The fifth-generation Nissan Micra (K14, 2017–2022) is one of the used car market's more overlooked bargains in the city car and supermini class. Nissan discontinued the K14 in most European markets by 2022 — replaced not by a Micra successor but by nothing at all — which means the used buyer is picking from a closed production run of a car that sold in relatively modest numbers. The result is sensible money for a well-built, good-looking small car that significantly outclasses the K13 generation it replaced and competes genuinely with the Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 208 at equivalent prices.
The K14 was a genuine reinvention. Where the K13 was a sensible but unremarkable city car, the K14 brought a proper C-shape LED running light signature, a more dynamic body shape, a substantially improved interior, and a range of driving assistance technology that its predecessor couldn't have imagined. It's not a car anyone buys for driving excitement, but it's a car that's genuinely easy to live with — refined at city speeds, well-built, and developed on the same Renault-Nissan Alliance B platform as the Clio.
Which generation?
The K13 Micra (2010–2016) is not the car this guide recommends. It was competent for its time but is now fifteen years old, carries dated technology, and the price gap between a K13 and a K14 has compressed to the point where the newer car is almost always the better purchase. Unless budget is severely constrained (under £7,000), the K14 is the recommendation.
The K14 Micra (2017–2022) is the focus. The 2019 mid-cycle update brought the 1.0 IG-T 100PS engine, revised exterior lighting, improved standard safety equipment, and Apple CarPlay as standard on SE-L Nav+ and above. Post-2019 examples are the recommendation for most buyers — the pre-update cars are fine but the update improved enough things simultaneously to make the later examples meaningfully preferable.
Which engine?
The 1.0 IG-T 90PS (three-cylinder turbocharged petrol) is the volume engine on pre-2019 cars. A small-displacement three-cylinder that's predictably characterful by nature — you hear it working under hard acceleration — but refinement in normal driving is adequate for the class. Economy of 45–52mpg in mixed use. No major mechanical concerns; the three-cylinder character is normal and expected for this engine type.
The 1.0 IG-T 100PS (same engine, slightly higher output, from late 2019 onwards) replaced the 90PS. The difference in daily driving is negligible — both have the same basic character. The 100PS version also brought a mild styling update to the interior and the improved connectivity of the post-2019 range.
The 5-speed manual or CVT automatic are the transmission choices. The CVT automatic on the Micra has a notably smoother character than many CVTs in the class — it's quiet and seamless in urban use, which is the Micra's primary environment. If most driving is in town and an automatic is preferred, the CVT here is a reasonable choice. On any automatic, confirm smooth pull-away from rest on the test drive.
Which trim level?
Visia is the entry trim — automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning as standard, a notable safety-spec achievement at the entry level. The 5-inch screen on the earliest 2017–2018 Visia cars does not support Apple CarPlay; the 7-inch screen on post-2019 examples does. Confirm connectivity before viewing if this matters to you.
Acenta is the most common specification on the used market — 7-inch NissanConnect touchscreen, Apple CarPlay (post-2019), rear parking sensors, 16-inch alloys, and air conditioning. The trim level that makes the most sense for everyday use and the one most buyers will find on the market.
Tekna is the top specification — 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen, Bose audio, 360-degree camera system, heated front seats, 17-inch alloys. These compress well in value on the used market and the 360-degree camera is particularly useful for city parking in tight spaces.
N-Sport is a styling package over Acenta rather than an engineering upgrade — sport bumpers, 17-inch alloys, and interior accents. The suspension is not materially firmer than standard. Purely a cosmetic distinction worth knowing before you pay a premium for it.
What goes wrong?
Three-cylinder vibration at idle. The 1.0 IG-T three-cylinder has slightly more vibration at idle than a four-cylinder in the same class — this is normal and expected but can catch buyers by surprise who haven't previously owned a three-cylinder car. Start the engine and feel the idle with the bonnet open; it diminishes significantly once moving. Decide honestly on the test drive whether this bothers you.
Paint quality on lighter colours. Some K14 owners have noted that white and silver paint chips more readily than expected around the front bumper and door leading edges. Inspect these areas carefully on any car in lighter colours, particularly around wheel arches and the front lower bumper. Touch-up repairs are cheap but indicate stone-chip accumulation.
CVT fluid on higher-mileage automatics. On examples over 60,000 miles where the CVT fluid has not been changed, there can be a slight hesitation on initial pull-away from rest. It's not severe but worth noting. Ask about CVT fluid history on any automatic with higher mileage.
