Cut-price Micra slashes business car management costs

Nissan Micra — Micra prices now start at just £7,995

Story: DAVID WILKINS

HERE’S a way to cut the running costs of your company cars.

Nissan has announced big price cuts for the Micra. The range now starts at £7,995 (previously £9,750) for the entry-level 115g/km 56.5 mpg 1.2-litre Visia, which does without air-con but has Bluetooth and an aux input for music players – so half the standard business spec but at a very attainable price.

Next up, the Acenta, which starts at £9,995 gets air-con, alloys, front fogs and a leather steering wheel, and above that, there’s the £10,495 Acenta Connect, which gets Nissan’s Connect touch-screen navigation system as well as Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming.

A special edition, the ELLE, produced in conjunction with the women’s magazine of the same name, adds climate control, a glass roof and ELLE badging for £11,195.

The top-of-the range Tekna costs £11,545 and boasts a glass roof, parking space measurement, rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps and wipers, and climate control.

The price cuts will be welcome to SMEs. The Forum of Private Business says that its latest Referendum survey indicates the cost of doing business has continued to rise during 2012, with energy costs and transport costs the most seen increase among SMEs.

Alex Jackman, the Forum’s Senior Policy Adviser, added: “It doesn’t look as if there is going to be any respite from energy hikes any time soon. Oil prices have started rising again having dipped in the summer, and on the horizon we have a 3p a litre increase in fuel duty scheduled for January.”