IT MAY have escaped your attention but Nissan no longer makes 'regular’ cars.

Some critics thought such a move would be the end of the Japanese manufacturer, however nothing could be further from the truth.

Take the Qashqai, for example. Neither off-roader nor family hatch, it’s a canny combination of the two. At launch heads were scratched. What we all failed to appreciate was that such a car was exactly what buyers were after - they didn’t want a thirsty full-on SUV, yet a family hatch lacked the lofty driving position and the aspirational lifestyle aura of a go-anywhere 4x4.

You can see where this is going; in the small car sector there are parallels with Nissan’s Note. It’s not really that small by compact city car standards yet visually you’d never know it, while it’s infinitely more practical than a conventional hatchback runabout.

This clever mix of attributes has led to the Note being something of a hit among informed owners. From the car’s modest footprint to its flexible seating and big car driving feel, it’s no wonder that some see it as a winning alternative to the assembled ranks of conventional tin boxes.

You can’t stand still in this business and, despite the praise that’s already been heaped upon the Note, Nissan has refreshed its small car with a big heart - and cabin.

Visually the refreshed Note is easy to spot; the car’s reshaped bonnet, front bumper and headlamps are most obvious. At the rear the taillights now sport a dark tint, while there are new 15 and 16-inch alloy wheel designs.

The revisions continue with the inclusion of more standard equipment. The three trim levels (Visia, Acenta, Tekna) all boast a generous amount of kit, with Visia-badged cars gaining the likes of a CD player with an aux-in socket, twin front and side airbags, electric front windows and a sliding rear seat. All that’s left to add is air conditioning.

Air-con is something you’ll get on the Acenta cars, along with cruise control, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, Bluetooth phone connection, two more airbags, electric mirrors, a flexible storage system and cruise control. Move up to the range-topping Tekna and the likes of part leather seats, ESP, climate control, rain sensing wipers and rear parking sensors await.

All of which is great, although one optional item is worth a mention all of its own. Nissan’s new low cost combined sat-nav and audio unit is quite special. Mainly due to its price (£400 and available on Acenta and Tekna cars) but also because it combines a clear touchscreen interface with easy to use sat-nav, integrated phone via Bluetooth and a quality audio system packing MP3 player and USB memory inputs.

And remember, traditional built in sat-nav units can easily cost four figures yet still lack the wide range of features offered by the Nissan Connect unit.

Factor in a well-judged range of engines and you’ve got yourself a surprisingly rounded compact car. The choice is between 1.4 and 1.6 petrol units plus a 1.5-litre diesel. All work well, are refined and willing, and in the case of the diesel emit a low 119g/km CO2. For most people the 88 horsepower 1.4 petrol motor will prove more than enough: it returns close to 50mpg and never feels strained when driven briskly. Alternatively, if you want to exploit the Note’s big car character, the diesel’s ability to swallow miles with ease is worth investigating.

Wherever you drive the Note, you’re left in no doubt about its abilities. The solid feel of the cabin, the car’s comfortable ride, high levels of refinement and confidence inspiring handling all add up to one impressive package.

And that’s before you consider the car’s roomy cabin. Front seat occupants, as you would expect, are blessed with an abundance of space for this size of car. Move to the back and it’s positively limousine-like. Headroom is good, as is legroom.

The ability to slide the rear seat gives you the chance to have more storage space or passenger space depending on your circumstances. The Ôflexi-board’ option, giving you the chance to hid valuable out of sight in the boot or accommodate extra-tall objects, is another clever feature.

Okay, so Nissan isn’t the only maker with a car like the Note. It has, however, managed to make its offering one of the most polished examples in this class. A versatile, refined, well-equipped and good value proposition, the talented Note scores on all levels.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

  • Model: Nissan Note 1.4 Acenta, from £11,345 on the road.
  • Engine: 1.4-litre petrol unit developing 88bhp.
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels.
  • Performance: Maximum speed 101mph, 0-62mph 12.4 seconds.
  • Economy: 47.9mpg.
  • CO2 Rating: 139g/km.