The Nissan Note Aura, a premium compact built only for Japan

The Nissan Note Aura is a premium version of the Note, sold only in Japan. It sits above its sibling in Nissan's range, is 45 mm wider and carries finer materials, and every version runs on e-POWER. It arrived as a premium compact, a category few Japanese cars occupy.

Where did the Note Aura come from?

The Aura was developed as the successor to the Medalist, a higher grade of the E12-type Note, and it was built on the E13-type Note. It was announced on 15 June 2021 as a derivative of that car, and its development ran in parallel with the Note's own.

Nissan's advertising and website often shorten the name to Aura (e-POWER). Because its design, interior and base car differ so much from the Note, it is often described as the successor to the Pulsar or the Tiida, particularly when the Medalist is counted as just one grade of the Note.

The launch event featured the actress Miki Nakatani, who had also appeared in commercials. Shortly before, on 12 June, a newspaper had reported that development of Nissan's high-end Skyline sedan was being stopped. Asako Hoshino, a vice president who attended the same event, officially rejected the report.

A premium Note built only for Japan, with e-POWER in every version and a 12.3-inch display.

How does the Aura differ from the Note?

The Aura keeps the Note's length of 4,045 mm (159.3 in), but it is 45 mm wider, taking the width over 1,700 mm (66.9 in). That made it the first car in the Note series to need a 3-number registration. Its height is 5 mm greater than that of the X and X FOUR versions of the Note.

The front styling is sharper. The headlamps have a sharper shape than the Note's, LED units are standard, and the turn lamps use a sequential light pattern that was a first for any Nissan. At the rear, the LED combination lamps light in a single horizontal line, and the 17-inch aluminium wheels are standard, machined and then decorated with resin parts to balance lightness and stiffness.

Inside, the armrests, instrument panel and door trim are covered in tweed-style fabric, while the lower panel and console carry woodgrain finishers. The front door glass is insulating green glass that blocks infrared and strong ultraviolet light, given a soundproof specification for a quieter cabin. The gauges are a 12.3-inch fully digital display, first used on the T33-type Rogue, which switches between a two-dial Classic layout and an Enhance layout that gives the central content the most room.

A speaker built into the headrest, a first for Japan, forms part of the optional premium audio system. It uses eight speakers, including wide-range door speakers and tweeters, with a DSP-equipped amplifier.

What output does the Aura's e-POWER make?

Every Aura runs on e-POWER, with the outputs of both the petrol engine and the driving electric motor changed from the Note's. The front motor produces 136 PS (134 hp) and 300 Nm (221 lb ft). That is 20 PS and 20 Nm more than the Note's front motor, which makes 116 PS (114 hp) and 280 Nm (207 lb ft).

What changed in the 2024 mid-cycle update?

The June 2024 mid-cycle update redrew the front grille so that it spans the full body width. Dark metallic grey or body-colour accents were added under the headlamps, and the front and rear bumpers took a wing shape. The alloy wheels received a new design and were made lighter.

The same update fitted a power driver's seat as standard. The glovebox grew in capacity and gained a two-tier layout, matching the mid-cycle version of the E13-type Note. The rear USB sockets switched to Type-C, and a ring light was also added. Interior trim tones for the woodgrain, instrument panel, armrests and door cloth were also changed.

Body colours were trimmed. Burgundy Pearl Metallic was removed from the monotone range, leaving eight colours. In the two-tone range, Sumire Pearl Metallic with Super Black replaced Vivid Blue Metallic with Super Black, and Forest Green Pearl Metallic with Super Black was added as a new choice.

What is the NISMO version?

The NISMO is a custom model set up for the Aura. It has its own front grille, bumpers and roof spoiler, wider-rimmed 17-inch wheels, red door mirrors and side sill protectors, plus an e-POWER tune with a dedicated NISMO drive mode.

At the front, the grille, bumpers and roof spoiler are all dedicated parts. The front fog lamps form a slim five-lamp unit, and the rear fog lamps are a seven-lamp dot pattern. The NISMO badge has a new design, finished in matte chrome and matte red, and the car carries side sill protectors.

Inside, the palette is dark with red accents. The seats combine fabric and synthetic leather with embroidered NISMO logos and red and grey contrast stitching. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather and a suede-style material, with a red centre mark, red stitching and gunmetal chrome trim. The gauge screen has a NISMO logo and a red power meter, and a sports seat is available as an option.

The e-POWER is tuned for NISMO. Its NISMO drive mode delivers stronger acceleration than the standard SPORT mode and cushions deceleration slightly less. The ECO and NORMAL modes were reworked to give more acceleration too. The car also has longer front and rear overhangs, a lower suspension and a revised rear spoiler shape, which together raise downforce.

