Nissan NoteYou can think of the Note as a supermini MPV, and since launch in March 2006 it’s been amongst the best of them. The latest model gets new interior and exterior styling plus improved fuel economy. We drove it on roads local to Nissan’s offices in Hertfordshire, which is as good a test of a car’s suspension as you’re likely to find, and the Note came through it with aplomb.Our test car was fitted with the new Connect system – an audio, navigation and communications package – which was impressive. Simply connect your iPlayer, iTunes or whatever, and it becomes part of the car’s audio memory, so you see your tunes on the Connect screen and can search for and control the playing with steering wheel mounted buttons. Bluetooth ’phones can automatically upload their number lists to the Connect system, and the 5-inch colour touch screen that controls all this is also used by the sat nav system (selectable 2D or birds-eye view), which is a good one. Interestingly, the sat nav does offer the usual ‘fastest’ or ‘shortest’ route choice, but it also thinks it knows the most fuel-efficient route, and you can choose that one too. Standard on the top Tekna model, the Connect is available for £400 on the next down Acenta, which is very reasonable money for everything it is.Yes, I hear you say, all very well, but what’s the car actually like? It’s good, it’s very good indeed. Powered by petrol engines of 1.4 or 1.6 litres, or a 1.5 diesel, I tried the larger petrol and the diesel, and both were up to the job and well matched to the car. The 1.6 petrol motor offers 42.8mpg combined, plenty of oomph, and a great sound when you push it hard; this is the engine you’ll get if you opt for the Renault-derived 4-speed auto transmission. The 1.4 however will actually be the biggest seller, and you might be surprised to hear, in these days of near parity between petrol and diesel car sales, that Note sales have historically been 90% petrol.The diesel engine is the familiar 1.5dCi which crops up all over the place in Nissan and Renault’s ranges. It’s a great engine that constantly surprises with its torque delivery and quietude, partly on account of the sensibly high gearing which sees 30mph per thousand revs in top. Perhaps more to the point its combined consumption will put a smile on your face every time you drive past a fuel station.It’s an easy car to drive, with near-vertical sides and rear that make for easy parking. There’s no reach adjustment for the steering, but it seemed a comfortable driving position to me, and I’m one who grouches unmercifully if it isn’t. The suspension is certainly one of the Note’s big pluses: it’s a medium ride – midway between firm and soft – that soaks up the bumps and potholes brilliantly. Get out of a Note into virtually any other car, and you’ll probably be disappointed by either the handling or the ride. As far as I’m concerned this Nissan has it spot on.The Note has received loads of praise over the years for its passenger and luggage packing abilities, and on our tests (see the Motorsville video for more illustrations) we found it looking good. Chief benefit is the sliding rear seat (up to 16cm) which enables one to enlarge the luggage area if there’s nobody sitting in the back. The two sections of boot floor (not base model) are reversible, so you can be carpeted or prepared for muddy boots with the alternative wipe-clean surface on the other side. Space beneath that boot floor incidentally is deep enough to hide some fairly large items that you’d like screened from hostile eyes. Maximum boot volume, once the rear seat backs are folded – leaving an almost flat floor (just sloping up slightly to the front) – is 1332 litres, which should be enough to cope with an expensive B&Q visit.Equipment on the base Note (sorry) isn’t exactly comprehensive by today’s standards, but it does include front and side airbags, front electric windows, brake assist, and remote locking with keyless entry. Much more popular will surely be the next model up, the Acenta, which not only provides curtain airbags, air con, rear electric windows, cruise control, trip computer, the Flexi-Board boot storage system, loads of extra storage spaces and much more besides, but also the prospect of the excellent Connect system.The new Note is undoubtedly one of the best solutions to modern day motoring, and it comes at a reasonable price. If you want a practical car that’s easy to live with, you’ve found it.Size: 4.10m x 1.69mEngines: Petrol: 1.4 litre – 88PS 1.6 litre – 110PSDiesel: 1.5 litre – 86PSGearbox: 5-speed front driveBest consumption: 1.5 diesel – 62.8mpgPrice at Feb ’09: £9,795 to £14,575Peter Cracknell – March 2009
Nissan Note
You can think of the Note as a supermini MPV, and
since launch in March 2006 it’s been amongst the best
of them. The latest model gets new interior and exterior
styling plus improved fuel economy. We drove it on
roads local to Nissan’s offices in Hertfordshire, which is
as good a test of a car’s suspension as you’re likely to
find, and the Note came through it with aplomb.
