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Pretty much every big player in the supermini segment now offers a mild but sporty take on its wares, and Nissan is the latest brand to enter the fray. Step forward the new Nissan Micra N-Sport, a car designed to give the small car鈥檚 safe image a bit of a rebellious streak; a new model intended to showcase some much needed updates for the rest of the Micra range. It slots in above the mid-grade Acenta version, boasting an similar selection of standard equipment - save for the addition of a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and folding, heated door mirrors. Sporty touches include black 17-inch alloy wheels, black exterior detailing, a chrome exhaust tip, plus Alcantara on the dashboard and seats. Elsewhere, the boosty, blowy 0.9-litre Renault-sourced three-cylinder engine is gone, and a new 1.0-litre turbocharged triple developed for use across the entire Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance takes its place. It gets 99bhp in its most basic guise, but there鈥檚 also a 115bhp version of the new motor, which we鈥檙e trying here for the first time.
Cars fitted with this engine also get sharper steering and revised suspension for the updated Micra, which Nissan claims takes the N-Sport into 鈥榳arm hatch鈥?territory. Take that with a pinch of salt, however. Rivals like the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta have been pushing out this kind of power for years, while many offer proper hot hatchbacks with almost twice that figure. The smoking gun is that you don鈥檛 have to opt for the N-Sport model to get this higher-power unit; it鈥檚 available in the cheaper Acenta or technology-laden range-topping Tekna models, too. This engine is a real improvement on what was offered up before, both in 99bhp and 115bhp states of tune. The extra power means that the Micra finally has the grunt to take on TSI-engined versions of the Polo, Skoda Fabia and SEAT Ibiza, plus the benchmark EcoBoost set-up found in the Fiesta. The Micra鈥檚 flagship engine serves up a maximum 200Nm torque on overboost.
That means it鈥檚 good for 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 121mph, which coincidentally are the exact same numbers quoted by the 123bhp Fiesta. In truth, the Nissan doesn鈥檛 deliver these figures in the same sharp manner as the Ford. The Micra could be more responsive, a bit less wheezy as you push on, and the new six-speed manual gearbox could feel a bit tighter. But it鈥檚 an engine that puts the revised supermini very much on the same page as the strongly favoured Fiesta. The 10mm lower and stiffer suspension and steering upgrades included on the 115bhp car are another tick in the box. The Micra can鈥檛 quite match the Fiesta for fun, and the Polo is more cosseting around town. But in this spec, the Micra finds a safe spot somewhere in between. The steering remains a little slack, but underneath there鈥檚 definitely an extra shade of composure on twistier roads.
It鈥檚 impressively refined at motorway cruising speeds, too. Fuel economy is quoted at 47.9mpg under WLTP rules, and while we鈥檙e still waiting for rivals to be updated to the new, more stringent standard, we suspect that to be a competitive figure. Elsewhere, the Micra gets a new infotainment unit as part of this early-life update. It鈥檚 still not the sharpest system in the business, but a welcome upgrade nonetheless. The seven-inch unit mounted in the middle of the dashboard is slightly more responsive than before, and the search function has been streamlined. There鈥檚 a new dedicated smartphone app, and voice recognition appears, too. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all but the base Visia grade car. Inside, the Micra remains a fairly proportioned thing, though headroom is clipped a little by the low roofline. A 300-litre boot is strong though, and eclipses most rivals - even beating the latest Mazda 3, which sits in the class above. As for the cost, the N-Sport鈥檚 拢19,005 list price offers up no real incentive over the similarly powered Volkswagen Polo R-Line, while a Fiesta ST-Line EcoBoost 125 is ever so slightly less. Furthermore, like most mid-spec sporting superminis, it strays dangerously close to the starting price of full-fat hot hatchbacks like the Fiesta ST. To sweeten the deal, Nissan is offering zero per cent interest on monthly PCP deals, however. Given that the chassis tweaks are linked to the 115bhp engine and not the trim, you could save more money and still bag the best driving Micra by opting for this setup in better value Acenta trim. It鈥檚 拢1,700 less, but you鈥檒l have to forego the sporty styling touches.
The 4 Series was updated for the 2018 model, and changes for 2019 are minimal. Navigation now comes standard (previously it was optional), as do parking sensors and a one-year subscription to Apple CarPlay. Notable options include adaptive headlights, an adaptive sport suspension, premium leather upholstery, heated front seats, a surround-view camera system, and a wireless device charging pad. Additional safety features and driver aids include blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. In terms of price, the 2019 BMW 4 Series marches alongside the Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A5 or S5 when equipped similarly. The newer Mercedes leans a bit more to the traditional luxury side, while the Audi pushes modernity and technology to new levels. In many ways the BMW finds a pleasant middle ground and, despite its age handicap, is still worth serious consideration. When it's time to find your perfect 4 Series, let Edmunds help.
