The Note is Nissan's entry into a market sector known as B+, which covers small estates, enlarged hatchbacks and mini-MPVs. Originally this was regarded as little more than a market niche rather than a sector in its own right, but recent growth has been spectacular, and the Note finds itself up against the Fiat Idea, Ford Fusion, Honda Jazz, Mitsubishi Colt, Renault Modus (a close relative, as we'll see) and the western European market-leading Vauxhall Meriva.This is mighty opposition. There is a lot to be said for everything in that list, and there are no real clunkers. But thanks to a combination of clever design, impressive practicality, decent performance, ease of driving and an extraordinary amount of interior space, the Note enters the chart at a very high level.Despite various radical aspects of the design, the Note's underpinnings are familiar. It shares its "Alliance B" platform with the Micra, as well as with partner Renault's Clio and Modus. In fact, it would be tempting to imagine that the Note is little more than a rebadged Modus, since Renault got there first, but the Note is significantly larger - its wheelbase is actually greater than that of the Volkswagen Golf, though it's shorter from bumper to bumper.As a versatile lugger of people and their accoutrements, the Note ticks an awful lot of boxes. The basic luggage volume is 280 litres, which doesn't sound too impressive, but that's with the back seat in its rearmost position and the rear storage compartment covered by a false floor consisting of two removable boards (available on higher-spec models including the SVE tested here). It doesn't include the space under the boards, where extra stuff can be stored out of the sight of onlookers.From this starting point you can remove the boards and move the back seat forward, or fold it down, heading towards an eventual volume of 1332 litres. Recline the passenger seat flat and you can also carry something 2.4 metres long. It's very impressive considering there's a Micra at the heart of it all.And here's another thing. In most small cars with sliding rear seats, there's a black-or-white compromise: either you have space to carry people in the back, or you have space for luggage. The Note is different. Shift the seat as far forward as it will go and passenger room is certainly harmed, but in the middle of its travel you get extra load volume while still being able to carry four six-footers with ease.Indeed, if there's one thing which makes the Note outstanding (and shames nearly all its rivals with the exception of the Honda Jazz), it's the amount of space for rear passengers. This is no accident, either. During the development stages, a number of potential occupants, aged from 8 to 16, were asked for their input on what was required from a family car. "Lots of room!" they cried, as if with one voice. Well, they've got it.(What they don't have is a limousine-style division separating the driver from the others on board. This was requested by one youngster, who was probably patted on the head and given a lollipop.)The front of the cabin is voluminous, too, though I'm not sure about the driver's seating position. It takes advantage of the Note's impressive headroom, but I'd rather have the seat a little lower down so that I felt more like I was driving a car and less like I was driving a van. The seats themselves don't offer much side support, and I wish Nissan would make the steering wheel adjustable for reach rather than just height. Come the revolution, all manufacturers will have to do this if they don't want to be put up before the firing squad.Another cause for terrible retribution is the tendency for manufacturers to provide unacceptably low levels of rear visibility. The Note doesn't score highly here. Nissan speaks proudly of the strength of the rear pillars, but they get that strength from being so large that they block the view. Reverse manoeuvres - the sort of thing Note owners will regularly have to undertake in supermarket car parks and the like - are largely a matter of guesswork.The SVE specification of the test car is the highest level, the others being called S and SE. Equipment specific to this car includes rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights (both optional on the SE), rear privacy glass, part-leather trim (available in Anthracite or, as in this case, Cinnamon, which I didn't like at all), ESP, electric folding door mirrors, 16" alloy wheels, part-alloy pedals and a sports leather steering wheel which actually didn't feel very sporty.With the test car's 1.6-litre petrol engine - the same 108bhp unit as fitted to the Micra 160SR - the Note does, however, perform quite sportily. It accelerates well enough to make overtaking a simple matter, though if you want to cover the ground quickly (which, in fairness, may not often be the case for Note owners) you have to be careful. The Note rides and handles quite well most of the time, but using lots of throttle on sharp bends or over bumps can cause problems. It's on these occasions that the car's considerable height becomes a problem - you simply can't fling it around the way you would a Micra and expect the same level of roadholding ability.The 1.6 engine can also remind you of its presence a little too much. In town or on country roads it's quiet enough, but at motorway cruising speeds it starts to resonate through the cabin. I'm saying this on the basis of a test which involved only a little motorway driving, but on a long run I imagine it would become quite irritating.With the exception of the rear visibility, though, my concerns about the Note are relatively minor, and they don't overwhelm the positive aspects. The Note is a splendid achievement, and if you need a B+ segment car in your life I suggest that you should give it a try before making your final decision. Engine 1598cc, 4 cylinders Power 108bhp Fuel/CO2 42.8mpg / 156g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 10.7 seconds Top speed 114mph Price £12,695 Details correct at publication date
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