Cars/Nissan/Micra

Nissan Micra — Buyer's Guide

Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.

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Nissan Micra overview

With 229,292 currently licensed in the UK, the Nissan Micra is one of Britain's most popular cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Micra 4 stars in 2017, with 71% adult occupant and 77% child protection scores.

It has a 76.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include lighting, suspension, brakes.

Annual running costs are estimated at £2,649 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £221/month or 33p/mile.

NCAP Safety

2017

MOT Pass Rate

76.5%

280,000 tests

Monthly Cost

£221

est. annual total

New From

£23,000

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Micra in 2017 and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

71%

Child Occupant

77%

Pedestrian

71%

Safety Assist

60%

Safety recalls

There are 20 known DVSA recalls affecting the Nissan Micra. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2023/095

In certain vehicles should the driver�s seat be set in the position where it coincides with a design feature�in the upper rail it may�in certain conditions exceed the stress limits of the rail material.

Build dates: 2016-12-05 to 2021-10-05

R/2019/349

The masses applied on the VIN label may be incorrect.

Build dates: 2018-07-17 to 2018-11-05

R/2019/312

The passenger airbag may develop a tear during deployment.

Build dates: 2016-10-01 to 2017-11-14

R/2018/084

The front wheel hub may suffer cracking. Drivers may notice abnormal noise and in extreme cases the hub may fail.

Build dates: 2017-09-26 to 2017-10-04

R/2017/243

The ignition switch harness connector of some Nissan Micra (K14 models) equipped with a mechanical key may not be correctly locked in position. As a result the connector may disconnect which in an extreme case could result in engine shut down while driving with no possibility to restart.

Build dates: 2016-05-23 to 2017-04-14

+ 15 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.

Reliability & MOT

Based on 280,000 MOT tests, the Micra has a first-time pass rate of 76.5% above the UK national average of 72%.

This is a positive sign for reliability. The Micra is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.

Running costs

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Nissan Micra are estimated at around £2,649 per year, or £221 per month.

Fuel

£1,120

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£929

/year

MOT

£55

/year

Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.

Fuel economy

The Micra achieves a combined fuel economy of around 47.1 mpg (38.2 mpg urban, 54.3 mpg extra-urban).

VariantFuelCombinedEngine
MICRAPETROL47.1 mpg1.0L
MICRAPETROL53.3 mpg1.0L
MICRAPETROL56.5 mpg1.2L
MICRAPETROL47.9 mpg1.2L
MICRAPETROL46.3 mpg1.3L
MICRAPETROL44.8 mpg1.4L
MICRADIESEL61.4 mpg1.5L
MICRAPETROL42.8 mpg1.6L

Depreciation

Starting from £23,000 new, a Nissan Micra typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year75%£17,250−£5,750
2 years64%£14,650−£8,350
3 years56%£12,900−£10,100
4 years50%£11,600−£11,400
5 years46%£10,700−£12,300
6 years43%£9,950−£13,050
7 years41%£9,350−£13,650
8 years39%£8,850−£14,150
9 years37%£8,450−£14,550
10 years35%£8,000−£15,000

How common is the Micra?

There are currently 229,292 licensed and 39,538 SORN Micras in the UK (268,830 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Nissan Micra reliable?

The Micra has a 76.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 280,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.

How safe is the Nissan Micra?

Euro NCAP awarded the Micra 4 out of 5 stars when tested in 2017. It scored 71% for adult occupant protection, 77% for child occupant protection, 71% for vulnerable road users, and 60% for safety assist features.

How much does a Nissan Micra cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Micra are estimated at around £2,649 per year (£221/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the Nissan Micra?

There are 20 known safety recalls affecting the Micra. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.

How much does a new Nissan Micra cost?

A new Micra starts from around £23,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.

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