What’s new?
Nissan has tuned the Note’s 85bhp 1.5-litre diesel to 102bhp, added a particulate filter and made it the new range-topper. There’s also a new six-speed gearbox, which is only available with the new engine.
What’s it like?
Very good. The 177lb ft of torque is available from 2000rpm, giving the car useful amounts of acceleration. It can be noisy under load, but it quiets to a very acceptable hush under normal driving conditions.
The six-speed gearbox is particularly successful and justifies the premium of this model over the lower-powered five-speed diesel.
You can cruise at decent motorway speeds doing just 2500rpm, but it’s also a rewarding drive elsewhere thanks to the neat, satisfying shift and well-weighted steering.
The 102bhp engine has a combined mpg of 55.4 – just 2.3mpg less than the 85bhp 1.5dCi.
Should I buy one?
Yes. This is a great option if you want a compact family car that’s capable of doing high miles in comfort and without breaking the bank. But with at this price, the new diesel model is expensive.
So if you’re planning on staying around town, the 1.4-litre petrol Note will also be getting a revised 5-speed gearbox this October and could be a more manageable initial cost with a £4000 lower entry price.
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Re: Nissan Note 1.5 dCi
Yeah, but having a quick look round you can get £3000 off list for the current model without too much searching. You should be able to do the same with the new model.
Re: Nissan Note 1.5 dCi
How much !!!! You must be joking. Surely that's a misprint.
Re: Nissan Note 1.5 dCi
Is this a different engine to the Renault 1.5dCi? I have the 106 version in a Megane
estateSport Tourer (also with 6-speed manual gearbox) and get better fuel economy (58mpg) than stated for this new Note. Perhaps the Note is heavier and/or less aerodynamic... Or simply Nissan are going down a different route to Renault, perhaps aiming for refinement or longevity...