Maybe not. But the 1.6 in it is one of the most powerful engines in the class.

If Nissan Canada had sourced the Micra with the 1.2L 3-cylinder that they use in Europe and Australasia, it would have been a very different animal. An animal that the press would not have liked very much (see: Mirage). There would be no Micra Cup.

The good news is: with the stick, it's pretty easy to beat the car's official ratings while still having some fun.