Infotainment on early Visia trim (2017–2018). The 5-inch screen fitted to the earliest Visia-trim K14s is limited and doesn't support Apple CarPlay. If connectivity is important, confirm the car has the 7-inch system with CarPlay before booking a viewing.
What you should actually pay
- 1.0 IG-T 90PS Acenta (2017–2019): £8,500–£11,000
- 1.0 IG-T 100PS Acenta (2019–2022): £10,000–£13,000
- 1.0 IG-T Tekna (2018–2022): £11,000–£14,500
- N-Sport (2019–2022): £9,500–£13,000
What does it cost to run?
The Micra K14 is very cheap to run — its city-car primary purpose means modest mileage for most owners and straightforward servicing requirements. An oil and filter service on the 1.0 IG-T at an independent costs £70–£100; a main dealer charges £120–£170. Nissan's service interval is 12,500 miles or 12 months. Full annual service including air filter and pollen filter at an independent costs £130–£180.
Tyres are 185/65 R15 on standard trims at £60–£80 per unit at an independent. Tekna with 17-inch alloys runs £80–£110 per tyre. Insurance is low by supermini standards — the Micra's mild performance figures keep it in Group 5–8 for most configurations, significantly cheaper to insure than a hot-hatched Polo GTI or comparable.
How does it compare to rivals?
Against the Volkswagen Polo: the Polo is the class benchmark for interior quality and refinement, with stronger residuals that reflect it. A used Polo at the same age and mileage will cost more than a comparable Micra. The Polo's interior is marginally more premium; the Micra's design is more distinctive. For buyers for whom badge and residuals matter most, the Polo is the answer. For buyers who want more car at a lower price, the Micra makes a strong value argument.
Against the Peugeot 208: the 208 has the most distinctive interior design in the class — the small steering wheel and high instrument cluster are polarising but unmistakable. The Micra's interior is more conventional but more immediately legible. Both are well-built at equivalent price points; depreciation is similar between the two.
Against the Hyundai i20: the closest direct competitor in terms of value proposition. The i20 offers comparable specification and reliability; the Micra has the more distinctive exterior. Both are well-built small cars at low prices. Buy whichever has the better service history at the price you find — neither will disappoint on reliability.
Practical ownership notes
The Micra K14 suits city ownership well. The turning circle is tight, visibility is reasonable (the C-shape LED running lights help with positioning at night), and the parking sensors on Acenta and above are well-calibrated. Tekna's 360-degree camera system composites four cameras into a useful overhead view that makes very tight urban parking significantly easier — worth seeking out for city dwellers.
Real-world fuel economy in urban use is typically 42–48mpg on the 90PS and 44–50mpg on the 100PS. The stop-start system on manual versions is smooth and reliable. On the CVT automatic, stop-start restarts slightly more slowly than on the manual — not an issue in practice but noticeable if you're paying attention. Insurance is low across all trim levels, making the total annual running cost one of the lowest in the supermini class.
Given that no K14 successor is planned and production has ended, well-maintained examples are becoming gradually scarcer rather than more common. The time to buy is now rather than in two years when values may have quietly risen as supply tightens.
Check the MOT history before you go
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On the test drive: the Micra is at its best in urban conditions — test it where it lives. Park in a tight space using the rear sensors and camera (Tekna). Try the CVT automatic from a standing start repeatedly in a car park. Confirm the three-cylinder idle vibration is something you can live with — you will notice it, and you need to decide it doesn't bother you. Drive at 60–70mph to check refinement; the Micra is adequate but not exceptional at these speeds, and the test will tell you whether you need a larger car.
Should you buy one?
A 2019–2022 K14 Micra in Acenta or Tekna trim, 1.0 IG-T 100PS, manual or CVT, with a full service history: a sensible recommendation for buyers whose primary driving is urban or suburban and who want a well-built, good-looking small car at a low price. The Micra won't win comparison tests on outright driving dynamics — that distinction belongs to the Mazda 2 — but it's refined, reliable, well-equipped at the money, and distinctive in a city car class where most alternatives look nearly identical. It's the small car that doesn't draw attention to the fact that it's a small car. The K14's combination of striking design, genuine reliability, and low running costs makes it one of the more satisfying purchases in its bracket — particularly once you factor in that the only car that makes a similar argument (the Mazda 2) asks a meaningful premium for its superior driving dynamics. If the driving experience of a supermini isn't your primary consideration, the Micra gives you more for your money than most of the alternatives will.
Also see: Volkswagen Polo Buying Guide | Peugeot 208 Buying Guide | Hyundai i20 Buying Guide