Small hot hatches are consistently proving to be a popular choice, but opting for the ‘warmer’ model sitting below it seems to make far more financial sense for most.

By combining the looks of the flagship performance model with a smaller, less powerful engine, this means you can have added visual appeal with a little more fun over the regular humdrum hatchback – without any of the high running costs of the full-fat model.

This Micra in N-Sport trim aims to appeal to those precise buyers, and while there is no flagship, high-performance version of the small Nissan, it has the SEAT Ibiza FR and Ford Fiesta ST Line firmly in its sights.

These two rivals have found plenty of homes so far and Nissan wants a slice of that sector.

In a nutshell, there’s a 1.0-litre three-pot engine developing 117hp and 180Nm of torque. You get a six-speed gearbox, a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds and 10mm-lowered suspension. There’s sharpened up steering, too, but does it all work?

Read the full review on the Parkers site below to find out whether it’s worth having and if it’s more than a slap of Alcantara on the inside.

Source: Nissan Micra review | Parkers