The article was originally produced on November 8, 2013, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Nissan Note

With technology both to make the journey safe and comfortable, Nissan with the new Note enters the hornet's nest of premium cars in the B segment.

Currently, it is not enough to just build frugal and cheap small cars to attract buyers. No, that time is over and today it takes much more to charm customers. Nissan has taken note of this and now offers the new version of the Note with loads of safety and convenience technology. 

The last generation Note was a slightly colorless car with MPV-like shapes, i.e. a minibus to put the small family in and get from A to B as easily as possible. That type of car doesn't evoke much emotion in people today. The new Note is therefore significantly lower than its predecessor, which gives a much smoother appearance. However, the reduction has not affected the interior dimensions and the back seat is very spacious for the size of the car. Two adults sit comfortably without having to rub shoulders or knees against each other. Thanks to the high seating position, a good view is offered from the rear seats and makes the journey more pleasant for those in the back. The position at the front is not as good as at the back compared to other cars in this segment, e.g. Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo to name a few. An upright seating position up front gives a lot of security but not much driving pleasure. Longer distances, on the other hand, are experienced well without significantly tiring the driver. 

The technology to make cars safer has absolutely exploded in the last decade. Now almost all new cars sold have anti-skid systems as standard. What is also starting to appear and which will certainly be standard shortly are so-called brake assist systems. These systems sense the surroundings in front of the car and take over if the driver is not aware of what is happening. Nissan offers a system called "Safety Shield". The system does not offer auxiliary braking, but it does warn of things around the car at low speeds. In addition to this system, there is a so-called dead angle and yaw warning. These two systems keep track of cars in the rear blind spot and if you start to cross the center line without reason and without giving a signal. The system is standard in the Tekna equipment version offered by Nissan. The fact that cars are offered with this type of safety equipment will undeniably contribute to fewer unnecessary accidents. 

Louise Grimsgård, who is responsible for marketing at Nissan, is very positive about the Note, "many people have shown a kind of interest", she says. "The new Note is a modern and versatile car with a high technical level. It should appeal to many target groups," she says. "We also hope that it will attract a young group compared to its predecessor." 

The heart of the Note 1.5 dCi is a really frugal diesel engine of 1.5 litres, which is the same engine that the new Micran also has. Mixed driving Nissan promises a consumption of 0.43 liters per mile. The carbon dioxide emissions will then be 95 g per 100 km and can be seen as very good. A disadvantage, however, is that the price rises by as much as SEK 21,000 if you choose the diesel engine over the petrol engine. A fairly high number it may seem. The chassis in the Note does not offer any sensations, but for everyday driving it is comfortably tuned. Thanks to the car's size, it rarely gets boring behind the wheel if you choose to stand a little in the curves. But to call the new Note a sports car would be completely off the wall. Compared to its predecessor, it is an incredible improvement, but still a car that should primarily be used to get from A to B. Longer trips to the mountains with a lot of packing and a full car is probably not quite the right car for the job. A practical detail when you need to fit some extra things in your luggage are the sliding rear seats. Together with the raise and lower load floor, a perfectly good load space is offered. However, we are not talking about any sofa group or larger items, but enough for a visit to Ikea. In the slightly protruding center console, which is in black piano lacquer, there is a screen for the car's systems, including that for the Safety Shield. With the help of cameras on the outside around the car, you can see exactly what is in the car's surroundings. Very practical when parking etc. On the screen you will also find navigation and the infotainment system. 

The Nissan Note certainly has the technology and safety mindset to appeal to a larger group than its predecessor. It also has an engine that offers frugal trips from A to B. The car may not get your pulse racing, but on the other hand, maybe that's what will make it last longer than some of the competitors trying to attract their buyers with sportiness and a hot character which in the end is mostly experienced as nervous and shady. Then a Nissan Note is probably preferable if you think long-term.