Autumn 2013
With close to a million copies
of the Note sold since the
nameplate was first launched in
2004, there's no gainsaying that
they got a good thing going with
what they described then as a
'mini MPV'.
Now we're into the second
generation, recently launched in
Ireland. And there's a perceptible
shift in the Irish distributor's aim
with the latest version. They're
targeting directly the mainstream
hatchback B segment players,
Fiesta, Yaris, Polo and Clio.
Along with the Micra
— traditionally one of Ireland's
favourite superminis — and the
Juke small SUV/crossover, the
latest Note occupies a space in
the middle of Nissan's small cars
offerings. It can offer more room
than most of the key competitors in
that place, and yet doesn't look like
an MPV.
The main style cues of the previous
car have been retained, while the front
end has evolved to current Nissan
design. But the new one has a more
svelte appearance, especially with
the dropping of the older brash rear
lights for a much better integrated set.
The car's profile is more a hatchback,
swish character sculpting making sure
it looks fast as well as being practical.
Inside there's more space than you
can find in many compact hatches
in the segment above it. Certainly for
me, the room in all dimensions in the
rear shows up a number of recently
launched 'larger' cars I have driven.
The style inside is neat materials and
finish, with a good strong presentation
of instruments and entertainment/
comfort controls. The traditional 3-dial
analogue design for speed, revs and
fuel/temperature is bright, clear, and
unobstructed.
There's a lot of technology available
here, including a set of Blind Spot
Warning, Lane Departure Warning,
and Moving Object Detection
systems, and an Around View Monitor
which gives a 360deg 'bird's eye' view
when parking. There are three grades,
XE, SV and SVE. The XE comes
with six airbags, Bluetooth, cruise
control, central locking, 15” steel
wheels, electric front windows and
door mirrors, tyre pressure monitoring
system, 'ecometer' and start/stop
system.
The middle range car we drove
at the Irish launch had one of the
'packs', the Technology one at €1,000
extra, which had the Around View, the
Safety Shield elements, and Nissan's
Connect 2 connectivity.
The other packs are 'Family' for an
Note strikes
a new chord
extra €400, with armrests and an extra
headrest, 'Auto' with that facility at the
same cost for headlights and wipers,
and Dynamic Styling which is all
about external tweaks including 16"
alloy wheels.
The 1.2 petrol 3-cylinder engines
are enthusiastic, and the 98hp
supercharged one is also available
with a CVT automatic that might well
attract ??YH? H
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