Nissan has revised its fifth-generation Micra for 2019 with two new petrol engines, a new N-Sport grade and a new automatic gearbox.

The Micra Xtronic goes on sale in February

On sale now, the line-up features two new petrol engines, including a new 100hp 1.0-litre IG-T 100 unit. Marking the engine’s debut for both Nissan and Alliance partners Renault and Mitsubishi, the new unit replaces the previous the 0.9-litre 90hp and brings a reduction of 13-15g/km of CO2 (emissions range from 103-105g/km NEDC Correlated) and improved fuel economy (which ranges from 47.1mpg to 50.4mpg WLTP combined, depending on grade) as well as increased torque and power compared to its predecessor.

The unit is married up as standard to a five-speed manual gearbox but from February, it gets the option of a new Xtronic auto in line with forecast growth in demand for small automatics. In 2016, when Nissan launched the current Micra, automatics accounted for 12% of the overall segment sales mix. Industry sources forecast that figure will double in 2020 and reach more than 30% in 2022. The Xtronic model brings WLTP combined fuel of 44.8mpg and NEDC Correlated CO2 of 111-115g/km.

The range has also been updated with a new flagship DIG-T 117hp three-cylinder petrol. The engine is a completely different unit to the new 100hp petrol and has been developed by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance in conjunction with Daimler, alongside the 1.3-litre petrol engine recently launched in the Nissan Qashqai crossover SUV.

In the Micra, it’s teamed up with a six-speed manual gearbox and lowered ride height, revised suspension and sharper steering, and offers official NEDC Correlated CO2 of 114g/km and WLTP combined fuel of 47.9mpg.

It can also be specified with a new ‘warm hatch’ Micra N-Sport grade. Sitting at the top of the range to compete with rivals such as the Ford Fiesta ST Line, VW Polo R-Line, Peugeot 208 GT Line and SEAT Ibiza FR, the new trim features a number of technology and design updates and is available with all three new powertrains – the 1.0-litre IG-T 100hp in both manual and Xtronic guises plus the DIG-T 117hp manual.

The new Micra powertrains are now on sale in the UK, joining the existing 1.0-litre 71hp naturally aspirated petrol engine and the 1.5-litre 90hp diesel engine, with the Xtronic available from February.