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Nissan Micra vs VW ID.Polo
Selected trimEngage 40kWhChange trim196 mi · 40 kWh · £22,995
At a glance
In this comparison, Nissan Micra leads on city driving, while the VW ID.Polo leads on motorway range, family practicality and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Nissan Micra if...
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
Choose the VW ID.Polo if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.5p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.Polo leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
Value
Nissan
6.2
VW
6.3
Too close to call
Motorway RangeVW
Nissan
3.6
VW
5.1
FamilyVW
Nissan
6.1
VW
8.3
ChargingVW
Nissan
4.2
VW
6.3
Cost Per MileVW
Nissan
6.9
VW
9.8
City DrivingNissan
Nissan
8.9
VW
7.5
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Nissan MicraEngage 40kWh | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £22,995 (better) | £23,945 |
| Official range | 196 miles | 204 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 326 L | 441 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 30 min | 23 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 9 sec | Not available |
Size Comparison
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Nissan Micra
VW ID.Polo
Length
Nissan Micra4,084mm
VW ID.Polo4,053mm-31mm
Width
Nissan Micra1,780mm-36mm
VW ID.Polo1,816mm
Height
Nissan Micra1,530mm
VW ID.Polo1,530mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Nissan MicraEngage 40kWh | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,084 mm | 4,053 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,780 mm (better) | 1,816 mm |
| Height | 1,530 mm | 1,530 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.2 m (better) | 10.9 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 620 mm spare (better) | 584 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Nissan MicraEngage 40kWh | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 326 L | 441 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 1240 L |
| Frunk | 0 L | Not available |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 0 kg | Not available |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Nissan Micra
- Uses 143 Wh/km on the WLTP cycle, more efficient than 85% of hatchback EVs we track.
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
VW ID.Polo
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Nissan Micra Engage 40kWh |  VW ID.Polo Life 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.08m | 4.05m-31mm |
| Width | 1.78m | 1.82m+36mm |
| Height | 1.53m | 1.53m |
| Wheelbase | 2.58m | 2.59m+12mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 326L | 441L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1240L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.2m (better) | 10.9m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,400kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 40kWh (better) | 37kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 196 mi | 204 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 80kW | 90kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £22,995 (better) | £23,945 |
| Price after EV grant | £21,495 (-£1,500) | £23,945 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Available | 2026+ | 2027+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Nissan MicraEngage 40kWh | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 196 miles | 204 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 137 miles | 170 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | 23 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 80 kW | 90 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Energy consumption | 143 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 40 kWh (better) | 37 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | Not available |
| Heat pump | Standard | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Nissan MicraEngage 40kWh | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 9 sec | Not available |
| Power | 90 kW (better) | 85 kW |
| Torque | 225 Nm | Not available |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Nissan Micra
Engage 40kWh
VW ID.Polo
Life 116PS
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Nissan Micra Engage 40kWh
Tested 2024
Adult Occupant80%
Child Occupant80%
Vulnerable Road Users77%
Safety Assist68%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Buying options
Get a quote
Nissan Micra
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.Polo
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Nissan Micra or the VW ID.Polo?
The Nissan Micra is £950 cheaper to buy. The VW ID.Polo is cheaper to charge, roughly £120 a year versus £160 for the Nissan Micra, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Nissan Micra comes out roughly £750 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Nissan Micra and VW ID.Polo like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 137 miles for the Nissan Micra and 170 miles for the VW ID.Polo - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The VW ID.Polo goes roughly 33 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 23-30 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Nissan Micra or the VW ID.Polo?
The Nissan Micra is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 36 mm narrower than the VW ID.Polo. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 620 mm of total clearance for the Nissan Micra and about 584 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.Polo. The Nissan Micra also turns in a 0.7 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Nissan Micra comparisons
More VW ID.Polo comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Nissan Micra and VW ID.Polo rank among the best family EVsWhere the Nissan Micra and VW ID.Polo rank among EVs under £30,000Where the Nissan Micra and VW ID.Polo rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Nissan Micra and VW ID.Polo rank among the best small electric carsWhere the Nissan Micra and VW ID.Polo rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Nissan Micra and VW ID.Polo rank among the best city EVs
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .