8:00am Thursday 26th November 2009
NISSAN takes practicality very seriously. The SUV-like Qashqai is designed to be user-friendly and good to live with, yet it also has attractive styling and houses a useful choice of strong and frugal diesel and petrol motors.
It was because of its variety of attractions for family users that the Qashqai (pronounced Cash Kai) soon became a popular niche model, catching other manufacturers on the hop when it was first launched.
And when sales started to tail off a little after a great run, the sevenseat model – Qashqai+2 – was produced to build on the strengths of the original hatch configuration.
The five-door concept gives buyers shopping for a compact family car an alternative as it blends the agility and comforts of a hatch with the strength and practicality of an SUV – all in a sporty, fashionable wrapping.
It seems that Nissan designers know exactly what makes buyers tick when it comes to family requirements.
For added security and grip in slippery conditions, an optional all-mode four-wheel-drive system is available on the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel versions.
And this sophisticated and welltested system, borrowed from the Nissan X-Trail, has the benefit of allowing two-wheel-drive for better fuel economy. Six-speed CVT and six-speed auto transmissions are also available.
Unfortunately, there is no 1.4- litre budget model as one might expect, so Qashqai+2 prices go from £15,600 for the 1.6-litre petrol to £25,900 for the top specification Teckna+2 2.0-litre diesel, with a six-speed auto gearbox and fourwheel- drive. This puts the model into serious 4WD territory as far as price is concerned.
The +2 looks expensive but the prices are competitive against leading hatches and, importantly, the Nissan has the benefit of a standard equipment list that is more generous than some.
Altogether there are four engines – the 1.6-litre petrol with 115PS and the 2.0-litre petrol with 140PS.
The diesel options are the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre, providing 106 and 150PS, and this pair offers an outstanding blend of performance with economy.
The 1.5 diesel is a very good allrounder and drives well. It will provide sufficient power for most owners, with plenty of urge up through the gears and a good turn of speed for overtaking. The sixspeed gearbox is useful for extra economy on the open road when 55mpg to 60mpg can be obtained.
The seven-seater is certainly agile and provides good ride quality, whether it is being used as a city runaround or as a motorway cruiser.
It is well furnished and more versatile than the five-seat Qashqai with the big advantage for family users being the ample space it provides.
The third row of seats can be brought into use to carry extra children or small adults and, with the second and third seats folded, there is plenty of room to carry luggage.
Being longer and taller, the Qashqai+2 also gives a little more headroom than the five-seater.
The driver will like the solid feel to the cabin and the high-riding seat position. There is also an air of quality about the cabin, with softtouch materials and hard-wearing and well-tailored plastics. The build quality in general is excellent.
The Qashqai +2 comes with a high level of standard equipment, including Nissan’s connect system with colour reversing camera, cruise control, auto lighting, dualzone climate control air conditioning, ABS with brake assist and electronic brake distribution, driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags and 18in alloy wheels.
AT-A-GLANCE.
Nissan Qashqai +2 1.5-litre diesel n-tec 6-speed manual.
Price: £20,200 (on the road).
Top speed: 106mph.
0-62mph: 13.3 seconds.
Fuel: 49.6mpg (combined figure).
Emissions (g/km): 149.
Verdict: Ticks the right boxes for the family.
It’s different, roomy, practical, stylish, well equipped and drives well.
Nissan’s Qashqai is quite a car
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