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Nissan Note Gallery
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| PERFORMANCE RATING: |
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Usually these days, the diesel model's the best pick in a mainstream range, but in this case, the 1.6 (110bhp, 112lb-ft) is the most appealing. It's quick off the mark (0-60mph in 10.6 seconds, with the manual gearbox), cruises very happily at high speeds (top speed 114mph) and is a capable hill-climber, rarely running out of puff unless it's pushed very hard or heavily laden-down.
The 86bhp, 147lb-ft diesel (0-60mph in 13 seconds, 104mph) doesn't feel any stronger mid-range, isn't that lively at urban speeds and gets rather loud under pressure.
Both of these engines could do with a six-speed gearbox, too, for more relaxed motorway progress and to help stir a little extra urge on country roads - the Note's a long, heavy vehicle compared to the Micra, Clio and Modus, and it has to be worked quite hard if you really want to push on.
We've not tried the 1.4 yet (88bhp, 94lb-ft, 103mph and 13.1 seconds 0-60mph) but this has proved surprisingly strong and pleasant in the Modus and other Renault-Nissan models, and may well feel little slower than the more expensive 1.6 under most normal driving conditions.
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