Nissan 360: the Note
The Nissan Note was the smallest of the "big" cars we sampled at Nissan 360. Sold in -- yet again -- Europe and Japan only, the English-built Note hatchback has been on the market for just a year. The car is aimed at "parents who need a practical five-seater," and the inside of the car feels like it's custom made to handle bouncing, throwing, stomping little ones. The front seatbacks even have little tray tables with cupholders in them. It's like coach class, but actually enjoyable.
The Note is basic, but nothing about it feels cheap. The only real issue we had was the tire noise that drowned out the four-cylinder, 110-HP mill. Due to that alone, the peppy little Note was the loudest car we drove all day. And while the super comfy fabric seats looked great, their coverings are perforated. The first time a McDonald's shake gets spilled -- or, heaven forbid, something that spoils -- we wouldn't want to be the ones who have to get the mess out of each little pore.
You can check out the Nissan 360 event site for more details on all the vehicles in Nissan's lineup. In the mean time, be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res photos below.
Gallery: Nissan 360: the Note
Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex T. 10:27AM (4/30/2008)
sigh, I never really understood why Nissan decided to give the US market the Versa as opposed to the Note.
The Note is clearly more attractive and zippy than the dowdy Versa.
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nagmashot 10:31AM (4/30/2008)
nice a nother Renault with Nissan badge.. voila the Renault Grande Modus... long live Gosh
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DriverG 10:36AM (4/30/2008)
Whatever happened to Autoblog not accepting travel and lodging from manufacturers? Please don't tell me I have to rely on Consumer Reports and the New York Times for unbaised automotive news.
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TBlueMax 10:44AM (4/30/2008)
I've always liked this little car. It reminds me of a truncated wagon (like a Nissan-dressed Volvo V50 with a part of the rear chopped for decreased length).
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Keith 10:58AM (4/30/2008)
And once again...the reason we don't have cars like this over here in the US is?? Once again the European's get the cool cars are we are stuck with the same old crap over here!
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DriverG 12:18PM (4/30/2008)
If Americans really wanted small European cars the Rabbit and Jetta would be the best selling cars in the US. Unfortunately, they're not even close. The market just isn't there.
john riley 1:10PM (4/30/2008)
Rabbit and Jetta are overpriced and unreliable, and neither is a tall wagon like this, but I suspect you are right that a car like the Note would not have sold in the past. But as people downsize to smaller vehicles, there might be an opening for cars like this.
Philip 12:06PM (4/30/2008)
This is a brillaint car, I saw one in the UK last year, Id buy one in a heartbeat, Forget the idea of kids and dirty seats, most makers have moved to this cheap vile hard to clean seat material...
The Versa is Ugly, Id take a Micra or Sentra over a Versa any day, I couldnt see why Nissan gave us the Versa, its aimed at the Sentra market more than the Fit or Xb...
And what about the small nissan truck at Nissan 360, lets see that...
Nissan 360, what a Great Idea, Good for Nissan.
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Michael Hutchinson 5:44PM (4/30/2008)
The Note was launched in 2006, two years ago...
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