Nissan Micra Diesel Review

The 1.5 dCi diesel motor made its debut in the Micra in 2010, a good one year after the Micra was first launched with a petrol engine only in 2009. Since then, this motor has been the backbone for all diesel cars powering the different models under the Renualt Nissan alliance in India.

Fiat’s 1.3 Multijet is called the diesel engine of India which powers more than 12 models and 3 makes namely FIAT, Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors. The 1.5 dCi is second engine which can claim a similar title and is available on range of models, to precise about 8 models in India.

We drove the Nissan Micra CVT and were quite impressed with the overall car’s performance barring the rubber band effect on highways. This time we drove the diesel Micra to get a feel of the car with a lean burner.

Exteriors & Interiors

In terms of exteriors and interiors the Micra diesel is no different from the other variants. The gear shift knob in the centre console is the only difference between the CVT and diesel model. In terms of features too there are no differences.

The diesel Micra comes in four choices XE, XL, XL Comfort and XV.

Read our review on the Micra CVT for our impressions on exteriors, interiors and comfort & convenience. (Click here)

Performance

We drove the top end Micra XV which comes with a start/stop push button and keyless entry. To start the car just press the clutch pedal and push the start/stop button (Note – There is a small icon on the Odo display screen which alerts you to press the clutch). The engine does give you some jitter when cranked and the can be heard inside the cabin when the car is kept on idling.

The 1.5 dCi motor has decent torque and kicks in early at 2000 rpm. The torque figures are good at 160 Nm which his comparable to competition. The diesel motor allows to drive effortlessly at speeds of upto 40 kmph even without using the accelerator. Power figures are low at 64 PS for a segment of this car but the torque compensates during initial pick-up.

The diesel Micra has a good power and torque delivery and does not give that instant turbo surge. Driving in city is quite easy but the motor does seem to get strained at higher speeds of 120 kms and above. Overall drive-ability is good and the motor is quite refined and smooth albeit the high noise.

The 5 speed transmission is slick and shifts with ease, expect for the heavy clutch which could cause slight difficulty for some drivers. In terms of braking the performance is also good and ABS+EBD+BA further assist performance.

In terms of handling the Micra diesel does feel more planted compared to the CVT, thanks to the extra weight and is one of the good cars when comes to drive and handling. The steering feels a bit heavy in city but is feel more stable on highways.

Fuel Economy: The company claims 23.08 kmpl fuel efficiency and we got an overall mileage of about 20.2 kmpl which is a mix of highway driving at high speeds and city driving. The diesel Micra has good fuel efficiency and does deliver to what the company promises.

Verdict

The Nissan Micra diesel is quite refined and well-mannered with good fuel efficiency. The Motor is quite reliable and has low maintenance in the long run. We spoke to many owners who have driven cars with the same motor for more 1.5 lakh kilometers and have no complaints which make this car a good choice if daily commute is long.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions

Ex-showroom Prices (as on 10th October)

Competition Basket

Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo, Honda Jazz

Micra Diesel Image Gallery