Nissan Micra EV is a near-identical Renault 5 under a different skin as Nissan aims for fast entry into electric supermini market

Nissan’s first fully electric Micra is mechanically identical to the Renault 5 EV, the carmaker said, sharing batteries, electric motors and chassis components with no mechanical changes, as the Japanese firm seeks a rapid market entry with a proven platform.

The Micra arrives in UK showrooms with a starting price of £21,495 once the government’s £1,500 Electric Car Grant is applied. Nissan executives acknowledged the Renault-sourced origins of the model and said the company opted to rebadge and rebody the platform for reasons that include the long-standing Renault–Nissan alliance, timing and the cost pressures created by recent losses at the Yokohama-based firm.

Company officials and the motoring press noted three main reasons behind the Micra’s close mechanical kinship with the Renault 5. First, the two companies have shared platforms and components under their alliance for about 25 years, a strategy designed to cut development costs. Second, Nissan contributed to the Renault 5’s development and later decided to leverage the same engineering to bring an electric Micra to market without the delay or extra expense of reengineering core mechanical systems. Third, Nissan is operating under financial strain — the company reported a record £3.8 billion net loss — and executives said making mechanical changes would inflate costs they could not justify.

Styling and cabin choices represent the primary differentiators. Nissan’s design team in the U.K. applied a different exterior theme, drawing inspiration from the brand’s bulbous third-generation Micra (the K12) rather than the Renault 5’s retro 1980s cues. The Micra uses split elliptical daytime running lights, an oval rear-light motif and a distinctive side ‘gelato scoop’ indent to create a separate visual identity while retaining the same underlying architecture.

Inside, the Micra mirrors the Renault 5’s dual-screen layout and cabin architecture but employs alternative materials and trim to establish a distinct feel. The infotainment and driver-display software are carried over from the Renault partner design rather than being Nissan’s usual system. Reported ergonomics issues include a three-stalk arrangement behind the steering wheel — controls for lights, indicators, and the drive selector are on separate wands — and the lack of a conventional Park button on the drive selector, which some testers described as overly sensitive and awkward in operation.

Driving dynamics are substantially the same as the Renault 5, and reviewers described the Micra as one of the more accomplished driving experiences in the small electric car segment. The chassis is agile and well balanced at town and country speeds, delivering weighty steering and strong grip that reviewers said allow precise cornering and a reassuring presence at motorway speeds. The Micra’s cabin insulation reduces wind noise effectively, although tyre rumble is slightly more pronounced than in cars with narrower rubber.

Powertrain options match the Renault 5’s line-up: a 40 kWh battery with a 121 bhp motor or a 52 kWh battery with a 148 bhp motor. The 52 kWh, top-spec Micra achieves 0–62 mph in 7.8 seconds and is quoted at a WLTP range of up to 260 miles, a marginal increase over the Renault 5’s 252-mile claim attributed to Nissan’s revised bodywork and improved aerodynamics. Real-world driving in the launch tests suggested a practical mixed-roads figure closer to about 240 miles for the larger battery.

Charging capabilities also mirror the Renault variant with small differences in maximum DC acceptance. The 40 kWh battery accepts up to 80 kW DC charging and the 52 kWh pack up to 100 kW, with both able to reach roughly 15–80 percent charge in about 30 minutes on a suitably powerful public charger. Both battery options include an 11 kW onboard AC charger for slower public or home charging; a 7.4 kW wallbox will fully recharge the 40 kWh pack in about 6.5 hours and the 52 kWh pack in about 8.5 hours.

The Micra features four drive modes — Eco, Comfort, Sport and Perso — which alter throttle response and steering assistance. Higher-spec Evolve trim adds a three-step adjustable regenerative braking system controlled by paddles behind the steering wheel; settings range from minimal regen through a balanced medium setting to a strong one-pedal mode that maximises energy recuperation, a feature highlighted as a differentiator in Nissan’s favour.

Practicality is consistent with the small-supermini class. Boot capacity is 326 litres with rear seats up and expands to 1,106 litres with the 60/40 split seats folded, though the seatbacks do not lie flat. The cabin’s higher seating position, necessitated by the floor-mounted battery pack, reduces rear headroom and rear-knee room for taller adults. Standard and optional safety and convenience technologies include parking sensors, an optional reversing camera, lane-keeping assist and blind-spot intervention.

Market observers and reviewers said the Micra and Renault 5 together strengthen the electric supermini segment and are likely to be strong sellers because they combine engaging handling, useful range and a premium-feeling interior at competitive prices. With near-identical pricing and similar residual-value projections, analysts said the decision for buyers is expected to rest on aesthetic preference and dealer network affinity rather than mechanical or financial advantages.

Nissan’s choice to rebadge the Renault 5 architecture underscores the continuing business strategy within the Renault–Nissan alliance to share platforms to reduce development and manufacturing costs, particularly as automakers transition fleets to electrification. Nissan executives framed the decision as pragmatic: using a successful, already proven EV platform allowed a faster, lower-cost route to market for an electric successor to the Micra nameplate while preserving investment capital amid challenging financial results.

The Micra is on sale now in the U.K., with the Extended Range 52 kWh Evolve model tested carrying a listed price around £28,365 inclusive of the government grant. Reviewers concluded that, on driving and technical merit, the Micra is competitive with — and in a few respects marginally superior to — its Renault sibling, but acknowledged the split will likely be decided by customers’ taste in exterior and interior styling rather than technical differentials.

Specifications for the tested Micra Extended Range 52 kWh Evolve include front-wheel drive, 148 bhp, 181 lb ft of torque, a quoted WLTP range of 260 miles, a top speed of 93 mph and a kerb weight of about 1,524 kg. Nissan’s entry expands the options for buyers seeking compact, capable electric city cars and highlights the commercial realities driving increased platform sharing across the industry.