News from 20 Years Ago - Nissan Micra Activ Launches undercutting itself

Looking back 20 years ago to the day, Nissan reported a new trim called Activ that came with not just for the £965 worth of extra kit it had over the Micra Initia, but it undercut it by £500. It also featured a funky red lined glovebox which at 13 litres really was a talked about optional feature extra back then.

Surprisingly, the glovebox formed part of a no-cost interior trim option available on the Activ, which seems inconceivable that these were once a cost option. But what I think deserves a lot more attention is the flashes of colour on the seats and door cards which really help to lift the interior, and something that is amiss from interiors nowadays.

The Activ also added some of the Sport's equipment, such as 15" alloys and a more “sporty” front bumper. Yet the Micra Active started from just £8495 on-the-road for the 3-door, which was £2000 less than the equivalent Sport.

The Activ was also available with a choice of three engines with the 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol, plus a 1.5dCi diesel, with a 1.0 litre and 1.6 litre added later. The 1.2-litre three-door is the model that cost £8495 with the 1.4-litre petrol adding an extra £300 or £1100 more for the diesel at £9595. Adding rear doors would cost an extra £650.

The automatic option was limited to a 4-speed gearbox, unlike today’s modern ICE cars that feature 7, 8 or 9 speed quick-shifting auto’s aiding fuel economy and boosting acceleration.

As well as the Activ having deeper sport bumpers, it also added spoilers plus there was a leather rimmed steering wheel with controls for the drive computer and six speaker CD/radio, air conditioning, electric door mirrors and windows, four airbags, central locking with anti-hijack feature, plus some special Micra easy-life features such as 'friendly lighting', battery save and a bag hook.

Eight different exterior colours were also offered which could be teamed with either of the interior options. Go for the funky red one with matching glovebox lining, for example.

What’s remarkable about this piece of history is how far cars have come along in a couple of decades, with the new Nissan Micra sold only as an electric car, whilst it pay homage to it’s 20 year old predecessor.

The K12 pictured above launched in 2002 at the Paris Motor Show, that grew its size by 70 mm over the its previous incarnation, the K11. But even so, it was just 3,719 mm in length vs the 3,999 mm one now on sale. But what made the K12 so great was its dependability with many still on the roads two decades later.

2026 Nissan Micra

What’s remarkable about this piece of history is how far cars have come along in a couple of decades, with the new Nissan Micra sold only as an electric car, whilst it pay homage to it’s 20 year old predecessor.

The new Micra has technology in it that was not even dreamt about for luxury cars, let alone small B segment hatchbacks, back then.

Not only is the new Micra 100% electric only, but it’s also extremely nippy around tow, delivering 0-60 mph in 8 seconds, thanks to a 150 hp and 245 Nm electric motor. There’s plenty of punch when needed.

Aside from that, the new Micra also comes with it’s own Google based AI assistant, and Google operating system delivering the best in-built navigation any car could need, including planning charge stops on longer trips.

Other tech includes safety equipment like lane keep assist, lane departure warning, speed assist, driver monitoring system and six airbags.

There’s also a blind spot monitoring system, adaptive cruise control accessed via the steering wheel buttons, rear parking sensors and a rear parking camera. A rather lovely Harmon Kardon sound system is available on top trims, plus there’s also a wireless phone charger.

In two decades, Nissan has moved the game on from adding in an optional glovebox, and sporty looking alloy wheels. Equipment levels of cars back then will seem extremely basic by todays standards, but that was the real deal. A Sat Nav was something you would have spent a lot of money on which would have been stuck to the windscreen, and powered by the 12v outlet, which was often a cigarette lighter.

And just like the K12, the new Micra has the ability to reclaim a crown that it last held 20 years ago - a dependable, desirable, small hatchback for the masses.