Kentish Express Ashford & District
Note worthy
Nissan’s supermini is up against some tough competition. finds out if it’s made of the write stuff
Although the Nissan Note resembles a mini MPV, and indeed its closest rivals include Ford’s B-Max and Citroen’s C3 Picasso, it’s priced to compete against more conventional small cars such as the Fiesta, Polo and Corsa.
Though the high-sided monobox styling might put off some potential buyers looking for a supermini it means that, like the Honda Jazz, there is a vast amount of space inside. The Note can, in fact, easily accommodate a family of five, even if they’re all six-footers.
It’s practical and well put together, but the passenger space can feel a little drab, lifted only by the occasional flash of metalwork.
The instrumentation is the real highlight with clear, stylish dials and an econometer that curves across the top of the binnacle and provides a real-time guide on how efficient your driving is.
The infotainment system on the n-tec is based on the NissanConnect touchscreen system that manages to pack in a vast amount of technology into an intuitive and responsive interface.
All models get a fourspeaker CD stereo with Aux and USB sockets while Acenta Premium and above get a 5.8in touchscreen with the aforementioned NissanConnect which adds DAB and internet radio as well as an additional two speakers.
Sat nav is included with NissanConnect and, in general it proved to be easy to use, reliable with a simple, crisp and clear graphics.
Climate control, automatic lights and wipers and cruise control are all included as standard. The model also benefits from satin silver door mirrors and handles, aerodynamic front bumper and blue contrast stitching in the cabin.
Perhaps worthy of some note is the rear view camera which forms part of the Nissan Safety Shield. It combines blind spot, lane departure and moving object detection systems via the wide angle camera mounted on the tailgate.
The n-tec is only available with the basic 1.2-litre engine. The three-cylinder petrol motor is typically vocal under acceleration.
It’s best suited for people with a more relaxed attitude to automotive locomotion. Drive with a judicious right foot and you’ll be rewarded with excellent fuel economy, up to 60.1mpg according to official figures, and reasonable refinement, particularly at cruising speeds.
The ride is on the firm side but that doesn’t impact too much on the ride quality thanks to the generous sidewalls on the rubber that provide and extra barrier between occupants and broken surfaces.
The steering is nicely weighted, as are the pedals, and there’s a nice consistency to the controls as the speed builds.
The Note is incredibly spacious, practical and, most of the time, refined. Economy and performance are surprisingly competitive despite the pedestrian nature of the 1.2.