Nissan Micra Vs Toyota Yaris Vs Honda Jazz
It's a close contest, Micra offers tough competition to both brands.
While the YallaMotor.com comparison chart provides a spec to spec match up of the three cars, here are our comments on this battle:
1. Power: Micra's engine size (1.5L) makes it more powerful than Yaris (1.3L) and equal to Honda Jazz (again 1.5L). While it still remains a city car, it does help on highways to have a bit more power
2. Junk In the Trunk: Micra's trunk space is smaller in comparison to Yaris and Jazz, though with foldable rear seats it could make up for it somewhat.
3. Features: The basic Micra offers superior safety features compared to Yaris and Jazz, with rear seatbelts included in basic version which are not available in both Yaris and Jazz basic versions. Also, the top of the range Micra has push button ignition which is also not available in Yaris and Jazz. Finally the Micra top range model also shines in interior convenience, with increased cup holders and auto folding mirror functionality.
4. Price comparison: Yaris and Micra are closely matched, both costing close to 50,000 AED depending on features and options selected. Jazz however, is a bit more pricey, crossing 60,000 AED.
Verdict
The Micra matched our expectations of quality and provided a great little run-around, perfect for urban dwelling. It has limited trunk space unless you fold down the back seats so it will probably best suit young couples without families, single professionals and college students. With choice of colors offered (and Nancy Ajram's endorsement!), Nissan definitely has it's eye on young female drivers as their core target audience for this car.
This was an enjoyable car to drive with ample features to make it a good choice for someone looking for a hatchback of this power and size. It's got superior interior and safety features, however don't expect too much on highways.
All hail Nancy Ajram! This car has been marketed with zeal by the Nissan management and a clear signal that female car shoppers are a demographic to be reckoned with. Just look at those colors for heaven's sake!
When we reached Nissan's office, we were greeted with a spring green cutie of a hatch who wanted to go out shopping. We half thought of bringing matching man purses (or shall we say...satchels!). Satchel or no satchel, a big guy like me driving a spring green hatch certainly looked a stunner on Sheikh Zayed Road!
So what do we have here? A hatch that offers more on the interior but lags in the luggage section. We've broken it down in three main areas, here they are:
3. Competitor Analysis and Verdict
Design and Performance
The Nissan Micra combines a stylish aesthetic. It's available in 10 different colors including traditional black and white (thank God for guys!) but the color scheme is definitely keeping the female audience in mind. Hence you find bright, colourful options including spring green, sunlight orange and pacific blue. Having said that, we do like the night shade, a sophisticated deep purple hue. It's another story we ended up with spring green version which my sisters loved but definitely didn't cut it for me.
The Nissan Micra boasts a 1.5 litre, 16 valve engine. This makes it one of the largest in its class, and the power reflects that. It was certainly more than we were expecting for its size. The five-speed manual gearbox makes the most of this however we found with the automotive gears it took the edge off slightly. It's not a car that is designed to be driven full pelt but is more than adequate if you are looking for this size and class of car - it's a nimble hatchback offering plenty of agility. However, it's still a 1.5L so the highway drives (Dubai - Abu Dhabi, Cairo - Alexandria, Jeddah - Riyadh) will be quite average. This is definitely a city car.
On our test drive we found it offered a smooth and pleasing drive. Modifications to its previous models that were sold elsewhere include an increased shock absorber and new soft-setting suspension. This meant we were able to traverse bumpy roads without suffering any discomfort as the car was able to handle them well. Its clever design includes a low centre of gravity and cylindrical edges which increases its aerodynamic design and adds to the drive. Its size 4.7m turning circle makes it incredibly easy to fit in to tight spaces, lending it yet more suitability for the urban dweller.
Next: Interior and Safety
Interior and Safety
The interior design makes the most of its small proportions - the twin bubble shaped cockpit is fun and also helps to create space; head room is also ample. The MP3/WMA compatible CD player had a comprehensive digital display which meant that we were able to see the names and artists of the tracks were listening to as we drove. We were also able to attach our own devices. Other helpful aspects incorporated in to the design included phone and cup holders. You have 2 cupholders in front, one at the rear and one bottle holder on the driver's side pocket area. For a busy urban executive, it's quite nifty; there are a lot of small spaces that will hold those CD's and files for everyday use.
Safety is probably one of the most impressive aspects of this car. All models in this range are installed with an anti-lock braking system and electronic brake force distribution which make the most of its stopping power. They are also all fitted with dual airbags and an immobilizer with alarm. It also includes rear seat belts in it's basic version which is an improvement compared to other cars in the same segment.
If you do need more space, as the boot capacity is limited, you can fold the back seats down to create room for luggage.
Next: Competitor Analysis and Verdict
