NOTE - INTERIOR DESIGN
- Intelligent cabin design with outstanding practicality
- Best rear legroom in class
- Large 325 litre boot - extendable to 411 litres with rear seats folded
- Family Pack adds sliding rear seat bench and additional 86 litres of space
- Karakuri board part of Family Pack allows for different load configurations
- Two new eco driving displays encourage efficient driving
- Premium quality materials and advanced technologies
Intelligent interior packaging has always been a quality associated with the Note. The new version builds on that reputation with more cabin space, a larger boot and even more family-friendly features. It also provides owners with greater comfort, higher equipment levels, new-to-segment technologies and a more sophisticated driving environment.
The dashboard arrangement combines a simple layout with a host of features that are both easy to use and extremely useful on a day-to-day basis. Premium grade materials enhance the feeling of quality, while the optimized layout and intelligent positioning of key controls make the Note a relaxing car to drive.
As owners have come to expect from Nissan, the Note offers incredible attention to detail - often in areas where other manufacturers don't bother. Take, for example, the instrument binnacle.
The Note's display was designed with significant European input to ensure maximum clarity at all times. It delivers a clear view of all standard driving data in addition to two advanced new eco meters.
The eco pedal guide takes the form of a small dial that gives a sliding scale rating based on the position of the throttle pedal. Sudden and heavy inputs result in a low rating, while smaller, smoother inputs sends the dial to high rating level - indicating eco-friendly driving.
The display also features an eco drive indicator. This takes the form of an ambient flowing blue strip that sits above the three main dials in the binnacle and a 5-dots green LED indicator showing eco-drive level (1 green dot for low eco-drive / 3 green dots for average eco-drive / 5 green dots for good eco-drive). The system constantly evaluates efficiency and gives real-time feedback. Drive inefficiently and just the central element is lit. Drive with maximum efficiency and the whole strip is illuminated.
Finally, the display creates an eco score at the end of each drive. Based on driving behaviour throughout the previous journey, it rates the efficiency of the drive on a five star basis. Perfecting the instrument display was a task that required significant time and research by Nissan's design and engineering team. Fonts, lighting levels and density of labels were all analysed and tested to create the optimum display.
The centre console also typifies Nissan's attention to detail. Uncluttered, intuitive and with a feeling of premium quality, it is both easy to use and striking to look at. The circular heating and ventilation controls are arranged in logical fashion around a central temperature and information display, while the infotainment system is set at the perfect height to read on the move. (See Technology section for more information on the Note's infotainment systems)
In-car storage is provided by a host of stowage areas, shelves and compartments that hold and secure gadgets and other necessities of modern life. A double-deck glovebox provides additional storage at the front of the car, and in the top compartment, houses a USB and aux-in socket. Locating both ports here means that owners don't have to clutter their centre console with connecting cables or leave expensive electronic devices on display.
Rear seat space is another area where the Note excels. Not only does it offer more space and features than its B-segment rivals, it eclipses cars in the sectors above. The Note's rear seat practicality is the result of extensive research and innovate packaging design during the car's development.
The Note design team quickly identified that maximizing knee room was key to delivering a functional, easy-to-live with cabin. High levels of knee room give rear seat passengers higher levels of comfort and make life easier when trying to install and use child seats.
As a result of this space-efficient approach, the Note offers rear seat occupants knee room of 639mm. This not only puts all B-segment offerings in the shade, it also eclipses cars in both the C and D-segment - including leading luxury saloons.
And it's not just overall space that makes the Note the perfect family car. Because a large passenger area is of limited use if you can't easily get to it, Nissan engineered the rear doors to open to nearly 90 degrees. The result? Easy and simple access for passengers, luggage and child seats.
In standard form, the Note has a luggage capacity of 295 litres with the rear seats in position. This is supplemented by an additional 30-liters underfloor storage area. Made with a wipe-clean surface, it allows for valuable or delicate items to be hidden out of sight.
To further maximise the Note's large boot, Nissan has developed a Family Pack that consists of a number of ingenious features. Standard on Tekna and optional on Acenta models, the Family Pack adds a sliding rear seat bench that can be slid fore and aft by up to 160mm. With the bench in its most forward position, the boot capacity grows by another 86-litres - giving an overall seats-up capacity of 411-litres. This makes the Note comfortably more practical than all its B-segment rivals - as well as bettering boxier and less dynamic B-segment MPV models.
Another useful element of the Family Pack is the specially developed Karakuri board. This multi-positional boot board allows owners to divide or open up the load space according to their needs. The two-part board can be arranged in numerous configurations, and helps to support and protect items in transit. Combined with the sliding rear seat bench, the Karakuri board opens up a world of storage and transportation opportunities for Note owners.