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Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.

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Nissan Note

Extremely popular compact hatchback featuring revolutionary e-Power hybrid technology and 28+ km/L efficiency.

Best value
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Audi A1

Compact German luxury supermini featuring bold Sportback styling, Virtual Cockpit technology, and sub-1,500 cc duty savings.

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Volkswagen Polo

Compact daily platform balancing European build tech and agile driving with sub-1,000 cc duty savings and 21.0 km/L TSI fuel economy.

Highest rated
Nissan NoteAudi A1Volkswagen Polo
Mandai score
7.5/10
7.5/10
8/10
Typical price
KSh 1,500,000
KSh 2,200,000
KSh 1,950,000
Years
2017-2023
2017-2023
2017-2023
Fuel
Petrol, Hybrid
Petrol
Petrol
Transmission
Automatic, CVT
Automatic
Automatic, Dual-clutch
Doors
5
5
5
Most popular trim
Note e-Power X / Medalist / Aura e-Power
A1 Sportback 25 TFSI / 30 TFSI S Line
Polo 1.0 TSI Comfortline / Highline / R-Line / GTI
Dealer listings
None listed
None listed
None listed

Fuel and running cost

Trim
Nissan Note e-Power
Fuel consumption
28.0 km/L3.6 L/100km combined · about 1148 km a tank
19.5 km/L5.1 L/100km combined · about 780 km a tank
21.0 km/L4.8 L/100km combined · about 840 km a tank
Running cost
KSh 811 / 100 kmKSh 8 a km · KSh 8,106 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,164 / 100 kmKSh 12 a km · KSh 11,639 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,081 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 10,808 for 1,000 km · petrol

Dimensions

Length
4,100 mm
4,029 mm
4,053 mm
Width
1,695 mm
1,740 mm
1,751 mm
Height
1,520 mm
1,409 mm
1,461 mm
Wheelbase
2,600 mm
2,563 mm
2,551 mm
Ground clearance
150 mm
135 mm
145 mm
Boot space
340 L (1,000 L folded)
335 L
351 L (1,125 L folded)
Kerb weight
1,220 kg
1,165 kg
1,145 kg
Seats
5
5
5

Specifications

Engine
1.2L HR12DE 3-Cylinder + EM57 Electric Motor (e-Power)
1.0L TFSI 3-Cylinder Turbo (30 TFSI)
1.0L TSI Turbo 3-Cylinder / 2.0L TSI Turbo 4-Cylinder (GTI)
Power
116 hp (136 hp Aura) electric motor output
116 hp @ 5,000 rpm
95 hp to 115 hp (1.0T) / 200 hp (GTI)
Torque
280 Nm instant electric torque
200 Nm @ 2,000–3,500 rpm
175 Nm to 200 Nm (1.0T) / 320 Nm (GTI)
Drivetrain
FWD or e-4ORCE AWD
Front-Wheel Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
0–100 km/h
7.9 sec
9.4 sec
6.7 sec (GTI) / 9.5 sec (1.0T 115hp) / 10.8 sec (1.0T 95hp)
Top speed
150 km/h
203 km/h
200 km/h (1.0T) / 237 km/h (GTI)

Fuel economy

Combined
28.0 km/L (e-Power) / 18.0 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
19.5 km/L (1.0T) / 17.5 km/L (1.5T)
21.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 19.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 15.0 km/L (GTI)
City
30.0 km/L (e-Power) / 15.5 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
16.5 km/L (1.0T) / 14.5 km/L (1.5T)
18.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 16.8 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 12.2 km/L (GTI)
Highway
25.0 km/L (e-Power) / 20.5 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
22.0 km/L (1.0T) / 20.0 km/L (1.5T)
24.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 22.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 17.5 km/L (GTI)
Tank size
41 L
40 L
40 L
CO₂ emissions
82 g/km
112 g/km
108 g/km (1.0T)

At a glance

Model
Nissan Note (E12 / E13 Series)
Audi A1 Sportback (GB Series)
Volkswagen Polo (Mk6 AW Series)
Production years
2017–2023
2017–2023
2017–2023
Body type
Hatchbacks / Compact MPV
5-Door Compact Luxury Hatchback
5-Door Subcompact European Hatchback
Seating capacity
5
5 seats
5
Fuel types
Petrol, e-Power Hybrid
Petrol (TFSI)
Petrol (TSI Turbo)
Engine sizes
1,198 cc (1.2L e-Power / DIG-S)
999 cc / 1,395 cc / 1,498 cc / 1,984 cc
999 cc (1.0L TSI) / 1,984 cc (2.0L TSI GTI)
Transmission
Automatic (CVT / Single-Speed e-Power)
7-speed S tronic Dual-Clutch Automatic
7-Speed DSG Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drivetrain
FWD or e-4ORCE AWD
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
Front-Wheel Drive
Ground clearance
150 mm
135 mm
145 mm
Source market
Japan (RHD JDM spec)
Japan / UK (RHD)
UK / Japan (RHD)

Pros and cons

What’s good
  • Instant 280 Nm electric torque: Smooth, rapid acceleration away from Nairobi traffic lights.
  • Exceptional 28+ km/L fuel economy: Slashes monthly commuter fuel bills by over 50%.
  • Generous rear knee room: Cavernous rear passenger space despite compact 4.1m length.
  • Lowest customs duty bracket: 1.0L engine qualifies for Kenya's lowest customs tax valuation category.
  • Premium Virtual Cockpit display: 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with MMI touch screen.
  • Excellent 19.5+ km/L fuel economy: Low operating costs for daily urban commuting.
  • Effortless city parking: Compact 4.02-meter length makes Nairobi CBD parking stress-free.
  • Lowest KRA import duty bracket: 999 cc TSI engine sits in KRA's lowest customs tax valuation category.
  • High-speed European stability: MQB chassis provides unshakeable highway composure at 120 km/L.
  • Punchy 200 Nm 1.0T torque: Turbocharged low-end torque makes city overtaking responsive and effortless.
  • Generous 351 L boot capacity: Class-leading trunk space for a subcompact hatchback.
What’s not so good
  • 150 mm ground clearance: Requires care over tall speed bumps when fully loaded.
  • Engine generator sound under heavy hill climbs: 1.2L engine revs up to charge battery during steep ascents.
  • 135 mm ground clearance: Requires care over steep estate speed bumps.
  • S tronic dual-clutch sensitivity: Demands proper transmission maintenance in heavy traffic.
  • Low 145 mm ground clearance: Requires care when navigating high urban speed bumps.
  • Requires quality synthetic VW 504 00 oils: DSG transmission requires fluid maintenance every 60,000 km.
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