We’re currently living in the golden age of automotive wheel design. Mercedes brought back the monoblock, Rolls-Royce offers huge discs, and Kia is producing wheels that don’t even really look like wheels. The surge in popularity of hybrids and electric cars has also seen the return of hubcaps and aero discs, and now Nissan has its own entry in the pantheon of excellent wheels with the updated Note hatchback for Japan.
The Note’s new 16-inch hubcaps feature a geometric design that Nissan says are inspired by traditional Japanese patterns. It vaguely looks like the Star of David, with six points and a directional flow to the layout of the lines. I especially like the Nissan script stamped into the surface, and the way the valve stems are cleverly hidden in one of the holes. They give off a similar vibe to the wheels on the facelifted Nissan Leaf, but with a monotone finish and no visible lug nuts the Note’s hubcaps are way cooler. Note buyers can also get a five-spoke alloy wheel design, but they’re super boring.
Other changes to the Note include a revised face with Nissan’s new V-Motion grille, which I think looks great. If you go for a brighter paint color the grille features body color segments, but with darker shades a grey finish is used. Speaking of colors, the Note gains two excellent new ones, a violet and a turquoise that both feel like ‘90s throwbacks.
On the inside the dashboard gets a “mizuhiki” lined design that recalls ancient Japanese knots and echoes the wheel design, and the seat fabric features vertical stripes of randomized brightnesses that look like a greyscale version of the green code in The Matrix. Also new for the Note is a passenger seat that swivels out when the door is open, making it easier for people with mobility issues or restrictive/revealing clothing to get in and out. Nissan says the Note’s swiveling seat has best-in-class legroom, and it even has an integrated footrest. This isn’t a novel feature; Japanese cars have offered swiveling seats for decades.
The new Note will go on sale in Japan in January. Like before, it’ll be offered with front- or all-wheel drive and continue to feature Nissan’s e-Power hybrid drivetrain.
