Review
Nissan Note mini MPV
Price: £11,300 - £15,300
/5
- Pros:
- Versatile interior space
- Smart looks and solid build
- Reasonable pricing and running costs
- Cons:
- Plain to look at and sit in
- No stability control on all but the range-topping models
- Noisy diesel engine
pictured: Nissan Note mini MPV 2012 5 door
reviewed by Carbuyer
“Easy to drive, practical and spacious, the Nissan Note is a great choice for drivers aiming to save money by downsizing from larger family cars.”
At a glance
- The greenest
- 1.5 dCi 90 n-tec+ 5dr
£14,525 - The cheapest
- 1.4 16v Visia 5dr
£11,300 - The fastest
- 1.6 16v n-tec+ 5dr
£14,300 - Top of the range
- 1.6 16v Auto n-tec+ 5dr
£15,300
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The Nissan Note combines the appeal of a family hatchback with the compact dimensions of a supermini like the Ford Fiesta. Neat tail-lights extend along the roof, and despite its simple one-box shape, the Note doesn’t look dull. Inside, Nissan concentrates on practicality rather than elegance. There are sliding rear seats and lots of cubbyholes, which add to the family appeal. It drives well, too, with secure handling to match its generous interior space.
Drive
The Note is easy to drive around town
With its tall, narrow body, the Note is easy to drive around town, where it slots through gaps in traffic that larger family hatchbacks cannot. Visibility is good, but tinted rear windows on more expensive models are hard to see through, particularly in the dark. The 108bhp 1.6-litre petrol and 85bhp 1.5 dCi diesel pull reasonably well, but the 87bhp 1.4-litre petrol feels a bit underpowered if you’re using all of the Note's carrying capacity. The suspension is firm, which means the Note is fun to drive for such a practical car.
Comfort
The seats, though firm and flat, provide decent support
Comfort behind the wheel would be improved by a steering wheel that adjusted for reach as well as height. The seats, though firm and flat, provide decent support, and passengers in the rear have masses of head and legroom. On the move, the diesel engine is a little noisy, while the firm suspension sometimes results in the odd knock shuddering through the Note's cabin.
Reliability
The interior is plain, but it feels solid
The Note feels well built and Nissan's reputation for reliability is sound. The interior is plain, but it feels solid. Twin front and side airbags come as standard on all models, but the entry-level Visia does without curtain airbags on the standard equipment list. Isofix child seat mountings are fitted, but stability control is only included in the range-topping Tekna models.
Practicality
Sliding rear seats allow you to adjust passenger or boot space
The Nissan Note is designed to be as practical as possible. As well as being spacious, the sliding rear seats allow you to adjust between passenger or boot space. What's more, there's loads of interior stowage space, a handy map pocket integrated into the dashboard and a large, chilled glove box. All of this makes the Note one of the most practical compact cars you can buy.
Value for money
Avoid the Visia version as it’s very basic
The Note offers an inexpensive way of putting spacious family transport on your driveway. Avoid the Visia version as it's very basic, and lacks luxuries such as air-conditioning, alloy wheels and electric rear windows. Acenta adds all that as standard, as well as curtain airbags.
Running costs
The Note should be inexpensive to run
All versions of the Note should be inexpensive to run, with the diesel offering an economy figure of 62.8mpg. Petrol engines promise 40mpg and servicing is competitively priced. However, residual values aren’t great, so your Note will be worth less than some rivals when you come to sell it.
