Nissan Note 1.5 dCi 90 CV road test (Exterior design, interior and safety)

Second part of our road test of the Nissan Note 1.5 dCi 90 CV, after analysing its handling and consumption, we are going to focus on the main elements of its exterior design, cabin and safety, an element that clearly sets it apart from its rivals in the segment, the B, where Nissan has ‘repositioned’ it.

Exterior design: faithful to the Invitation Concept

Presented at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the Nissan Invitation Concept was the design exercise with which the engineers of the Japanese brand showed the world their intentions for the Nissan Note, which is now a reality. Very sculpted, with dynamic touches, distinctive features that give it its own identity.

We could say that the exterior design of the Note focuses on three key aspects: one clearly aesthetic, which gives it appeal to the new generation and makes it less ‘innocent’ than its predecessor; then the aerodynamic aspect; and lastly a practical sense. Let’s look at this in a little more detail.

The new Note has rear doors that open almost 90 degrees, which will undoubtedly make it easier to get into the rear seats, and even to install child seats, etc. The boot loading lip is a really good height, another plus point for this compact MPV.

And precisely, the new Note does not lose the aesthetic of its predecessor, a front end with more aggressive features that gives way to a sharper and slightly bolder profile than the previous one. The rear also undergoes changes, but its lines are rounder to offset the strengthened nose.

In terms of dimensions, the Nissan Note measures 4,100 mm long, 1,695 wide and 1,530 high, with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm. Other figures of interest: the boot capacity of 324 litres, expandable up to 1,495 litres, and a weight of 1,216 kg (with all fluids and elements).

Interior design: living space and more living space

One of the features we highlight of the interior of the Nissan Note is its spaciousness. When we sit in the driver’s seat, and our front passenger too, there is enough room for the legs and a good distance to the roof; even the tallest will easily find a comfortable position.

The dashboard is made up of elements already seen in other Nissan models (Micra, Juke), a centre console with an almost schematic layout, air vents, navigation/infotainment system and climate control knobs, up to the gear lever, an area that is clearer than in other vehicles.

The double glovebox is already a hallmark of Nissan. It may seem unnecessary to many, but it is really useful for distinguishing where we keep what: the most important items up top, documentation below, etc. The driving position is very comfortable, as we already mentioned in the first part of the test, with well-positioned instruments.

In the rear seats there is more space. The V platform on which the Nissan Note is mounted has allowed the cabin floor to be almost flat, which undoubtedly favours interior comfort, an aspect we highlighted after our test of the Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC 120 CV.

It is a simple interior, straightforward, with everything necessary to enjoy on board, the essentials, which (personal opinion) is more comfortable and, to a certain extent, safer: few buttons, all concentrated in specific areas, legroom and shoulder room, good visibility. Without a doubt, a complete package.

In this regard, safety is one of the elements that sets the Nissan Note apart from many of its B-segment rivals. The intelligent protection shield is one of the innovations from Nissan that we were able to try on board this Note 1.5 dCi 90 CV.

On-board technology and safety

The heart of this section is the 360º camera system, which debuted on the Qashqai, and Nissan has made it possible for the Note to introduce this technology in the compact segment. This goes beyond simple detection using only rear cameras and front and side radars; it is a step further.

Thanks to front, rear and side cameras (in the mirrors), the Nissan Note ‘watches’ what happens around us while we are on board. One of the key functions is the 360º bird’s-eye view when parking, a unique system in the segment.

It activates as soon as reverse gear is engaged or when we are going below 10 km/h and press the ‘Camera’ button next to the 5.8-inch touchscreen that stands out on the centre console. With this, parking manoeuvres become a very simple and safe task.

The intelligent protection shield consists of three functions. The first is blind spot monitoring, which detects whether a car is approaching this zone using the rear view camera; when detected, an indicator lights up on the side mirrors.

The second is the unintentional lane change alert, a system that many cars have today but which in the case of the Nissan Note relies on the 360 camera system. During our test, we found that this function is a little slow at certain moments.

The third, motion detector, also based on the 360 camera, can detect objects and people when we are performing parking or exit manoeuvres, and alerts us visually and audibly to the presence of any obstacle.

That concludes the second part. The final part will follow shortly, with details of equipment and prices for the Nissan Note 1.5 dCi 90 from our test.