Nissan Note (2013-2017) review - Interior, design and technology
The Note boasts an easy to use interior design and some impressive technology for the sector, although drab colour schemes and cheap plastics let it down
The Nissan’s very practical interior doesn’t look all that spacious at first glance, due to Nissan’s use of drab colour schemes that make it feel more claustrophobic than it actually is. The fact there are quite a few cheap-feeling, flimsy plastics doesn’t help: actual build quality is pretty good but the choice of materials lets it down.
Nissan does spice it up a little with some aluminium styling trims for the centre console and doorhandles, but it’s not quite enough. Perhaps the fanciest part of the interior are the clear, high-tech looking dials, including a colour-changing econometer that delivers feedback on your driving efficiency in real time.
Otherwise, the interior design of the Nissan Note is nothing to write home about – in contrast to the infotainment technology that’s included as standard with Acenta Premium models and above. This is based around the NissanConnect touchscreen system and packs in a lot of technology for the money that helps the Note stand out alongside many of its rivals.
Our choice Acenta Premium features the NissanConnect as standard, along with climate control, automatic lights and auto wipers. The Comfort pack includes a glass roof and keyless i-Key; this can be combined with the Safety pack, which is well worth specifying.
The best-looking Note of all is the n-tec, which has satin silver door mirrors and handles, aerodynamic front bumper, rear view camera and special blue stitching on the inside: it’s just a pity you can only have the basic 1.2-litre engine with this trim line, rather than the DiG-S or dCi motors.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
The Note fares well here. All models get a four-speaker CD stereo with AUX and USB sockets. Trade up to Acenta Premium and above and the NissanConnect 5.8-inch touchscreen system is standard – this brings DAB and internet radio, plus improved six-speaker sound.
The NissanConnect system also includes standard navigation, which is a strong reason for trading up the range to this model. Factor in the array of infotainment apps and functionality and you have a surprisingly tech-packed car for this sector.
