The Nissan Note is Thailand’s latest eco car, launched in January. It is Nissan’s third eco car after the March hatchback and Almera sedan, and the company’s final one under Phase 1 of the eco car project, which is now in Phase 2. It has been awhile since there was an all-new model in the affordable eco car segment, so this is notable entry.
But the Note is not a new model, having been around in second-generation form since 2012. The high-roofed five-door hatch was facelifted in Japan late last year, and the Thai eco car is based on this latest version with the V-Motion grille, boomerang rear LED signatures and flat-bottomed steering wheel.
However, the JDM Note e-Power’s unique hybrid system is not present here (it’s meant to be affordable), and in its place is the trusty HR12DE 1.2L used in the March and Almera. With 79 PS and 106 Nm of torque, the three-cylinder engine is mated to an Xtronic CVT automatic. Claimed combined fuel consumption is five litres per 100 km or 20 km/l.
The Note is a Honda Jazz-type of car, and a roomy cabin is one of its unique selling points. At 2,600 mm, the wheelbase is 70 mm longer than the Honda’s, and its 1,535 mm height is 11 mm more. By the way, the 1.5L Jazz is not an eco car in Thailand, and the Note undercuts it in price.
Two variants are available here, the 568,000 baht (RM72,692) V and 640,000 baht (RM81,905) VL. Standard kit includes halogen projector headlamps, keyless entry with push start, auto air con, Fine Vision meter, a five-inch touchscreen head unit, two airbags, ABS/EBD/BA, Vehicle Dynamic Control and Hill Start Assist.
The VL throws in significantly more, including LED headlamps and signatures, fog lamps, rear spoiler, 60:40 split folding rear seats (one-piece in the V), anti-glare rear view mirror with display, a seven-inch LED screen head unit with Bluetooth, and steering buttons.
Active safety features such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Nissan Intelligent Emergency Braking, Forward Emergency Braking (with pedestrian recognition), Lane Departure Warning, Around View Monitor and Moving Object Detection are all exclusive to the VL – tech that’s unprecedented in this segment and price point.
You would think that Honda’s success with the Jazz might have tempted Tan Chong into introducing the Note in Malaysia – which should fare well if priced right, as it’s a roomy and versatile car with relatively interesting design (the Nismo-tuned Note received huge attention on this website) – but the the company has decided not to go for it despite official previews and local sightings of the pre-facelift model.
Would the Nissan Note be well-accepted by the Malaysian market?
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Basherss says something must be wrong with their eco car program when the hybrid is more like serena hybrid and not full hybrid. Someone dah kena deadak, kan?
Before Ringgit dropped into the drain, convertion rate of the Nissan Note under Thailand Tax Duty break incentives ECO CAR program, actually only cost RM 55k – 62k up to top-spec. under mai.maa trade minister of CKD + EEV incentives, can 2017 Honda Jazz Hybrids OTR selling top-spec at RM 62k …?
But now tomyam same-same cars r selling more expensive than MY. And that w/o P1. Take civic, colorado, vios, CRV, etc. So its still salah MYGov? Politikus too much?
Look at the Nissan long list models.. all ridiculous specimens.Only Sentra and Teana make sense the rest should be dump into sea.Almera and Xtrail only feed up their stomach.Why only Honda being aggressive in Malaysia? Nissan and Toyota still sleeping or die peacefully?
Nissan should bring Maxima to replace Teana,New Sentra to replace Sylphy.Redesign Almera immediately.Hire designers with correct eyes not disable blind eyes.Almera is an eyesore.Don’t forget to redesign good looking dashboard and steering wheel not like a washer machine instrument.
In the B segment Malaysian market, all you need is a minimum of 4 star ANCAP safety ratings, good fuel consumption, decent equipment levels, easy spare parts and maintenance, and the most important – the OTR of under RM 70K.
Unker cars with ah beng makeup
Nissan tak tahu malu, ecocar only 2 airbags. Even Iriz is better
The boot space is quite big at 325 liter for a hatch. Thailand Nissan should have up the count of airbags judging at the rest of the safety features it already has.
no thanks… i thought the note e-power will come to thailand or boleh land… but after i read from japan page = The Nissan Note e-Power, for now available only in Japan, is a series hybrid that uses its 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine as a generator to charge the 1.5-kWh battery while an electric motor drives the front wheels. dammnnnnn it.. hahaha..
stupid tan chong!!
Proton Savvy 1.2L was already giving real world consumption of 5L/100km for more than 10 years. Nothing special about the engine technology in this Note. The extra safety devices is required in order to obtain approval for marketing the cars in most countries now.
Wow I see iron man’s theme on tha dashboard!
Sack the designer!