Named after a nomadic tribe in Iran the brand new Qashqai (cash-kye) from Nissan is one of the new breed of compact SUVs that won’t kill the planet!
Two versions of the five-door are available, the cheaper being a two-wheel-drive only offering. If you can afford to spend €2,500 more you’ll get a Qashqai that in normal conditions drives just two wheels but when traction is lost electronically shifts power to all four wheels. This version will also give you the opportunity to wear that smug grin you frequently see on the faces of SUV drivers when a flake of snow falls!
The five-seat Qashqai was penned in the UK and at Nissan’s European design HQ and goes a long way to blurring the line between car and off-roader. The very solid looking Qashqai is aimed at buyers of family hatchbacks who might want something a little cooler and SUV-like but don’t want Greenpeace on their backs at the same time. The new Nissan corporate front end is striking while the high shoulder line gives off a strong visual hint that the car is sturdy and rugged.
With prices starting at €23,995 Nissan clearly will win over a lot of ‘car’ customers. With bulges and humps in all the right places the new Qashqai makes a statement that is easy to live with, plus it features car-like suspension so it has reasonable manners on tarmac.
I have never been a fan of two-wheel-drive only SUVs but understand that for many drivers the off-road look is all that they want. The €2,500 price walk to a Qashqai that can deliver all-wheel-drive will be too much for most buyers but I say go for it as you’ll get the same running gear that makes the X-Trail 4X4 very good off-road.
From launch the petrol engines available are a 1.6 (115bhp) and 2 litre (140bhp). A 1.5 litre (106bhp) turbo-diesel is the only oil burner for the moment with a 2 litre coming on line this summer. The 1.5 diesel is the surprise hit for me as it manages to pull the Qashqai without making a fuss while delivering very good fuel economy.
Built on Nissan’s all new ‘C’ platform, Qashqai is no longer than a Ford Focus yet lower than conventional SUVs. Qashqai still manages to provide the driver with a nice commanding seating position without towering over other traffic.
The Sunderland-built car has a decent-sized cabin too. Liberal use of black plastic fails to take away from an interesting dash that hints to the car’s off-road aspirations.
Nissan only offers two grades of specification namely ‘SE’ and ‘SVE’. A lot of kit is standard like 16-inch alloy wheels, an excellent hands-free ‘Bluetooth’ integrated CD stereo, keyless entry, auto lights and wipers and of course air-con. ESP (electronic stability control) remains an €800 option and that’s a pity. Full leather trim is an extra €2,000, while the Sat Nav option which comes with a reversing camera is a whopping €3,000. Parking sensors are standard on the SVE and if you need Sat Nav you can pick up an excellent ‘Nuvi’ by Garmin from the high street for just €300!
Qashqai is a real alternative to the normal run of the mill family hatchback.
Michael Sheridan
