The Japanese sometimes give their cars strange-sounding names but maybe the latest from Nissan has a certain cleverness about it. It's called Note so we can take note as it were or think money and get more for your notes.
Although it doesn't look wildly radical in appearance, Nissan people are keen to emphasise that Note isn't like anything else around just now. In essence, it seems to be a blending of people-carrier and hatchback layouts.
That said, it doesn't have people-carrier practicality with seating for only five and seats that are not removable. Viewed externally it looks remarkably similar to the Renault Modus with which incidentally it shares a platform. But Note is longer at 408mm, stretching halfway between a Ford Fiesta and Focus. It also sits higher and more upright. So what is it then? Product planning manager Chris Lee who was in Dublin for the Irish launch last week told us it was "a thoroughly modern reworking of the traditional family hatchback." Note, in fact, is the first of three models that will be taking over from Almera which was Nissan's traditional family hatchback, the others being Qashgai and Tiida which are even more strange-sounding names.
Nissan's challenger to the Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla never soared in the European sales charts although it did well in Ireland. Now a fresh start is made with a new name and shape.
Like Almera, Note is being built in Nissan's Sunderland plant in northern England. For the present, two 1.4 litre 88bhp petrol engined versions are being marketed here with Irish prices of €17,895 (SE specification) and €19,895 (SVE specification). A Renault-sourced 1.5 dCi diesel is on the way at €20,595 but the petrol cars will account for around 80 per cent of sales. Paul O'Sullivan, Nissan Ireland's marketing man is expecting 1,500 sales for the rest of this year and 2,500 next year.
The entry-level SE offers air conditioning and ABS with EBD and Brake Assist but significantly no ESP or stability control. The SVE specification additionally provides 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, a six-disc CD changer and six speakers.
Both feature a sliding rear seat that can increase boot space from 280 to 437 litres by moving up to 160mm.
Note's speciality, predictably enough, is spaciousness and a lanky six footer in the driving seat could have another lanky six footer sitting with ease directly behind. We counted six cupholders but lost count of the numerous cubby holes for cabin bric-a-brac. Note features a huge nine-litre air-conditioned glovebox, so commodious it will accommodate 12 cans of Coca Cola.
Note can acquire van-like dimensions because the rear seat backs drop forward to increase load space to a massive 1,663 litres. In the boot area, a flexible storage system allows valuables to be stowed out of sight in a second underfloor compartment. The Flexi-Board system here is reversible, with the board carpeted on one side and a wipe clean surface on the other.
Note is a small family proposition so, not surprisingly, it isn't majoring on performance. For the record, the 1.4 litre petrol is credited with a top speed of 165km/h or 103mph and a zero to 100km/h time of 13.3 seconds.
If we are all seeking extra space in our cars these days, then Note should win plenty of buyer attention. Chris Lee insists that it wins the superlative on space. "No one can dispute that we have the roomiest car in the class. It can't be beaten." No pun intended but maybe we should take note!