I Spent a Weekend with the All-New Nissan MICRA: Here’s What I Really Think
I collected the MICRA on Friday afternoon, where I was given a full walkthrough of the vehicle and its features. Although I already drive an electric car, every EV has its own setup and personality, so it was great to get familiar with everything before heading out. I was handed the keys to the range-topping Evolve trim, offering a manufacturer-quoted range of up to 257 miles, which was a figure I was keen to put to the test over our busy weekend.
I will admit, I started off slightly sceptical. The car showed 180 miles of range at 95% charge, and with a packed itinerary ahead, I was not completely convinced it would keep up. But as the weekend went on, the MICRA quickly proved me wrong.
My first drive was a short 4.2-mile journey home, but even in such a short time I was impressed. The MICRA was incredibly smooth, responsive and easy to drive, perfect for both new and experienced EV drivers. Once I got home, I took some time to explore the features of the MICRA in more detail. One standout feature for me was the seamless digital dashboard, with navigation directions clearly shown directly in front of me. It meant I could keep my eyes on the road without constantly glancing across at the central screen, a small detail that made a big difference for someone who still doesn’t know their lefts from their rights!
On the Friday evening, I ran a few local errands, covering around 10 miles, and somehow returned with more range than I started with, which is when I realised that this car was going to surprise me.
Early Saturday morning, we set off from Wolverhampton at around 7:30am, heading towards Porthmadog in North Wales, which is a picturesque harbour town on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. With 188 miles showing at the start and a 110 mile journey ahead, my husband and I made predictions on how much range we would have left on arrival, my estimation was around 80 miles, but my husband was less optimistic.
The journey itself included everything from motorways to tight country lanes and steep winding roads, which is the kind of driving that would typically drain an EV battery. But the MICRA handled it effortlessly. When we arrived in Porthmadog, we still had an incredible 110 miles of range remaining, which meant we only lost around 70 miles over a challenging route, which is seriously impressive efficiency. Again the MICRA was continuosly impressing us.
We stopped in Porthmadog for a quick breakfast and a walk along the harbour with our dog, Waffle, who was already anticipating the next stop... the BEACH! Just a short 3 mile drive later, we found ourselves driving directly onto the sands. I haven’t drove on a beach before, so did have to quickly Google whether an EV could handle the beach, to which the very obvious answer was yes! The MICRA did not disappoint, it glides across both firm and loose sand with ease, showing great stability and control.
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After some time enjoying the beach and capturing content, we headed to Abersoch, which is a lively seaside village on the Llyn Peninsula, that is known for its coastal views and relaxed atmosphere. The MICRA’s compact design really came into its own on the narrow, single track country lanes leading our of Porthmadog, making passing oncoming traffic stress free!
Arriving in Abersoch with around 88 miles of range, I decided it was a great place to top up our charge, mostly for peace of mind. We stopped at a rapid charger near a local garden centre, where the MICRA charged quickly and efficiently, with just enough time to have a spot of lunch! Despite a slightly higher standing charge, we spent about 50 minutes enjoying lunch, and returned to a 94% change with 237 miles of range, all for around £28.
From there, we drove along the stunning North Wales coastline towards Conwy, a historic town known for its medieval castle and harbour views. This 47 mile journey included a stretch of motorway driving, but also one of my favourite scenic routes, weaving through the cliffs on the approach to Llandudno.
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When we arrived, the town was buzzing with its annual Pirate Festival, celebrting Conwy’s maritime history. Although we hit some traffic and had to hunt for parking, the MICRA remained efficient throughout. We explored the castle walls, strolled the harbour and visited local highlights including the famous Popty Conway Bakery (which I can confirm the Welsh cakes are incredible!). We even stopped by the smallest house in Great Britain, which is just 72 inches wide and 122 inches high!
Later in the day, we drove around 30 miles to Holywell, a historic town home to one of the UK’s oldest pilgrimage sites. We arrived with around 160 miles of range remaining, something I genuinely would not expect to achieve in my own EV on such a varied route.
Sunday started with a peaceful walk at a local nature reserve, the perfect setting for more content capturing, before heading to Mostyn. This is where we visited the newly opened Mondego outlet at Akahbhan. While this might seem unrelated to the MICRA, it actually highlighted another strength, practicality. Despite its compact exterior, the boot space is surprisingly versatile. We managed to fit in a full weekend’s worth of luggage plus a large amount of shopping (RIP my bank balance!) with more room to spare.
Before heading home, we did one final rapid charge, taking the MICRA from 130 miles to 220 miles in just 30 minutes, costing £20.51. Our return journey to Wolverhampton was 94 miles, which involved mostly motorway driving, and we still arrived home with approximately 150 miles remaining. This was more than enough charge for additional local driving and content capture before I returned the vehicle.
Over the course of the weekend, we covered an impressive 348 miles, yet only added 239 miles of charge, which is a clear demonstration of the MICRA’s efficiency and intelligent energy management. What surprised me even more was how well it maintained its range even with the air conditioning running for much of the journey, which again is something that typically impacts EV performance.
Overall, my time with the all-new Nissan MICRA completely exceeded expectations. Its comfortable, efficient, easy to drive and incredibly capable across a wide range of driving conditions, from city streets to coastal roads and everything in between!
If it were up to me, I would have one on my driveway without hesitation.... much to my husbands dismay. I genuinely loved every minute of driving it.
