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The radically different new Nissan Micra will go on sale in September, priced the same as its Renault 5 twin.

The sixth-generation supermini, now electric only, starts at £22,995 in entry-level Engage trim, which is exclusively paired with the smallest 40kWh battery.

For that, buyers get 18in alloy wheels, a 10in infotainment touchscreen and an efficiency-boosting heat pump.

This price rises to £24,995 for the same pack in mid-level Advanced trim, which adds Google software to the screen, parking sensors and wireless phone charging.

Optioning the bigger 52kWh battery (which offers up to 260 miles of range) increases the price to £26,995.

The range tops out £29,865 in Evolve trim, which is only sold with the 52kWh battery. This brings heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, two-tone paint and Nissan's e-Pedal system.

These prices do not include any discount from the UK government's new Electric Car Grant (ECG); Nissan said it expects the Micra to qualify for the £1500 discount banding.

Order books will open on 1 September.

New Micra: What's different?

The sixth-generation Micra has been positioned to appeal to younger, European buyers, in a bid to move the supermini away from being known as a “grandma car”.

The newest generation of the popular hatchback – which has amassed more than six million sales since first being launched 42 years ago – has been fully revealed by the Japanese firm as a twin to Alliance partner Renault’s electric 5. This means it won’t be sold with a combustion engine for the first time in its history.

The Micra is aimed squarely at buyers in Europe, a market in which Nissan is looking to grow after suffering heavy losses in recent years, necessitating a major cost-cutting plan.

It arrives as one of four new Nissan EVs due before the end of 2026, the others being the new Leaf crossover, an electric Juke and an A-segment model that will be twinned with the upcoming Renault Twingo.

What's underneath?

The new Micra sits on the Ampr Small platform, drawing power from either a 40kWh or a 52kWh battery, which are good for 198 and 260 miles of range. In top-spec form, the battery can accept a charging rate of 100kW to go from 15-80% in 30 minutes.

As with the 5, alongside which the Micra will be produced by Renault in Douai, France, power is sent to a single, front-mounted motor that can be tuned for 121bhp (with the 40kWh battery) or 148bhp (with the 52kWh battery).

Beyond the electric powertrain, the biggest change for the Micra is its radical new design. While it was developed alongside the 5 from the start, Nissan designers were given the freedom to create something that “was more noticeably Nissan” – although “we had to fight for it”, exterior design manager Yongwook Cho told Autocar.

"Funky" design

Described as “audacious, assertive and funky”, the new look takes inspiration from the bulbous Mk3 Micra of 2002, especially for its circular daytime-running lights at both ends.

Cho added that “it was tough” when his designers were tasked with creating something that would differ visually from the “already good-looking” 5, especially given the fixed underpinnings.

One change from the 5 is at the front, where the bonnet is higher, longer and features slightly more bulky arches in order to give the Micra a different silhouette.

“We wanted to carry more volume to the front,” said Cho, who added that this gives the Micra more of a crossover feel – like the Renault Megane – than the 5, which is more overtly a hatchback and “sporty”.

Another differentiator is at the rear, where a lip was added, and at the side (visually where the twins are most obviously related), where there’s a shoulder line that looks “like it’s been scooped by a gelato scoop”.

These design elements combine to make the Micra “a grandma car no more”, claimed Cho.

The interior is essentially identical to the 5’s, with the same twin 10.25in screens, same switchgear and same materials, but its colour offerings – white, grey and black – are more muted.

Repositioning the Micra

Explaining why Nissan had given the Micra such a radical styling overhaul, European marketing boss Arnaud Charpentier told Autocar: “The UK is our best market in Europe by far [with 133,000 sales since the start of 2024], so we had to come back with something different.

“I think this new car will create a gap between what people have in mind when they look or think of the [Micra] nameplate and what is now the reality.

“Young buyers? That was the objective.”

Charpentier said traditional Micra buyers in the UK differ from those in other markets. For example, in France and Spain they are younger and “almost 95% female”. As such, he explained, “we wanted to come back with something which is gender-neutral”.

Charpentier continued: “The challenge is really to rejuvenate, because we know that in the UK we have this [grandma] association, and we believe through the audacious and playful design that we see, it’s going to help conquer new types of buyers, like younger, modern parents.”

Asked whether sales could be affected by the Micra’s switch to electric-only power, he said: “We will have to explain that it’s an EV, a full EV. It had to be explained by Renault with the 5. So that’s the fact.”

Touching on the 5’s popularity (16,948 sales in Europe so far this year) and lower starting price, Charpentier disagreed that total electrification would inhibit uptake of the Micra.

“We have a very strong nameplate,” he said. “I’m sure that the nameplate of Micra is stronger in the UK, for example, than the 5. Probably also in Italy. So I’m not worried about this.”

What’s more, Charpentier believes that the arrivals of the reinvented Leaf and the next-generation Juke will help rejuvenate Nissan during a turbulent period for the company.

“This new EV line-up will help us to come back in the race,” he predicted.

Is there anything finer than a good road trip? Doing the miles, playing the tunes, seeing the sights, enjoying the roads, immersing yourself in unexpected experiences. Well, actually there is one thing that makes it better – bringing some family or friends along for the ride.

That means you need a vehicle that will comfortably carry everyone, have enough space for all their odds and ends, feature cutting-edge technology to keep everyone comfortable and safe, and be able to do the trip with comparatively few stops.

A tall order. But having spent some time in the MINI Countryman Electric, we think it might be the right car for the job. Here’s why.

