The second generation of the Nissan Micra appeared on the market in 1982 and went through a major facelift in late 1997 as a 1998 model.
Nissan saw an opportunity in small vehicles when it introduced the Micra and tried to keep its advantage over the years. But Renault, Peugeot-Citroen, Fiat, Opel, and Volkswagen were there to get a slice of the market. Like the other manufacturers, Nissan produced the Micra with 3- and 5-doors. The Japanese carmaker decided that it was time to refresh its old model with a major facelift in 1997.
From the outside, the 1998 Micra looked very similar to the non-facelifted version, but it featured a new front fascia with a pair of leaves-looking grille separated by a vertical slat that supported the brand's logo. The three-door version featured longer doors than its five-door sibling. Despite using an older design, the car's rounded shape was appealing for women more than for men, but that was not a problem as long as the orders kept coming.
Inside, Nissan made a few changes, especially for material quality. The rounded shape of the dashboard and the oval-shaped instrument cluster was considered chic and trendy. To access the rear bench, the front seats were tilted and moved forward.
Under the skin, the 1998 Micra was drastically improved. Along with its refreshed gasoline engines, Nissan also installed a diesel engine bought from Peugeot. To make things better, the Japanese carmaker offered a CVT gearbox, which was available for selected versions.