- Nissan Micra named ‘Supermini of the Year’ and ‘New Car of the Year’ at the 2019 FirstCar awards
- Standard-fit safety technology, affordable ownership and a wide range of personalisation combinations (100+) made Micra a “worthy winner”
- David Motton, editor, FirstCar magazine; “A great first car for any new driver”
LONDON, UK (February 7, 2019) – For the second year running, the Nissan Micra has won overall ‘New Car of the Year’ at the 2019 First Car awards, as well as winning the inaugural ‘Supermini of the Year’ category.
The ‘tech advanced small car’ helps deliver confidence to new independent drivers thanks to impressive standard-fit safety features and affordable cost of ownership. Bluetooth® with audio streaming, USB port and AUX socket – all fitted from entry-grade – enhance the model’s desirability with young drivers.
For 2019, the Nissan Micra has been updated with two new 1.0-litre petrol engines (100PS and 117PS), a new Xtronic automatic transmission and the introduction of a new N-Sport grade.
The new engines deliver more power but also improved efficiency and enhanced refinement and on-road performance. The new NissanConnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (from Acenta grade) lets drivers remain connected and in control of their entertainment on the move.
Supporting new drivers on the road, the Micra maintains high safety standards with all models fitted with Intelligent Emergency Braking with pedestrian recognition, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Lane Departure Warning and High Beam Assist. Thanks to these important technologies, the Micra is awarded a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating in the UK.
This is the second year of the FirstCar Awards with a judging panel led by FirstCar editor David Motton, and the motoring editor of Intelligent Instructor, Richard Dredge.
The awards recognise the best products, services and cars for newly qualified drivers with 17 awards categories ranging from ‘App of the Year’ to ‘Finance Product of the Year’.
Cars were judged on safety, reliability, value for money, affordability, ease of driving, and practicality. The scope for personalising the car and the availability of high-tech features also contributed to the judges' decisions.
David Motton, editor, FirstCar magazine, commented: "The Nissan Micra is a worthy winner of both the Supermini of the Year and the New Car of the Year titles. We're delighted that Nissan has made big-car safety features like autonomous emergency braking standard on the Micra. What's more, fuel-efficient engines and low insurance groupings make the Micra affordable to run, even on a tight budget.
"The Micra is easy to drive – just what a new driver wants as they build up experience on the roads. There's also lots of scope for drivers to personalise the look and finish of the Micra, inside and out.
"Having won the Car of the Year title at the FirstCar Awards last year, Nissan hasn't taken its foot of the pedal. For 2019 the Micra has new and more efficient petrol engines, an automatic gearbox option, and a new N-Sport specification with design and technology upgrades.
"We think the Nissan Micra makes a great first car for any new driver."
Nic Verneuil, marketing director, Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd added: “We’re extremely proud that the Nissan Micra has been recognised as ‘New Car of the Year’ at the FirstCar awards for the second year in a row. Micra is ideally suited to younger drivers, thanks to its stylish design and features such as the BOSE® Personal Audio system. The advanced driver assistance technologies, which prioritise safety, also help keep insurance costs down. And, thanks to the recent release of the dynamic new N-Sport grade and three brand new efficient and responsive powertrains, there’s now ‘more Micra’ for everyone.”
The Nissan Micra is available from £12,875. To find out more about the Nissan Micra, visit www.nissan.co.uk/micra
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About FirstCar
For over a decade, FirstCar has been at the forefront of road safety education and now providess award-winning resources, expertise and practical support to over 100 authorities and organisations across the UK. Our biggest titles, FirstCar Theory and FirstCar Practical, are published on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and are distributed to hundreds of thousands of new drivers each year when they take their theory and practical driving tests.
For further details please contact:
DominicVizor
Tel: +44-1923 899938
dominic.vizor@nissan.co.uk
https://newsroom.nissan-europe.com/uk
About Nissan in the UK
- Nissan Sunderland Plant produces the Nissan Qashqai, Juke, Infiniti Q30 and the 100% electric Nissan LEAF
- Production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles began in 2012
- Total plant volume since 1986 stands at more than 9 million units with 80 per cent of production exported to over 100 markets worldwide
- Total investment made and announced since then is over £4.0 billion
- 495,645 units were produced at Sunderland plant in 2017
- Employment in Nissan’s UK design studio (Paddington, London), technical centre (Cranfield Bedfordshire), manufacturing plant (Sunderland, Tyne and Wear) and sales and marketing operations (Maple Cross, Hertfordshire) now totals more than 8,000.
- A further 28,000 jobs in Nissan’s UK supply chain and 4,000 in its UK dealer network takes the total British jobs supported by Nissan to more than 40,000
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,000 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 660,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, commercial vehicles and the Nissan LEAF, the world’s most popular electric vehicle. Pursuing a goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities on the road, Nissan is leading the field with its vision of Intelligent Mobility. Designed to guide Nissan’s product and technology pipeline, this 360 degree approach to the future of mobility will anchor critical company decisions around how cars are powered, how cars are driven, and how cars integrate into society. Nissan is positioned to become the most desirable Asian brand in Europe.
http://www.newsroom.nissan-europe.com
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2017, the company sold 5.77 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.9 trillion yen. On April 1, 2017, the company embarked on Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, a six-year plan targeting a 30% increase in annualized revenues to 16.5 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2022, along with cumulative free cash flow of 2.5 trillion yen. As part of Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, the company plans to extend its leadership in electric vehicles, symbolized by the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, the Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2016. The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance sold 10.76 million vehicles combined in calendar year 2018.
For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit
nissan-global.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.
