A valuable, versatile option
More aerodynamic design, latest technology make this a car you won’t be embarrassed to park outside the yacht club
Value is the order of the day when it comes to Nissan’s new subcompact hatch, Lisa MacFarlane discovers, but there’s some fun tech there too.
Nissan says smart engineering is what keeps the all- new Versa Note affordable.
The concept for the 2014 model is for the subcompact hatch to be best- in- class and economical.
“It’s not about cheap,” says Nissan Canada’s senior product planning manager Tim Franklin, “It’s about value.”
The Note arrives in North America to enter a busy segment that includes the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris.
What sets the Note apart from the competition?
“Class- leading aerodynamics,” says Franklin.
The design team evidently spent a lot of time considering how to reduce wind drag on Nissan’s latest offering.
They’ve managed this with several elements, including a fairly raked windshield and 370Z- inspired tail lights designed to be more “slippery.”
Turbulence is further reduced by working with what Nissan calls a “squash design” — a curved crease in the doors that is reportedly inspired by the sporting trail of a flying squash ball. ( Those designers must be a fit bunch.)
Low- rolling resistance tires and a V- groove roof panel also contribute to the Note’s aerodynamic prowess — which all translates into great fuel economy.
If fewer trips to the pump are your priority, the Note delivers, achieving 4.8 L/ 100 kilometres on the highway.
Joining the freeway
San Diego is an interesting place for a test drive because there is almost every kind of road available. Naturally, we didn’t attempt any off- roading in our “morning sky blue” Note, but we did drive successfully for a short distance on a sandy beach. ( Definitely not part of Nissan’s planned program for our day, but it was hard to resist when the opportunity presented itself for a photo of the car near La Jolla.)
There are three trim levels for Note: the S, SV ( adds the convenience package) and SL ( adds the technology package). Our test unit was the top trim SL. The morning drive found us first on a busy freeway where my driving partner and I were impressed by two things: the smooth ride of the Note on a somewhat bumpy California freeway, and the lack of road noise — kept to a minimum due to efficient insulation — something not commonly found in entry- level cars.
We turned off the freeway to follow a route to the Otay Lakes area where we encountered some nice twisties. The Note was able to hold its own in the corners and easily kept up with the traffic. The Note does a nice job for what it’s designed — to be a people mover.
Back on another Cali freeway, I noticed a blind spot created by the B pillar when shoulder checking to change lanes. My driving partner didn’t have the same issue, and this is likely due to the fact I’m just five foot four and he’s over six feet tall. There is plenty of headroom for taller drivers and surprisingly good legroom for rear seat passengers. The cloth seats are wellbolstered and comfortable.
Rear seats fold flat in a 60/ 40 split. Nissan has become creative with cargo space, installing what they call a “Divide- NHide” adjustable floor in the rear cargo area. It is a false floor that lifts up to swallow your weekender bags or cross border shopping while creating a flat platform floor when closed. Thoughtfully designed.
Under the hood
Moving the Versa Note along is a 1.6- litre engine offering 109 horsepower. Nissan’s second generation CVT is more compact and lighter in weight than the 2012 Versa, which has a 1.8litre engine ( there was no 2013 model in which to make the comparison). The new combination helps this version of the Versa achieve a 17 per cent improvement in fuel economy on the highway.
“It’s not about throwing a new powertrain at a car,” Franklin explains. “It’s about looking at all the elements.”
Technology
There’s plenty of tech packed into the Note. Most interesting is the curb view camera — four cameras working together to create a virtual bird’s- eye view to assist you to jam the car into a tight parking spot. ( It’s really cheating). Nissan set up a fun test for us where we were asked to reverse into a parking lot spot using only the curb view camera as our “eyes.”
Inside the Versa Note SL is A/ C, an iPod input, satellite radio, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, heated front seats, leather- wrapped steering wheel, and a keyless entry with a pushbutton start. NissanConnect is a touchscreen navigation system with Google Maps plus NavTraffic and NavWeather that offers real- time advisories.
Last thoughts
Thankfully, over the last several years the trend here has been towards a more European esthetic with body styling. Options for the Note include some chrome exterior touches and a roof spoiler.
While it is a stretch to call the Versa Note super- chic, it is a decent looking subcompact that you won’t be embarrassed to park outside the yacht club.
If you are considering a Honda Fit, add the Nissan Versa Note to your test drive list. It is a comfortable and inexpensive car with plenty of technology features, good handling, and classleading fuel economy.
The SL trim level with all the gear possible still manages to ring in at under $ 24,000 with freight and “other” charges. I always find it interesting to see what kinds of cars are on the road when I’m travelling. They tend to say a lot about the place and the culture. We spotted plenty of sedans on the roads in San Diego.
“Canadians buy small, compact cars,” Franklin observes. “Americans — they’re getting there.”