Nissan New Micra being considered for Canadian market

Tue, 01 Oct 2013

A new story from AutoGuide is triggering new speculation that Nissan may be about to bring its New Micra to North America. According to a dealer-based source, Nissan is showing off the overseas hatchback at Canadian dealer meetings along with the redesigned 2014 Rogue. The report indicates that the car is expected to go on sale sometime mid next year. Autoblog has learned that, while the New Micra is indeed under study for the Canadian market, it is not being considered for US sales. Our well-placed source tells us that bringing the New Micra to US dealers "just wouldn't make sense."

Bringing the New Micra to US dealers "just wouldn't make sense."

Reading between the lines a bit, that's because Nissan already has a robust small car lineup spearheaded by the Versa sedan and new Versa Note hatchback, along with the compact Sentra. And while both Versa models are generously sized for the subcompact classes they compete in, their low entry price (the sedan starts under $12k) means that pricing the smaller Micra underneath it would be difficult. Given its historically significantly higher fuel prices (not to mention higher vehicle prices and a penchant for small cars), Canada seems like a much more hospitable market for the Micra.

Previously known simply as Micra, the Nissan hatchback was recently shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show with new front and rear fascias, LED taillamps, and so on. Interior upgrades including a new touchscreen infotainment system and increased connectivity solutions are also worthy upgrades, but the New Micra's most interesting feature is likely its 97-horsepower, supercharged and direct-injected, 1.2-liter three-cylinder gas engine.

Like many other manufacturers, Nissan has shown a willingness to sell vehicles in Canada that it does not offer in the US – it did so recently with the 2005-2006 Xtrail crossover. The line cuts both ways, however – a new report suggests our friends to the north won't get the Rogue Select next year, either.

By Chris Paukert