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The new Nissan enters a segment that's terribly competitive. Of the many hatchbacks that are in the fray, four of them come closest to the Micra as competition - the Ford Figo, the Volkswagen Polo, the Fiat Punto and of course, the most important one of them all, the all-conquering Maruti Suzuki Swift. And maybe, to an extent, there's the Hyundai i20 as well. Here's how the Micra stacks up against these hatchbacks:
Volkswagen Polo
Styling may be subjective, but the Polo is the second-best looking hatch in the country after the Punto. And in solid red or white, the little Veedub looks all the more alluring on our roads. The engines of both the Micra and the Polo seem to be closely benchmarked. What sets the Polo's motor apart is its liveliness beyond 2000 rpm. The VW three-pot motor is noisy and vibey at start and at low revs, but once you are on the move, it feels refined. The five-speed gearbox is well geared and shifts are snappy. Overall, the Polo is a cheerful car to drive. The interiors are sober to the point of being retro though quality of plastics and switchgear is excellent. Space at the rear is at a premium - three adults at the back of the Polo will find it rather intimate. Boot space is terrific, though. The Polo suspension is designed to handle bad roads, so there is more suspension travel than necessary - leading to the car diving every time you brake. Handling however is sorted and has a bigger hatch's attributes. The Polo has one thing that the Micra doesn't - and it will be felt in these days of decontrolled fuel prices - and that is a 1.2-litre three-pot diesel motor.
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