Everything you need to know on the 2021 Nissan Note & Aura e-Power

Nissan has expanded the Nissan Note range with a premium version called Nissan Note Aura. According to a report from creative311.com, there is a rush of pre-orders for the Note Aura, which suggests a strong initial demand in the Japanese market.

Let’s take a look at the two variants of the Japan-only model.

Nissan Note Aura

Nissan Note Aura design

The Nissan Note Aura features an Ariya-style front-end, making it a desirable alternative. It has thin LED headlights that are slimmer than those of the Nissan Note, a curvier radiator grille with inserts in a distinctive pattern, additional LED daytime running lights, and sportier bumpers. Moreover, the Aura version flaunts bigger, 17-inch wheels featuring gunmetal resin inserts in a new, EV-like aerodynamic design.

Nissan Note Aura interior

The interior design of the Nissan Note Aura is nearly identical to the Nissan Note. However, it has a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster well aligned with the central display. Wood-grain trim and upholstery in Herringbone patterned tweed-like fabric or genuine leather with specially designed pleating give the interior a more upmarket appearance. Many customers may welcome the light theme of the cabin, which is not available in the regular Note.

Nissan Note Aura Price

Nissan says that it has enhanced the powertrain to provide a maximum system output of 100 kW and a maximum torque of 300 Nm. This makes the Note Aura an even more lucrative choice for compact car customers in Japan. Prices start at JPY 2,610,300 (2WD)/JPY 2,868,800 (AWD). Customer deliveries of the new model will begin in the fall.

Nissan Note Aura interior dashboard
The Nissan Note Aura has a light-tone interior that makes it look more welcoming and plusher than the Nissan Note. Image Source: Nissan

2021 Nissan Note

Nissan revealed the much-awaited next-gen Note in November 2021. As expected, unlike the previous generation, it’s purely an e-Power model. Clearly evident from its sharper front end, the third generation Nissan Note embodies the Timeless Japanese Futurism design philosophy.

Design

Compared to the second-gen model from September 2012, the 2021 Nissan Note is sleeker and sportier from every angle. The front fascia is reminiscent of the Nissan Ariya due to the similar headlamps, grille, and bumper designs.

On the side, the greenhouse design has changed but not significantly. The front vent glass is narrower but taller, and it has a quadrilateral shape, while the rear quarter glass is now a triangular piece. The windows have a very similar appearance, and their large dimensions should allow excellent visibility, especially in the front, reducing blind spots.

The 2021 Nissan Note looks sportier from the rear thanks to a rakish back glass, a more tapered roofline and a roof spoiler. A welcome change is the split-type tail lamps in a horizontal layout. While the old Nissan Note has an upright rear-end, the all-new Nissan Note has a hunchback stance. Adding to the fresh and youthful design is a shark-fin antenna (replacing the old car’s micro-pole). The interior is more polished and has minimised footprint of components to free up more space.

Interior

The 2021 Nissan Note measures 4,045 mm in length, 1,695 mm in width and 1,505/1,520 mm in height. In comparison, the more MPV-looking old model was 4,100 mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,520 mm/1,525 mm tall. The wheelbase of the all-new model is 2,580 mm, and the old model’s measurement was 2,600 mm.

Features

On the outside, the 2021 Nissan Note features four-element Adaptive LED headlamps, LED fog lights, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a shark-fin antenna. Interior highlights include a 7-inch driver information display, electric parking brake with auto hold function, wireless charger, USB Type-C charging port, and 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Specifications

The all-new Nissan Note e-Power sits on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-B platform. Its series-hybrid powertrain combines an improved HR12DE 1.2-litre engine and a new ‘EM47’ electric motor. The naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol engine produces 82 PS (+3 PS) and 103 Nm in the new model. The new electric motor generates 116 PS and 280 Nm, compared to the old motor (EM57)’s 109 PS and 254 Nm. An AWD configuration is available, in which there’s an additional motor (MM48) that drives the rear wheels. This rear motor generates 68 PS and 100 Nm of torque. The WLTC fuel economy of the 2021 Note is 29.5 km/l (FWD)/23.8 km/l (AWD).

As for the improvements not visible in the numerical comparisons, Nissan says that it has used a new inverter that is 40% smaller and 30% lighter. The enhanced HR12DE engine operates at a lower RPM and is engaged less often during a regular drive.

Price

The 2021 Nissan Note went on sale in Japan on 23 December 2020, with prices starting at JPY 20,29,500.

2021 Nissan Note Aspect2021 Nissan Note Specification
Length 4,045 mm
Width1,695 mm
Height1,505 mm/1,520 mm
Wheelbase2,580mm
Minimum turning radius4.9 m
Fuel tank capacity36 L
Engine1.2L in-line 3-cylinder HR12DE
Engine Power & Torque82 PS & 103 Nm
Motor modelEM47 & MM48 (only in AWD)
Motor Power116 PS (EM47)/68 PS (MM48)
Motor Torque280 Nm (EM47)/100 Nm (MM48)
Main featurese-Power & Propilot with Navilink
Release date23 December 2020
Launch PriceJPY 2,029,500 onwards
CompetitorsHonda Fit (Jazz) & Toyota Yaris

On the Nissan Note

The Nissan Note is among the last surviving members of the mini-MPV group as the emergence of compact crossovers in the last 10 years has created problems for this segment leading many manufacturers to discontinue their products. The mini-MPV combined the advantages of the hatchback (easy to park and easy to manoeuvre) and the MPV (higher storage volume, easy ingress and egress) but the Achilles’ heel was the boring shape or design.

The Note was launched in big markets like the USA, Canada, UK and Europe only to be discontinued within a few years. However, in one market, the model not just survived but thrived – Japan. Here the Note emerged as the country’s best-selling car in 2018 finding over 136,000 buyers. In 2019, as per data EVW accessed, it was the country’s second best-selling vehicle, thanks to the e-Power technology, Nissan’s series hybrid that offers 30% better fuel efficiency compared to an ICE-powered vehicle of the same class and the torque of a Nissan 2.0L petrol engine.

Nissan launched the first generation Note in 2006 and the second generation followed in 2012. 8 years later, the third-generation model comes out featuring a striking design, advanced electrification, and autonomous drive tech. Heavy revisions bring the Note visually up to date with Nissan’s other vehicles (including the new logo), and a much-needed interior upgrade had made the package appealing. It remains to be seen if the Nissan Note will reenter the global markets with the new generation.

Featured image: Nissan