Here’s The New Renault 5-Based Nissan Micra

The world has been without a Nissan Micra for a few years, but the model that, over the years, has served as everything from slightly mad mid-engined concept to grandparents’ shopping chariot par excellence is back, and Frencher and, erm, electricer than ever.

That’s because it’s based on the excellent new Renault 5, which we’ve known it would be for a while, thanks to Renault and Nissan’s longstanding partnership. In fact, this isn’t even our first look at the sixth-gen Micra, given that we were treated to a solitary front three-quarter pic back in March.

Now, though, it’s time for the full reveal, plus a lot more info. Though it’ll be built alongside the 5 at Renault’s plant in Douai, France, and retains its sibling car’s boxy silhouette, the styling has been reworked by Nissan’s European design team in Europe. It’s far more than just some new lights and badges, too – as far as we can work out, every panel bar the roof is different, with even the doors getting a new crease running along them.

They’ve leaned heavily into the 20-23 concept from, erm, 2023 in the way the Micra features big, rounded lights front and rear. The headlights perform a ‘welcome wink’ when you unlock and lock the car, flickering on from left to right and then back. Depending on trim level, 14 exterior colour combos are available, although this does include different two-tone variations.

The family resemblance to the 5 is perhaps even clearer on the inside, with the Micra getting the same dual 10.1-inch screen setup for instruments and infotainment. There are, however, some subtle tweaks to remind you that though you’re driving a car built in France and based on a Renault, its badge is Japanese – there’s a moulded silhouette of Mount Fuji incorporated into the centre console’s storage area. Three interior trims are available, named Modern, Audacious and Chill. No, we’re not making that up.

Two front-wheel drive powertrain choices are available, and it will surprise precisely nobody to learn that they’re both shared with the 5. The basic version gets a 40kWh battery good for a quoted 191 miles and a 121bhp, 166lb ft motor. At the top of the range, meanwhile, is a 52kWh battery, upping quoted range to 254 miles, and paired with a 148bhp, 181lb ft motor. No performance numbers yet, but we imagine you can get a pretty good idea by looking at the specs of the 5.

European sales of the new Micra are kicking off later in 2025, with pricing yet to be confirmed. That, too, we imagine, will hover around the same levels as the R5. If it’s as popular as the Renault is proving to be, then it should provide Nissan with a much-needed shot in the arm. In the meantime, we’ll be hoping that we get a Nismo version twinned with the Alpine A290.