Our test car was fitted with the new Connect system –
an audio, navigation and communications package –
which was impressive. Simply connect your iPlayer,
iTunes or whatever, and it becomes part of the car’s
audio memory, so you see your tunes on the Connect
screen and can search for and control the playing with
steering wheel mounted buttons. Bluetooth ’phones can
automatically upload their
number lists to the
Connect system, and the
5-inch colour touch
screen that controls all
this is also used by the
sat nav system
(selectable 2D or birds-
eye view), which is a good
one. Interestingly, the sat
nav does offer the usual
‘fastest’ or ‘shortest’ route
choice, but it also thinks it
knows the most fuel-
efficient route, and you
can choose that one too.
Standard on the top Tekna
model, the Connect is
available for £400 on the
next down Acenta, which is very reasonable money for
everything it is.
Yes, I hear you say, all very well, but what’s the car
actually like? It’s good, it’s very good indeed. Powered
by petrol engines of 1.4 or 1.6 litres, or a 1.5 diesel, I
tried the larger petrol and the diesel, and both were up
to the job and well matched to the car. The 1.6 petrol
motor offers 42.8mpg combined, plenty of oomph, and a
great sound when you push it hard; this is the engine
you’ll get if you opt for the Renault-derived 4-speed auto
transmission. The 1.4 however will actually be the
biggest seller, and you might be surprised to hear, in
these days of near parity between petrol and diesel car
sales, that Note sales have historically been 90% petrol.
The diesel engine is the familiar 1.5dCi which crops up
all over the place in Nissan and Renault’s ranges. It’s a
great engine that constantly surprises with its torque
delivery and quietude, partly on account of the sensibly
high gearing which sees 30mph per thousand revs in
top. Perhaps more to the point its combined
consumption will put a smile on your face every time you
drive past a fuel station.
It’s an easy car to drive, with near-vertical sides and rear
that make for easy parking. There’s no reach adjustment
for the steering, but it seemed a comfortable driving
position to me, and I’m one who grouches unmercifully if
it isn’t. The suspension is certainly one of the Note’s big
pluses: it’s a medium ride – midway between firm and
soft – that soaks up the bumps and potholes brilliantly.
Get out of a Note into virtually any other car, and you’ll
probably be disappointed by either the handling or the
ride. As far as I’m concerned this Nissan has it spot on.
The Note has received loads of praise over the years for
its passenger and luggage packing abilities, and on our
tests (see the Motorsville video for more illustrations) we
found it looking good. Chief benefit is the sliding rear
seat (up to 16cm) which enables one to enlarge the
luggage area if there’s nobody sitting in the back. The
two sections of boot floor (not base model) are
reversible, so you can be carpeted or prepared for
muddy boots with the alternative wipe-clean surface on
the other side. Space beneath that boot floor incidentally
is deep enough to hide some fairly large items that you’d
like screened from
hostile eyes. Maximum
boot volume, once the
rear seat backs are
folded – leaving an
almost flat floor (just
sloping up slightly to the
front) – is 1332 litres,
which should be enough
to cope with an
expensive B&Q visit.
Equipment on the base
Note (sorry) isn’t exactly
comprehensive by
today’s standards, but it
does include front and
side airbags, front
electric windows, brake
assist, and remote
locking with keyless entry. Much more popular will surely
be the next model up, the Acenta, which not only
provides curtain airbags, air con, rear electric windows,
cruise control, trip computer, the Flexi-Board boot
storage system, loads of extra storage spaces and much
more besides, but also the prospect of the excellent
Connect system.
The new Note is undoubtedly one of the best solutions to
modern day motoring, and it comes at a reasonable
price. If you want a practical car that’s easy to live with,
you’ve found it.
Size:
4.10m x 1.69m
Engines:
Petrol: 1.4 litre – 88PS
1.6 litre – 110PS
Diesel: 1.5 litre – 86PS
Gearbox:
5-speed front drive
Best consumption:
1.5 diesel – 62.8mpg
Price at Feb ’09:
£9,795 to £14,575
Peter Cracknell – March 2009
MotorsvilleUK Video of the Note - watch it here
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