NISSAN NOTE HATCHBACK REVIEW

For The Note has a spacious and thoughtfully designed interior, and it's well built. The steering is sharp and the suspension strikes a fine balance between ride comfort and body control.

Against It's pricey compared to even the largest five-door supeminis and the narrow body makes it tight for five people. The styling is dull, too, and there are no curtain airbags on the entry-level models.

What Car? says

4 out of 5 stars

The Note is a practical small MPV that's also classy inside, cheap to run and good to drive. The only major weaknesses are poor resale values and a rather narrow cabin.

Reader review rating

3.745098

The Nissan Note Hatchback full review Read in full

Performance
4 out of 5 stars
All three engines are up to the job
Ride & Handling
4 out of 5 stars
Nimble around town; composed at speed
Refinement
4 out of 5 stars
Some suspension noise, but generally quiet
Buying & Owning
3 out of 5 stars
Cheap to run; weak resale values
Quality & Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Well built inside and out
Safety & Security
4 out of 5 stars
All models get four airbags
Behind The Wheel
3 out of 5 stars
Simple controls, but limited adjustment
Space & Practicality
4 out of 5 stars
Roomy and packed with cubbies
Equipment
3 out of 5 stars
Entry-level model is short of kit

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There are 9 Nissan Note versions available

Nissan Note Hatchback 1.4 Visia 5dr	£11,200	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Nissan Note Hatchback 1.5 dCi 90 Visia 5dr	£12,200	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Nissan Note Hatchback 1.6 Visia 5dr	£12,500	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Nissan Note Hatchback 1.4 Acenta 5dr	£13,000	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Nissan Note Hatchback 1.4 N-tec+ 5dr	£13,500	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Nissan Note Hatchback 1.6 Acenta 5dr	£13,600	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Nissan Note Hatchback 1.5 dCi 90 Acenta 5dr	£13,800	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Nissan Note Hatchback 1.6 N-tec+ 5dr	£14,200	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Nissan Note Hatchback 1.5 dCi N-tec+ 5dr	£14,400	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5

Nissan Note Hatchback 1.4 Acenta 5dr

The petrol-engined Acenta costs less than the equivalent diesel-powered model and is a sound all-rounder that will serve young families and other buyers well.

What Car? says:4 stars out of 5

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Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

There are three engines to choose from and even the entry-level, 87bhp 1.4-litre petrol does a fine job. We rate its sprightly feel around town, and it never feels out of its depth on faster roads. The 1.6 petrol engine is faster still, but fuel economy drops from 47.9mpg to 42.8mpg. The diesel offers good economy and plenty of mid-range performance.

Although the Note is pricier than many five-door superminis that you might consider as alternatives, low emissions and good fuel economy keep running costs competitive. The entry-level Visia model gets a CD player and electric front windows, but no air-con. Our favourite model is the 1.4 Acenta: it costs an extra £1600 more than the 1.4 Visia, but we reckon it's worth spending the money. Air-conditioning, rear electric windows and full-length curtain airbags all join the equipment roster.