Nissan is a company renowned for its engineering innovation but sometimes that high-tech approach fails to filter down to its more everyday models. Not this time.
Take the petrol engines in this Note. The entry-level is a three-cylinder 1.2-litre 79bhp unit. So far so unexciting. But you can also buy a version of this engine, the 1.2-litre DIG-S, with a supercharger that boosts power to 97bhp. Ah, but aren’t superchargers notoriously fuel-hungry things, running all the time whether you need them or not? Most are but not this one which uses a clutch pack to disengage the supercharger when running at low speeds.
This engine also uses the Miller Cycle, a system which keeps the inlet valves open longer to help efficiency, as is also offered with CVT automatic transmission. Should you prefer, you can also get a 89bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine.
The old Note was a neatly styled if somewhat anonymous-looking thing. The latest car has a good deal more styling going on and a more expensive look and feel, both in and out. You’ll spot the chrome grille that seems to take a bite out of each headlight, the nicely chamfered wheel arches and the detail lines in the flanks that help avoid a slab-sided look. Nissan calls this the ‘Squash Line’ because it was apparently inspired by the angles a squash ball takes around a court.
There’s not too much squashing going on inside. There’s a decent amount of room and the materials quality has improved considerably, although some of the minor switchgear still looks old and cheap. The dash is all hard-finish plastic, although the piano-black centre console lifts things.
Prices sit in the £12,000 to £18,000 bracket and the Note is offered in four familiar trim grades – VISIA, Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna. All models feature stop-start ignition systems, six airbags and cruise control with a speed limiter. Mid-spec Acenta models add air-conditioning, Bluetooth connection and rear electric windows, while top-grade Tekna models feature the Safety Shield pack, Nissan Connect, Around View Monitor, part leather trim and keyless entry with i-key.
There are a number of equipment items for the latest Note that look distinctly intriguing. The key one is Nissan’s Around View Monitor (AVM) which uses four separate cameras to put a bird’s eye view of the car and its surroundings onto the 5.8in dashboard mounted screen.
The Note has campaigned on the basis of low running costs and that isn’t about to change with Generation Two. The entry-level 1.2-litre petrol engine gets 60 miles from a gallon of unleaded and even if you opt for the more powerful 97bhp DIG-S supercharged version, you’ll actually be looking at improved economy; a return of 66mpg should make this one a popular choice.
Emissions? Again the DIG-S engine comes up trumps. This gets 99g/km with the manual gearbox, but you’ll have to watch the CVT auto option which bumps things up to 119g/km and could have expensive tax implications for business users. The base 1.2 manages a reasonable 109g/km with its manual ‘box.
Of course there will be many who will look at nothing but a diesel engine in this class and the 1.5-litre DCI powerplant won’t disappoint. This returns an incredible 78mpg on the combined cycle and emissions are tied right down at just 95g/km. Nissan’s start-stop ignition system is fitted to all models.
The Note marks an intriguing change of direction from Nissan. Back in the days when every major car manufacturer followed the rigid guidelines of passenger car sizing, Nissan was the first to rebel. It ditched cars like the Almera and the Primera in favour of a range that majored on sports utility vehicles and people carriers, later developing the crossover theme.
Now with this latest Note, it finds itself regressing back to the mainstream with a straightforward supermini design. Is that a bad thing? Probably not. The convergent development of small MPVs and family hatchbacks has blurred the boundaries and the result is that these categories become increasingly ill-defined.
The second generation Note instead concentrates on the things that really matter to the end customer. That means better fuel economy, an interior that feels better built, more space, increased efficiency and classier exterior styling. Nissan has taken a small gamble here, but one that looks worthwhile.
This is a company on a strong run of form and the Note doesn’t look like putting a blip in that form line any time soon.