Nissan NOTE 1.6 Visia 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Nissan Note has a tall and narrow body that makes it easy to drive in and around town. It can easily slot itself through traffic gaps where no large family hatchbacks can. This mini MPV handles well in bends thanks to its firm suspension and good road grip. Steering is quite accurate and has more feedback through the wheel at high speeds. The ride quality is comfortable enough but some bumps and road imperfections can be felt quite sharply through the cabin. The 1.6 engine is refined on the motorway. Wind and road noise are contained but the suspension is occasionally heard.

The 1598cc engine has 4cylinders and 16 -valves. It’s powerful enough to reach 62 mph in 10.7s with a top speed of 114 mph. The Note has a 5-speed manual gearbox and the capacity to produce 108 bhp at 6000 rpm and develop a torque of 13 lb-ft at 4400.

The Nissan Note is very spacious. There are plenty of cubbyholes in the cabin for storage. The dashboard is two-tiered to house all the switches and buttons that are intuitively sited. The materials used for the finishing are good but the design itself is unimaginative and dull. The steering wheel adjusts for both reach and height. The driver’s seat is high-set which does not suit everyone. The rear bench slides for adjustment but some say the sitting position is akin to “perching” instead of sitting.

Standard equipment includes electric front windows, air-conditioning, power steering, steering adjustment rake, and CD and MP3/iPod connectivity. Cost options include automatic transmission for £1,000 and metallic paint for £420. Top range models include sat nav, climate control and parking sensors.

Practicality is the Note’s thrust in its design. Aside from its spacious interior, the rear seats could be slid back and forth to adjust legroom or boot space. The boot has a 280 litres capacity which could be extended to 1332 litres with the seats folded or down. There are plenty of storage pockets in the cabin such as a map pocket in the dash and a very practical chilled glovebox. This car is a great choice for a family with children.

Standard safety equipment includes 4 airbags -2 in front and 2- thorax side airbags mounted in the front seats. However it lacks the necessary rear airbags as afterall it’s supposed to be a family car. Isofix and 3-point centre belts are included and for the brake system ABS is inclusive. This small MPV only rates 4/5 in the Euro NCAP crash tests for Occupants and a score of 3/5 for Child NCAP and 1/5 for Pedestrian.

Nissan’s reputation for brand reliability is excellent, and the model comes with a 3 year warranty for 60,000 miles.

The Nissan Note 1.6 Visia is good value for money, with the versatile model priced at £12,500. It performs on average at 42.8 mpg in terms of fuel economy and has CO2 emissions of 149g/km, falling under road tax band F and insurance group 15.

These running costs are not too bad, although the diesel offers more in the way of fuel economy. Equipment is fairly scarce and residual values aren't great, but nevertheless the Note makes for a good family vehicle.