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Nissan’s All-new Micra – the Only Car under $10k

Feb 19 2014

Nissan’s all-new Micra is the
lowest priced car in the country,
starting at $9,998

It’s a 1.6 L engine, outputting 109 hp and 107 lb-ft of toque, available in either 4-spd automatic or… manual. Nice.

As you expect, that’s the base model price, which means manual windows and doors.

But still, the rear seats fold 60/40, you can connect a device and play music, there’s a rear wiper with washer, and a Traction Control System (TCS).

The available features list includes all the en vogue stuff like: backup camera and colour screen; steering wheel controls; USB; A/C; Bluetooth hands-free phone; and remote keyless entry.

For such a low-priced car, I was hmm, the interior will feel chintzy, but I pawed it at the auto show, and it doesn’t. Nissan told me that because they buy parts in such massive bulk for both Nissan and Renault, they can get better quality finishings and materials.

Here’s the full spec sheet.

Make sure to order the below “Cargo Cover” (it’s an option). Security.

This car is specifically built for Canada.

Tim Franklin, head Product Planner at Nissan, is the gentleman behind customizing for our country, and I’ve interviewed him about that for my ‘Keri on Driving‘ column – How Nissan modifies cars for Canadians.

Tim conducts a “hockey stick test” ha (see also: the 6 Types of Features).

Didier Marsaud and I celebrated with cake.

Salut Monsieur, and bienvenue à ma blogue!

2015 Nissan Micra
Starting at $9,998

Arrives in dealerships this spring.

The 6 Types of Car Features

Dec 11 2013

How does an automaker decide which features to go into which model? To find out we speak with Tim Franklin, Nissan’s Head of Product Planning.

He explains it’s a balancing act among the 6 different types of features:

Expected Features – Bluetooth
Regulatory Features – daytime running lights
Primary Features – keyless entry
Proprietary Features – only one automaker offers these
Subtle Features – seat comfort, soft-touch dash
Canadian Features – heated side-mirrors

Read it online at Autonet.ca.

Favourite line:

And that’s how it came to be that the Versa Note is sold in Texas, with heated seats.

***

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

Nissan’s new Active Trace Control

Dec 5 2013

Nissan’s latest driving aid, ‘Active Trace Control’.

How it works: while cornering, the car applies even brake pressure to all four wheels, resulting in a smoother turn and less steering input from the driver.

Usually I don’t like these new “aids”, but this one was alright.

Filmed in the all-new 2014 Rogue, down in Nashville, TN.

Here’s my review (called it a segment leader), and here’s the post about that trip. And good video-bombing, Mark Richardson.

Pathfinder with Parade Float

Nov 26 2013

The floats belong to the Tennessee State University (TSU).

It’s a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid.

And that’s another entry into:

Special Car Photos: photographing cars in special places

Photo composition by Marc Richardson and I.

The All-new 2014 Nissan Rogue

Nov 19 2013

Read my full review here on Autonet.ca. Liked it a lot.

It’s the finishings, though, where the Rogue outshines the competition. The instrument plastics are smooth, and the fake-o carbon fibre looks sharp, but it’s the soft-touch material found on all surfaces that really makes a difference. It may not translate in print, but it does in real life.

It’s a 2.5 L engine producing 170 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque, and the vehicle will tow 1,000 pounds (like a jet ski).

To call it sporty is a stretch, but it’s not supposed to be; the Rogue is a utility vehicle, and it does that well.

Buy the SV trim, the middle one, and forget the third row, it’s too small to be functional. As I said in my review, “It’s tiny; I barely fit, and I’m the size of a troll doll”.

But why I declared it the leader of the compact-SUV segment, is because of Nissan’s invention – the The Divide-N-Hide cargo area. Love it.