Nissan Micra over its 35 years: a look at the design of the small Japanese car

The Nissan Micra has already blown out 35 candles on its cake, so it is time to look back and see how this small city car, which is quite popular in our country, has evolved. To review a subject as sensitive as car design, Nissan spoke with Davide Tealdi, an expert in automotive design and marketing at the European Institute of Design (IED) in Milan, who offered some insights into the design of the car, which is an indication of the tastes of buyers in each era.

First generation 1982-1992

The first Nissan Micra arrived at the beginning of the 1980s, when Spanish households already had several cars. The car was already practical, but a personal style was also sought, so that each car could be identified by its image. The first Micra initially arrived only in the Canary Islands, where it became quite popular. Even so, the Micra began to become much more popular throughout Spanish territory from the second generation onward, when it was finally sold on the mainland.

Second generation 1992-2002

The second generation arrived at a very special moment for the country, with the staging of the Olympic Games and the Seville Expo. It was also when the Nissan Micra arrived on the mainland, with a new design and built at the Nissan plant in the United Kingdom. The 1990s brought changes in design: it became considerably softer and straight lines were abandoned, making it smoother and more attractive to a new type of buyer, young and eager to enjoy an urban car that stood out from the crowd.

Third generation 2002-2010

The next generation of the Nissan Micra took curved lines to the extreme and had a sportier style than its predecessor. The cabin offered more space, and more attention was paid to detail, responding to the needs and tastes of buyers. This Nissan Micra was the first to emerge from the Nissan-Renault alliance, so it benefited from the best of both companies.

Fourth generation 2010-2016

Curved lines remain present, but some changes were introduced to appeal to a broader audience with different design concerns. Technology in connectivity began to become important, as buyers started using elements such as smartphones, whose presence is significant in drivers’ daily lives. This version was developed in India and received an update in 2013, when it was given the well-known V-shaped grille of Nissan, which brought it closer to the rest of the brand’s family.

Fifth generation 2016-…

The new generation of the Nissan Micra has been on the market since March and has undergone a complete change compared with everything we have seen in previous generations. On the exterior, the designers worked with “emotional geometry“, a concept that aims to make the design pleasing to the eye while also conveying an intense emotional sensation. The interior has been renewed, and personalisation is sought as a point of difference from previous generations.

On the exterior there are 10 body colours, three of which stand out as designed specifically for the model. In the interior there are four possible combinations, and personalisation kits add up to 125 possible combinations, so each buyer may end up with a practically unique Nissan Micra.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackNissan Micra4 versions · from 29,100 €