Nissan Note New 1.2 DiG-S Acenta Premium 98PS
What is it?
It’s the all-new Nissan Note, hoping to ditch the frumpy image of the old car in favour of something a little more fun and stylish.
Company car tax is a miserly £28 a month
Nissan believes that’ll help it better take on the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and Renault Clio.
The Note rides on the same platform as the Micra and comes with three engines: a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol with 79bhp, a supercharged version of this engine with 98PS, and a 1.5 dCi with 90PS.
To go with its new engines Nissan has also focused on offering hi-tech equipment on the Note, including the 360-degreee camera system known as Around View Monitor and a Safety Shield system that incorporates lane departure warning, blind spot assistance and moving object detection.
What’s hot?
- The styling is now much more aggressive than the old Nissan Note, with boldly designed headlights and a deep crease in each side, called a ‘Squash Line’.
- The interior looks more stylish now, too, with a gloss black centre console and neatly designed dials.
- The ride has been firmed up a little bit and it tends to settle quicker over bumps. You’re no longer endlessly bounced up and down in the cabin.
- Nissan has improved the Note’s handling, so it now feels much more surefooted than the old car, which tended to roll through corners a bit.
- The rear legroom is on a par with a Ford Mondeo. One six-foot adult can sit behind another with a good six or seven inches of kneeroom to spare.
- Boot space stands at 325 litres with the boot floor lowered. Slide the rear bench forwards and that goes up to 411 litres. Fold the seats and it goes up to 2012 litres.
- Opting for the 1.2 DIG-S is a good company car choice (11% company car tax band in 2012/13). Monthly BIK company car tax payments for the Acenta Premium (which comes with sat-nav) are just £28 for standard rate taxpayers.
- The diesel is more frugal, with 78.5mpg and has CO2 emissions of just 95g/km. A 3% diesel surcharge applies, though, and it has a higher P11D value so monthly repayments are £38 for standard rate taxpayers.