charging can be done in as fast as 30 minutes (15-80%) through 100kW DC charging (80kW on 40kWh variant). It also comes with a heat pump for better charging efficiency in cold climates, and battery heating and cooling capabilities.

Want Nissan Philippines to offer this locally? Well tough luck. The Micra was never officially introduced in our market and as mentioned was only sold by grey market importers who brought them in from Japan and converted them from right-hand drive to left-hand drive. So yeah, chances of this coming are almost zero, at least for now.

_{Photos from Nissan}