The Nissan Note is one of those cars that attest to the fact that it’s a vehicle that just works.

There’s little that’s glamorous, exciting or which will elicit covetous glances from your neighbours but sometimes what you need is something utterly dependable, wholly practical, incredibly easy to drive and which serves to make the business of buying and running a car as painless as possible. The Note is that car and it’s why with a relatively low key marketing push it’s become one of Nissan’s best-selling vehicles in the UK. Here’s how to track down a used one.

What You Get The facelifted model we’re looking at here got a 2009 package of tweaks including a reshaped bumper and bonnet, revised headlights and a shiny black front grille. At the back, compared to the original Note, the tail lights are darker and models with parking sensors got them incorporated more neatly into the bumper. It’s on the inside, however, where owners of the original 2006 to 2009 Note model will notice the most significant changes. After that date, all models got better-quality, soft-touch interior plastic and mildly redesigned instrument graphics.

What To Look For There really is very little to report here. The Note is a very reliable car and runs on mainly tried and tested mechanicals. Check for parking damage and ensure the car has a full Nissan service history and buy with confidence. The original warranty was a three year one, so cars out of warranty should make decent bargains as owners trade in for newer tackle. According to Which?, the Note is the 10th most reliable car you can buy in the UK.

Overall There’s so much that can go wrong with buying a used car that many people are completely deterred. The Nissan Note reliability and sheer practicality means that it’s a car that you can buy used without too much worry. They’re usually owned by mature or family buyers who have the cars diligently serviced. Just as long as you don’t chance upon one that’s been ravaged by unruly kids or pets, you shouldn’t go far wrong here.