Book your all-electric MINI Countryman test drive

Room to roam

For starters, the new Countryman is by far the largest MINI ever. That’s ideal, because nobody wants to spend a long drive in a cramped car. And there’s no danger of that inside this new Countryman – its sizable dimensions mean that there’s more than ample space for five adults to sit comfortably.

As the What Car? testers noted: “The Mini Countryman makes good use of its boxy dimensions: its high roof gives even tall drivers plenty of head room, plus there's lots of leg and elbow room.”

It’s a similar story in the back, too: “As for the rear, there's enough leg room for a six-footer to stretch out when sitting behind someone of similar height,” What Car? notes. “There’s plenty of foot space under the front seats, and rear head room is generous – even the optional panoramic glass sunroof doesn’t compromise on space.” Also, the reclining rear seats allow passengers to settle back and enjoy the changing scenery.

Finally, the 460-litre boot area means plenty of space for whatever anyone fancies to bring along, be it sports kit, luggage or a picnic.

Get comfortable

It’s not just about the space though, you can really get comfortable in the MINI Countryman Electric – and not just because it has an upmarket interior, but also because it has been designed with recycling in mind.

To that end, the interior of the Countryman Electric features a modern-looking knitted fabric on the dashboard and door trims – it’s a sustainable material that manages to feel both plush and charming at the same time.

Other areas you routinely touch, such as the seats and steering wheel, are trimmed in a material called Vescin, which feels like leather but is actually vegan-friendly. You can even tailor the interior lighting to just the way you want it.

Put simply, it’s a nice place to be when you’re munching through miles.

Packed with useful tech

That upmarket cabin is lifted further by its clever use of technology. In-car tech should be about making your life easier – and the MINI Countryman Electric is a great example of how to do that. It’s filled with cutting-edge systems that have been put together to make each and every journey more comfortable and that bit safer.

To that end, every single Countryman Electric features a big 9.4in circular infotainment system front and centre – it’s an OLED screen too, so its picture is particularly crisp and the colours are punchy. You also get dual-zone climate control as a minimum, and you can even set the climate control to be ready for your departure, so everyone is comfortable from the moment you leave.

You also get alloy wheels, LED headlights, a heated steering wheel, keyless start and adaptive cruise control – ideal for a long drive.

Safety is well covered, because every Countryman has automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition and an emergency call function (named e-Call).

Better still, the MINI Countryman Electric will do exactly what you tell it to – literally. That’s because the new “Hey MINI” intelligent personal assistant system lets you change numerous aspects of the car using only your voice. For example, you can activate the heated steering wheel, turn up the air con, or get a list of restaurant recommendations without taking your hands off the wheel.

However, that’s not all, because you can also choose to add option packs, named Level 1, 2, and 3.

Level 1 brings adaptive LED headlights, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated front seats, wireless phone-charging, a head-up display and keyless entry.

Still want more? Level 2 adds a panoramic glass sunroof and a punchier audio system from Harman Kardon, plus privacy glass. And if that isn’t enough, Level 3 includes massaging front seats, a Park Assist system, and an augmented-reality sat-nav.

Range and charging

The electric MINI Countryman has a large 64.7kWh battery which gives the car a range of up to 286 miles on the official WLTP test cycle – that is the distance between Manchester and the Scottish Highlands, which is a pretty awesome road trip.

So once your on the road, it’s more likely that you’ll be stopping for rumbling stomachs or a full bladder, than for charging. But if you do plug in, the battery can be recharged at a rate of up to 130kW, which means a boost from 10% to 80% will take less than 30 minutes. Perfect for grabbing a bite to eat and stretching the legs after a few hours of driving.

And you don’t need to worry about finding a charging station, because the sat-nav can direct you to the nearest one at any given moment. You can even do this through the voice assistant. And at the same time, the car will also get its battery to the ideal temperature to accept charge as rapidly as possible.

Maximum fun factor

If there’s one thing that has remained a constant throughout the entire history of the MINI brand, it’s fun. And if you’re planning to do a whole load of miles, then making those miles as enjoyable as possible will only make the journey better.

Thankfully, MINI remains true to that philosophy, and the Countryman Electric is positively brimming with character and vivaciousness.

How has MINI managed this? Well, the new Countryman Electric is wider than its predecessor, and has a longer wheelbase, which makes it grippy and stable. Indeed, the car’s entire platform has been engineered to keep the batteries as low as possible – and a low centre of gravity means nimbleness and agility.

It also has super-sharp steering and responsive suspension that’s been tuned for sporty handling, so reacts instantly to your inputs.

There are two electric powertrains available in the Countryman Electric. The MINI Countryman E has one electric motor on its front axle that delivers 204hp and 250Nm of torque.

But if you fancy something with a little extra zing, there’s also the MINI Countryman SE ALL4, which has an electric motor on each axle. These combine to produce 313hp and 494Nm of torque, plus the extra traction of four-wheel drive. A 0-62mph time of just 5.6 seconds is your proof.

Both models are guaranteed to give you a huge grin throughout your road trip, but the higher-powered model might just make your passengers squeal a bit, too.

It’s time to hit the road

So, if you have a road trip in mind, then the MINI Countryman Electric is an ideal car in which to do it. It’s easy to drive, and it’s full of the sort of luxury materials and features that makes every journey just that little bit more special. On top of that, it has a huge amount of interior space for people and their belongings, and it has numerous systems that are constantly on high alert to keep everyone completely safe.

And of course, these features are just as relevant for everyday driving, whether heading out for some shopping, visiting a relative, or simply commuting to work.

The MINI Countryman Electric is simply a multi-talented vehicle that makes every journey a pleasure.

Book your all-electric MINI Countryman test drive