The rear shock absorbers are mono-tube units, which have a larger pressure area and higher gas pressure than twin-tube types. Reinforcing parts were also added to improve handling and ride comfort. The NISMO runs sports tyres, which were updated in August 2026.

In July 2024 a four-wheel-drive version, the NISMO tuned e-POWER 4WD, joined the range. The rear motor is stronger than the one in the standard car, and the power split between the axles is retuned for this model. Its alloy wheels are a 4WD-only design intended to lower the air pressure inside the wheel arches.

Before the July 2024 update the NISMO monotone was Super Black only. The update added a second monotone option, Pure White Pearl 3-coat Pearl in special paint. The two-tone list also grew to five, with NISMO Stealth Grey paired with Super Black among the additions.

The August 2026 change brought the NISMO Black Limited. Its headlamps, door mirrors, bumpers, side sill protectors, front badge and 17-inch wheels are finished in black, with dedicated decals on the front grille and the rear sides.

What did AUTECH add to the Aura?

AUTECH arrived in June 2024, moving across from the E13-type Note. It is built on the G and G FOUR and adds a dot-pattern grille, dark metallic grey accents, LED fog lamps and 17-inch spoke wheels with an AUTECH logo stamped at the centre.

Inside, the trim keeps black as its foundation. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped, the armrests and dashboard use leatherette, and the seats are leather with blue stitching. Dark wood-tone trim covers the lower panel and console. In August 2026 the steering wheel changed to the Tailor Fit wrap, as on the base car.

AUTECH has its own body colours. Aurora Flare Blue Pearl is exclusive to the trim. In August 2026 the monotone choices were cut to four by dropping Sunrise Copper and Midnight Purple.

A passenger swivel seat is sold alongside these trims, through Nissan Motorsports and Customization, which was formerly Autech Japan. It follows the base car's equipment changes, and its body colours and seats were updated in the same years.

What did the August 2026 change bring?

The August 2026 partial change added the G Black Edition and G FOUR Black Edition to the line-up, with black exterior details. Standard equipment includes an integrated interface display, a USB power port and the NissanConnect navigation system, which has built-in terrestrial digital TV.

It also includes an in-car communication unit, the premium audio system, a built-in ETC2.0 unit, ProPILOT with navigation link, ProPILOT emergency stop assist and an SOS call function. The G FOUR Black Edition has a power driver's seat as standard too.

The Black Edition's black details cover the front brand badge, the door mirrors, the rear AURA badge, the LED headlamps, the roof trim, the sun visors, the front and centre pillars and the upper luggage side trim. The 17-inch aluminium wheels take a dedicated colour.

Body colours were heavily reduced at the same time, as on the Note. The monotone range became Pure White Pearl, Brilliant Silver, Dark Metallic Grey and Midnight Black, while the G Black Edition is offered only in Dark Metallic Grey and Midnight Black.

Note Aura specifications

Did the Aura win awards?

The Aura collected several honours within months of its launch. The most notable was the 2021 Japan Car of the Year, shared with the third-generation Note, which was the first win of that award for a Nissan since the Leaf in 2011, ten years earlier.

The dated list runs as follows. The Good Design Award was announced on 20 October 2021, shared with the third-generation Note. The 2021-2022 Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car of the Year followed on 8 November 2021. The 2022 RJC Car of the Year was announced on 9 November 2021, again with the third-generation Note. The 2021 Japan Car of the Year came on 10 December 2021.

Demand was strong from the start. The company announced on 8 September 2021 that orders had passed 10,000 units, about three weeks after the car went on sale.

How did prices change in 2023?

In February 2023 Nissan revised prices alongside the third-generation Note, citing global rises in raw material and logistics costs. Catalogue grades went up by 45,100 yen, the passenger swivel seat by 56,100 yen and the NISMO by 72,600 yen, with the 10% consumption tax included in each figure. The new prices took effect from May that year.

A 90th Anniversary model followed on 14 December 2023, commemorating ninety years of Nissan Motor. Built on the G and G FOUR, it swapped in copper accents on the fog lamp surrounds and a copper stripe along the black door mirrors, paired with black wheels. Inside, the Tailor Fit seats carried copper stitching and a commemorative tag.

What does the name Aura mean?

The sub-name Aura means atmosphere or aroma in English. In German the word also carries the sense of a glow that only the original has and no copy can match. The name was chosen to suggest a car that gives off a unique shine and draws the eye of anyone who sees it.

The name has one more link. Nissan's Global Design Headquarters handled design work for the 2012 anime Rinne no Lagrange, produced with Production I.G, whose robot was named VOX AURA.