2005 NISSAN Note 1.5L dCi 5MT FWD (68 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The Renault-Nissan Alliance produced some great vehicles, such as the Altima and the revival of the GTR. But the money to build those were made by trials and errors. Such as the Nissan Note.

After the two car-makers started to work together, the Japanese company had to admit that they were not as good in making small cars as their French partners. But their kei-car obsession was transformed into a small MPV named Note and based on a jointly developed platform. In 2004, the Note hit the market. And the market hit back.

Tall, narrow, and long, the Note excelled in transporting five adults into a small-size vehicle that was easy to drive, easy to park, and handled well in the city. But the styling was not its main attribute. The swept-back headlights, the short hood, and the tall greenhouse didn’t arouse the European appetite. On the front, a tall bumper and narrow grille were installed. They said it will be good against parking trade-paints. The vertical rear end helped the driver, but the overall look of the car resembled a utility vehicle more than a family car.

Inside, there was enough room for five adults. Three seats in the back with more than enough legroom and headroom. Isofix child-seat mounting points and safety belts for everyone aboard were welcomed from the safety point of view. The sliding rear bench made possible trade for luggage or for legroom. For long trips, the glove-box was refrigerated and could hold up to 13 cans of beverages.

Nissan Note was offered with a choice of four engines mated to a 5-speed manual, plus another version mated to a CVT. But the sales didn’t go well and the small MPV was discontinued in 2013.