The GF and I looked into the Note as a replacement car for her, I really like the interior, felt a lot more comfortable and had some nice features, compared to both my 08 Base and a 12 Sport.

 

really? i didnt care for the note's interior when i looked at edmunds's photo's.

but, might be more comfy though, not sure.

no excitement in the interior, looked like yaris or something i had to drive on a rental from hertz a while back. it looked/felt more like a chevy or something domestic...?

 

Does anyone have any review sites where they actually tested the performance/handling of the Versa Note?

 

2014 Nissan Versa Note SV with SL Tech Package First Test - Motor Trend

 

Oh lawd. Unfortunately exactly what I expected to read

 

It's not a Fit knockoff, do you call a Sienna "Grand Caravan knockoff?" It's just more competition in this marketing segment that Chrysler can't call its own. The small station wagon that the Fit is has been around for a long time and will just keep and keep evolving.

 

The term knockoff was originally used for this car on FF.net because of all the stolen styling cues from the GE, not simply because it is a five door hatchback.

It's interesting because the original photos or renditions I saw of the Note it looked like a BLATANT copy of the Fit, so maybe they changed a few things just enough for it to not be so obvious.

 

Ah, good ole semantics.

 

I haven't seen this car in person but it looks smaller then the Fit in the pictures. I think it would be a knockoff if it had the magic seats but most designs in this segments look very similar. After all it is the biggest segment in the world I was reading even though it has the lowest margins.

 

I'll still believe a Fit is coming toward me down the street for some of the sighting. I am betting this is the closest look to the Fit, stylishly, at this point of any other car. I would really like to get some reviews by some Fit owners who have driven the car vigorously, and can honestly rate the handling characteristics. Even though the price seems better, I have a feeling, by the time you walk away from the dealer you've paid as much as a Fit. This was the experience I had when pricing the earlier budget Versas.

 

They do tend to have 'add ons' that aren't avoidable, so I wouldn't assume that its that much less than a Fit. I'm tempted to go test drive one just so I can report back. Nissan's don't last as long as Honda's anyway, so I'd never consider buying one.

 

When the Fit first came to the USA I use to mistake this car as one from a distance.

 

How does it compare for cargo room?

 

Anybody notice the James Bond-like Active Grille Shutter that closes at high speed for better aerodynamics? I like that idea and am wondering who will be the first one to mod that grill to a Fit.

 

I test drove a Nissan Versa when I was looking to buy in 2007. I test drove the Versa and the Yaris. The Versa handling was terrible and it did not feel like it had a good feel for the road. Gear transitions felt jerky. The interior design just did not impress me. When I test drove the Fit and slammed it into a curve - the improved handling was the first thing that I noticed. There are so many knock off to the Fit being made but none compare. I still remember how many people right after I got the car would walk up to me and ask me what it was. I could go into a store and come out to find a person walking around my car and asking the questions, "Is this a hybrid"? Having some guy driving in front of me, stick his cell phone through the sky roof to take a picture of the car was the most strangest! LOL!

 

After I bought my CR-V in 2010, I continued to kinda 'shop' for cars, because I learned that I actually enjoy learning about them all. Strangely, I never really paid any attention to the fit until one crossed in front of me on my walk near a museum in downtown Nashville. It was red, and they had a roof rack on it, and since there was so much contrast with all the black on the car, I just thought it looked really techy and cool, and just a solid design all the way. I pointed at it and told my friend, "There is my car!"... the next week I bought mine (July). Its funny, I now see them all over the place, and I'm still not sure why I didn't pay any attention to them before... but maybe its because they're so small or something.

I can spot a Nissan miles away, because they have some signature design patterns from one vehicle to the next, and it simply does not suit me. Everyone I know who owns a Nissan has some excuse for owning it, and I'm not convinced they are cheaper. The Fit is basically what the Civic used to be, and since Civics are now super spendy for what they are, people aren't looking at the rest of the Honda line, they're just going to other makes of cars, and if you notice, there are TONS of Nissan Sentras on the road.

I don't think many people want to take too much time to think about what they buy anymore, and I understand - life is stressful, but I feel that if I'm gonna spend thousands of dollars on something, I'd like to know what I'm getting. I have bought one month subscriptions a few times ($7) to consumer reports just to compare vehicles. That's how I learned what a better value Honda is than Nissan, and cheaper than Mazda.

Anyway, sorry for rambling there, but I'm amazed at people's reasons for what they do.

 

I don't see how it looks anything like a GE.

However, the 3rd gen Fit does look just like the Note

 

Sightly less cargo room since the seats don't sit as flat to the floor as the Fit

 

Does look similar opening and two tone interior.