Nissan NOTE 1.5 dCi Visia 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The light steering is fine around town, and it is responsive and reliable when cornering. The firm suspension does mean that there is plenty of feedback for the driver, however, this means that the ride is fairly bumpy, especially when driving on poorly maintained roads where the potholes can be particularly bouncy in the cabin. The driving position is fine, but the fact that there isn't the option to adjust the steering wheel's reach or to adjust the height of the seat means some people may not be entirely comfortable behind the wheel.

In terms of the performance of the 1.5 litre dCi engine, the performance is steady rather than superb, and this version of the Note can accelerate from 0-62mph in 12.8 seconds. The top speed of 104mph may not be the fastest in the class, but it is more than enough for city driving, and has enough power to keep the car going comfortably on the motorway.

Although the Nissan Note comes in to the hatchback category, the styling is quite conservative and the car does look quite boxy. The front end is nice and takes many cues from the classic Nissan Micra, with the rear of the car tidy with the lights mounted in a row on the side of the rear so that the boot door is square and practical. The interior of the cabin may not have all of the luxuries seen in the models higher in the range, but it still looks decent with chrome detailing accompanying the plastics.

The luxuries to be found with the Visia layer of trim is fairly minimal, but it does come with a CD stereo and electric windows. However, the lack of air conditioning and climate control is a big omission, and many people will feel that the equipment is on the stingy side. Alloy wheels being an optional extra is also unusual in the modern car market.

One of the main reasons that many people will consider buying a Nissan is that the brand has a well earned reputation for reliability, and with six years on the market the Note can support this image. A problem that many people will have with the car is that it only has been awarded four stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests, and the lack of curtain airbags does reduce the safety protection given to those in the back of the car.

Although the Nissan Note is a small car, the space available in the front and the back seats mean that it can comfortably carry five people. The boot space is also quite good, and the accessible large boot door means that getting things in to the car is not a problem.

The list price for this basic version of the Nissan Note is £12,200, but those who are particularly cost conscious may want to consider the 1.4 litre petrol engine which is a thousand pounds cheaper in the same level of trim.

The diesel engine is wonderfully efficient, and is able to deliver a fuel performance of an average 67.3mpg. It also benefits from being in a low insurance group that will help to keep the premiums down, and it also has low tax liabilities. The final part of the package for this version of the Nissan Note is that it is provided with a three year warranty, and also has a three year breakdown assistance policy from the RAC.