Nissan Note

The Nissan has plenty in its favour, with lots of interior room and a grown up feel. It is a lot of car for the money.

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Rating: -
On the road price: £10,095 - £13,795
For : Roomy cabin, rear legroom, reversible boot floor, ride quality, smart styling, six airbags
Against : Cheap cabin materials, seats not quite clever enough

Driving:
Nissan's mini-MPV is very easy to drive. The electric power steering is very light at low speed, so turning the wheel is simple, while bubbles in the top of the headlamps are designed to show the edges of the car to assist parking in narrow spaces. The wheel weighs up at speed, but is not overly communicative. Dynamically, it feels reassuring, and the wide track ensures it has excellent stability and predictable handling. The ride isn't quite as composed as the best but still impresses, while it has well-contained body roll, adding to its composure. It's well suited to long trips, particularly as performance from all engines - even the base 1.4-litre petrol - is adequate. The smooth and refined 1.5-litre dCi diesel impresses most, with great in-gear performance and virtually no turbo lag. The gearbox can be notchy and the clutch bite is high but brakes are excellent.

Marketplace:
According to Nissan, the Note was the brainchild of one of its designers, who was worried the arrival of his first child would mean he could no longer drive an attractive car. He wanted something that emphasised style and space, and the Note certainly encompasses both. The Murano-inspired nose and high waistline disguise the car's supermini-MPV dimensions, while the sloping roofline and boomerang tail-lights dive an athletic look. The Nissan avoids the lofty, narrow stance of rivals such as the Vauxhall Meriva and Honda Jazz. It comes with either 1.4-litre or 1.6-litre petrol units, plus the excellent Renault-sourced 1.5-litre dCi diesel, in 85bhp guise. S, SE and SVE trims are available, while the larger petrol unit can also be specified with a four-speed auto.

Owning:
A long wheelbase means rear legroom is good, and the Note is 'notably' roomy all round. The bench seat slides back and forth so you can choose extra luggage or passenger space, while the rear chairs split-fold and removable panels divide the boot, allowing you to store items under the false floor. However, the Note doesn't have the intelligent seat folding mechanism sported by the Honda Jazz, though its sheer size means the Nissan is certainly practical. Up front, you get a dashtop cubby plus a decent glovebox and several cup-holders, but none of the storage areas is that big. There is a useful bin under the flip-up passenger seat base, though. The driving position is good and the chairs are comfortable, but reach-adjust steering is lacking. Lots of switchgear is recognisable from the Micra, but while the cabin design is clean and simple, it doesn't set any new standards. However, prices are competitive and retained values look promising, while servicing is inexpensive and the insurance rating low. It is a four-star Euro NCAP car.