Currently reading: Next Nissan Micra to take aim at Ford Fiesta

The Japanese manufacturer will redouble its efforts in the B-segment hatchback category with an all-new Micra

Nissan is planning a renewed foray into the hard-fought B-hatchback market in 2017 with an all-new Nissan Micra designed to hit the all-important UK market at about the same time as a completely revised version of the top-selling Ford Fiesta.

2017 Nissan Micra unveiled at Paris motor show 

The model will represent a renewed effort in the sector for Nissan, whose past two Micras have not conformed to European B-segment norms in terms of size and specification.

Nissan's chief planning officer, Philippe Klein - who replaced Andy Palmer, now boss at Aston Martin - acknowledged that Nissan wants to move back into the heart of the sector.

2017 Nissan Micra prototype driven 

"My feeling is that a world car that isn't suited to local conditions is a problem," he told Autocar at the 2016 Geneva motor show.

"We will make sure we are competitive where we want to compete."

Last year Nissan's executive vice-president, Trevor Mann, told Autocar that the next Nissan Micra will aim to win back customers with much-improved interior quality.

The current Micra has suffered because of poor perceived quality. However, Mann believes its successor - which will be based heavily on the Nissan Sway concept from the 2015 Geneva motor show - will be more worthy of the Micra name.

Although he said production of the car could, in theory, return to Nissan’s UK plant in Sunderland, he defended its current base in India.

“I don’t think you can blame India for the perception of quality,” he said. “You’ve got to blame the people who defined the product. The Micra’s not like that because it’s made in India. We have listened to feedback and I think you will see a big difference [in the next one].

“As for Sunderland, it was always a plant that was designed to be flexible. And it can make Micra. The debate is whether it can make it and make sense.”

Mann also said the Micra was likely to grow for its next incarnation, and this could open up room for a new, smaller Nissan city car. 

“It’s always a possibility,” he said, “but I think if you look at that segment, there are still not huge volumes in Europe. It’s something that we will continue to study to see if there are opportunities.”

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review
Nissan Micra
Its ambition is to be a world player, so will it show world-class ability?

The Nissan Micra is a supermini offering low running costs but in most other areas is below the class average

Steve Cropley

Steve Cropley Autocar
Title: Editor-in-chief

Steve Cropley is the oldest of Autocar’s editorial team, or the most experienced if you want to be polite about it. He joined over 30 years ago, and has driven many cars and interviewed many people in half a century in the business. 

Cropley, who regards himself as the magazine’s “long stop”, has seen many changes since Autocar was a print-only affair, but claims that in such a fast moving environment he has little appetite for looking back. 

He has been surprised and delighted by the generous reception afforded the My Week In Cars podcast he makes with long suffering colleague Matt Prior, and calls it the most enjoyable part of his working week.

Join the debate

Comments
9
Add a comment…
Smufter 17 September 2016

They MUST change the name

I seriously think that Nissan have got to change the name of this car if it is going to succeed in quantity, especially in the UK. The looks of the car are going to attract a younger audience than the current car does, but how many of them are going to want to admit to their peers that they drive a Micra???
Mention Micra now to most "20 somethings" and they immediately think of a little old grannies car.
As the model is based on the sway concept surely keeping the Sway name would make more sense????
volvofan2 29 January 2016

Nissan took their eye off the ball

The best Micra IMHO was the last shaped one to look like a Fiat 500 and made in the UK. Bug eyed headlights and a thick shoulder line running down the back. Nissan went off boil when they shifted production to India AND other Asian markets to produce the same body shell that they currently sell. It suddenly went from a well developed drive to something far removed from driver feel and also became a generic shape. But what people seem to forget is that the NOTE 5 door mini MPV came off the 2009 platform as well. Micra hasn't morphed into a Juke, but rather morphed into both the NOTE model and the JUKE. The Renault Modus also used the same platform as the Micra, which begs the question to why Nissan don't just do a similar version? It all comes down to cost; even Indians don't like the Micra; they'd rather spend their money on the Datsun Go which uses the same platform or far more premium Hyundai i20.
Sitikchai 23 July 2015

Just put the sway concept car into production Nissan!

One of the best concept-turned-production-car is the Range Rover evoque. Stunning concept that didn't change when it was put into production.

Nissan needs to do the same. The sway looks good. Very good in fact. Don't change a thing Nissan,. Have the Courage to just put it into production as it is.