2013 Nissan Micra Drops 1.5 Engine As Australian Supply Shifts To India

Nissan's tiny Micra hatch is losing its 1.5 litre petrol engine for 2013, with the six-model range now powered exclusively by the smaller 1.2 litre engine. 

Available in Australia since late 2010, the current Micra range was previously available with the 56kW 1.2 engine in entry-level ST models, while the ST-L and top-shelf Ti models came with the 75kW 1.5 mill. 

The change comes as local sourcing for the Micra moves from Indonesia to India and, despite the downgrade in power, pricing will remain unchanged. 

Nissan says the Micra remains a strong value proposition; it gets some new tricks added to the feature list to sweeten things up. 

Buyers of the $15,490 ST-L ($16,990 for automatic) will now gain features previously exclusive to the Ti, including 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, a driver armrest and a bag holder for the passenger seat. 

Both the ST-L and the $17,490 Ti ($18,990 automatic) also pick up a rear spoiler for 2013.