Used Nissan Micra K14 Review.

The K14 Micra marked an ending of an era for not only Nissan rounding off the reign of their supermini but also the industry shift from the small and mighty to not-so-small crossovers and SUVs.

Currently, a K14 Micra can be found for around £7,500, down from £12,800 when new. Considered a bit pricey at the time, its resale value is still a full grand and a half over that of a Clio which currently sells for around £6,000.

The previous four generations of Micra came and went with typical Nissan reliability and created a great name for itself in the supermini sphere. However, the lacklustre sales of the K13 in the European market meant that the K14 decided to add a level of prestige to restore its reputation. That more-or-less explains the higher price than its competitors at launch.

There was a considerable stylistic upgrade from the K13, which carries little to no underpinnings of modern car design. The K14, however, has aged in a way that disguises it among brand new cars quite elegantly. It's obviously not a part of Nissan's latest range, but it contains an aggressive design that harkens little resemblance to the curves and hard plastics of the K13 and previous.

The K14 has not only aged well in the design department. In a time of ZEV mandates and tsunamis of new emissions regulations, the Micra finds itself being drivable in any clean air zone without having to face a fine.

Driving the K14 is also still a pleasurable experience. Give the turbocharger a second to wind up and, alongside the aerodynamic design, a good bit of fun is very possible without pushing the car beyond its limits.

Generally, the K14 Micra punches well above its weight with little compromise. “It's got an array of upmarket features such as lane-keeping assist and interior stylistic touches that competitors like the Clio or Fiesta of the time didn't have.” With a resale price that has been more-or-less steadfast for a good few years now, it makes a lot of sense to pick up.

Reliability

WhatCar? ended up giving Nissan a reliability score of 90.7%, placing it higher than Vauxhall and VW but below Ford, Seat and Skoda. While the Micra itself did not appear on their 2024 reliability survey at the time, it finished mid-table on the last survey it appeared in.

My experience with the K14 has mostly been positive, with the car always being a dependable option. I say 'mostly' positive as there was a recall earlier in 2024 which required my car to have a seat rail replacement as a flaw in the mechanism had been found. This wasn't a huge deal though, as I took it in to my local dealership and the repair was completed that day, free of cost.

Generally, it is safe to say that Nissan's reputation as a brand with a focus on reliability is being upheld, with the K14 proving to be a sturdy workhorse that can operate relatively trouble-free.

Design and Styling

It's similarly safe to say that Nissan made an effort to push the boat out in the styling department, especially after the less charming approach taken by the K13. A 75mm increase in the car's wheelbase and further forward A-pillar allowed the K14 to accentuate its sloping roofline. Alongside being wider and having a lower ground clearance, Nissan showed clear willingness to further appeal to the European market.

This extra muscle on the Micra's meat is supported by a torsion beam similar to that of the contemporary Qashqai. A solid-mounted front subframe was also fitted that provides superb body control. The K14's road agility is further strengthened with the Nissan Intelligent Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control systems using the brakes to minutely enhance the car's ride and handling.

The expressive personality of the K14 is clear from the exterior. It starts from the V-motion grille and aggressive headlights which help lead the sculpted bodywork, while blacked out rear pillars and bold wheel design cements a look unlike any other supermini on sale.

Interior

From the abundance of scratchy plastics on previous models (that looked outdated even when new), the K14 made heavy alterations to not only create a more modern cabin, but also one of surprising quality.

Soft touch materials line the upper dash and steering wheel. Blue, orange or red trim colour options were also made available, adding lashings of personality to the seats, door cards and dashboard.

The front of the cabin is a comfortable place to be with ample space that comes as a part of the K14's wider and longer stance. Though, the sloping roofline breaks this feeling of space as it makes life tough for those sitting in the rear. As a result of Nissan's style-conscious approach, the K14 may be less appealing if you regularly have anyone taller than a child in the back.

The NissanConnect infotainment system is simple to use with a no-frills, easy-to-operate attitude. The 7-inch display covers the centre of the dash and has a nice touchscreen to physical button ratio. Nissan made the decision to equip K14 'Acenta' variant with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - strangely, the more expensive N-Connecta and Tekna models drop this in favour of a more advanced NissanConnect.

Engine and Performance

The K14s you'll find will be manual or automatic, bearing either a petrol 89bhp 0.9-litre turbocharged, 1.0-litre naturally aspirated or a 89bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine, each coming with three pistons. “None of the engine options manage to deliver power of any invigorating magnitude, instead being best described as 'functional and practical'.”

The model used in this review comes with the 0.9-litre. Perhaps sometimes a tad sluggish off the line, give the turbocharger a second to wind up and it can happily generate some power. The turbo is nowhere near as exciting as one you may see in a Mini Cooper or a Fiesta Ecoboost, but it is still hardly something to raise any complaints about.

Ride and Handling

The British driver would be the one who could appreciate the Micra's ride at its best, as it was developed in Cranfield and spent a good chunk of its time being tuned and tested on UK roads. The car steers with a flow and fluency, despite the power disadvantage to its rivals. The excellent body control, well-tuned suspension, dampers and robust chassis creates smooth and sturdy handling.

The K14 has you covered on long journeys, coming equipped with cruise control, lane-keeping assist and auto high beams. It stays sturdy at high speed and never feels out of its depth when charging down the M6.

Verdict

For the price of £7,500 used, the Micra is well worth considering. The K14 pairs comfortable performance and reliability with an attractive design that acts as an unequivocal upgrade to its predecessor. Nissan's efforts in making a stellar European run-around were not in vain as it sits on the higher end of quality in the budget supermini market.

While no edition of the K14 is poor, it is certainly more worth looking for an Acenta variant - while you will miss out on the fancy Bose speakers, you gain the convenience of Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. With the outstanding way the resale value has held over the past few years, the K14 is absolutely worth overlooking a second hand Fiesta or Clio for.