Nissan Note (2006 – 2013) Review

Nissan Note (2006 – 2013) At A Glance

4/5

+Easy to drive and manouevre into small spaces, roomy cabin with plenty of headroom in the back, some clever and practical features inside, economical dCi diesels, well built.

-Ride is firm on 16-inch wheels, smaller engines can be noisy on the motorway. No reach adjustment in the steering column. Recurrent front subframe bulkhead mount failure is a worrying fault and MoT failure.

Insurance Groups are between 10–15
On average it achieves 96% of the official MPG figure

Nissan isn't afraid to do things differently and this shows in the Nissan Note. It's a small yet practical car that's somewhere between a hatchback and a mini-people carrier. This means it looks neat and compact, yet has plenty of passenger space. In fact, adults in the back of the Nissan Note will be impressed with the amount of legroom room and yet it still has a decent boot.

This means the Nissan Note is an ideal small family car with access to the back particularly good thanks to wide opening doors - useful when you're fitting child seats. Driving the Note is also a doddle thanks to light steering, easy to use controls and good forward visibility, while there's a decent choice of engines ranging from the entry-level 1.4-litre petrol up to a 1.5 dCi that can average 62.8mpg.

Practicality is another strength with rear seats that fold down flat at just the pull of a handle plus they slide back and forward to increase either legroom or luggage space. There's also something called a Flexi-board which creates a hidden storage area in the boot - one side of it is carpet while the other is wipe-clean, ideal for muddy wellies. You can also remove it to create a deep boot large enough to carry a pushchair or buggy.

The Nissan Note was facelifted at the beginning of 2009 with a sharper front end (with new headlights and grille), improved levels of standard equipment and more efficient engines.

Nissan Note 1.5 dCi 2006 Road Test

Nissan Note with Connect 2009 Road Test and Video

Real MPG average for a Nissan Note (2006 – 2013)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

96%

Real MPG

28–74 mpg

MPGs submitted

781

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Does the Nissan Note use a Renault engine?

"Has the Nissan Note (2010 model)1.5 dCi got a Nissan or Renault engine?"
This engine is shared with both Renault and Nissan models under their alliance - you'll find the same engine in Clios and Meganes of that era. The official line is that the engine was co-developed by both brands.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

What should I replace my Nissan Note with?

"Our 2010 Nissan Note has been a faithful servant but it is time to move on. I am looking for something more refined, quiet and confident feeling on Motorway and A roads and with a bit more space and more up to date. I also like the idea of more safety and other modern kit like parking sensors and cameras. The Note also lacks a bit of oomph for overtaking and Welsh hills. My budget is under £15,000 for a 2017 or, ideally, newer car, with good reliability (I'm used to Japanese cars) and decent fuel economy. A good all-rounder that can cope with holidays, camping and visiting relatives as well as everyday use would suit. Your advice would be welcome as we tend to buy a car and keep it for a good while and so I don't want to mess up. "
By the sounds of it, you probably need more space than a family hatchback can offer but don't want a car that feels too big to drive. If that's the case, I would have a look at an SUV. There are no bad choices of the cars you mention above and you can read reviews of the lot on Honest John but the model I would go for is the Kia Sportage. Why? The Kia Sportage is well equipped and nice to drive, and you can choose from petrol, diesel and hybrids – avoid the entry-level versions and you'll find they all have plenty of power for overtaking and dealing with hills. The Sportage has loads of room inside – loads of space on the back seat and a boot that'll swallow pretty much anything you throw at it. It's also well designed with plenty of smaller storage spaces and boot that has handy features like shopping hooks and a 12V socket. All models are well equipped with an infotainment screen that has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so you can mirror the display of your phone. The best part of the Sportage is that you'll have no problem finding a car that has the balance of its manufacturer's warranty.
Answered by Russell Campbell

Which small MPV should I buy for £4,000?

"I am 6 foot 2 inches tall, my wife is 5ft 2ins. I am looking for a car high enough for easy access but small enough for my wife to handle comfortably, with a budget of £4,000. I like the Citroen Picasso C3 but I'm not sure if it has a cam belt or chain. It's also a little long. What other options do you recommend?"
I would also have a look at the Nissan Note. Its light controls make it very easy to drive, it's roomy and it's also quite comfortable for a car this size. You can read our review, here: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/nissan/note-2006/
Answered by Russell Campbell

Why does overdrive in my Nissan Note need to be turned off for slow speeds when driving away?

"I recently bought a 2007 Nissan Note with a very low guaranteed mileage. Please can you tell me why the overdrive is on as standard and has to be turned off for slow speeds when driving away?"
This either has a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed torque converter auto. If it's the auto, it will naturally change up into overdrive fourth at the correct time, but if you want extra acceleration, for example to overtake, you disengage the overdrive and it changes to third.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Nissan Note (2006 – 2013) cost?