The Note is an innovative small five-door family hatchback that is surprisingly spacious, and feels like a much bigger car. It is the first of a new range of cars to be launched by Nissan, and clearly shows styling influences from their luxury Murano SUV.
The Note has a clever family-friendly; it's significantly large, and has the look of a more conventional hatchback. The driving position is comfortable, with well-placed pedals, a supportive seat and an armrest. The cabin is a user-friendly delight. Black and beige are the two interior color schemes that are on offer. Four adults can travel easily in this car. The rear legroom is enough for six-footers, even when the front passenger seat is slid right back. Every car comes with a CD/radio player, with a 6-CD in-dash auto-changer on SVE models.
The mini-MPV is very easy to drive. The electric power steering is very light at low speed, so turning the wheel is simple. The wide track ensures it has excellent stability and predictable handling. Performance from all engines - even the base 1.4-liter petrol - is adequate. It has a 0-60mph time of 13.1 seconds and a top speed of 103mph. The smooth and refined 1.5-litre dCi diesel is fantastic, with great in-gear performance. There is also a 1.6-liter model, available with a four-speed automatic gearbox.
Note scored four out of five stars when crash-tested by Euro NCAP. Fuel consumption is acceptable for all engines. With its narrow body and light steering, the Note is fun to drive.
