Will you buy a Nissan Micra knowing that it’s a Renault 5?

Nissan seems to have not understood that by 2025, the automobile can no longer rely on old recipes.

And this is precisely where the problem lies for Nissan. The new electric Micra, recently unveiled for the European market, seems to want to play on the nostalgia card, but in the face of fierce competition and a public that has become more savvy, it is no longer enough to rebrand an existing model, in this case, the Renault 5 E-Tech, to create novelty.

Behind a friendly design, with its circular lights and softened curves, this sixth generation of Micra hardly hides its Renault DNA. Same silhouette, same platform, same dashboard: the similarities are too obvious to fool anyone. Admittedly, some aesthetic adjustments, like a unique light signature and redesigned bumpers, attempt to instill a Nissan identity, but this feels more like a styling exercise than a genuine brand proposition.

Nissan has a lot at stake

And yet, the stakes are high. Nissan, losing ground in Europe, is betting big on this model to regain some footing in the rapidly growing electric city car segment. Two powertrains are offered: a version with 121 hp and a range of 191 miles (approximately 307 km), and a more powerful version with 148 hp, boasting up to 253 miles (approximately 407 km) of claimed range. It’s competitive, but not revolutionary. The interior, although well-appointed, is a near identical copy of the Renault 5, with a few details setting them apart.

The observation is concerning: while Renault asserts a strong identity with a retro-futuristic city car full of character, Nissan seems to be content playing the follower. In a saturated market, where the offer is plentiful and customers are more demanding than ever, a badge and a nice design are no longer sufficient. If the Micra fails to assert a distinct personality and justify its place in the automotive landscape, it risks being overlooked — or worse, becoming a symbol of a brand in search of direction.

ALSO READ: New Micra, the Renault 5 disguises itself as Nissan!