Nissan Qashqai

There is something exciting on the way from Nissan’s corner; and it’s the brand new Nissan Qashqai.  In Australia, we have known it as the Nissan Dualis, a small SUV that has been doing very successfully down under.  Having some reasonable 4WD capability with the new dCi 130 engine, makes it possible to have some adventures, too.  It looks good, is very economical and provides five-star safety.  Why not consider the new Nissan Qashqai a little more in depth?

The new Nissan Qashqai looks great, with a very symmetrical face, chunky waistline and a gradual sloping away from the front windscreen to the lower rear window.  The Qashqai paw print is big for a small SUV and this aids the way the SUV rides the road.  Flared wheel arches, sexy alloys and stunning taillights finish the Qashqia off nicely, all with the added bonus of being able to carry five adults in comfort.

Interior styling accentuates the fact that Nissan are turning out some great looking designs.  You feel snug inside the new Nissan Qashqai, that’s not in a bad way, it’s just that the interior sort of wraps around you so that, particularly in the front, you almost feel part of the interior.  A flexible seat to steering wheel position allows for even tall people to fit nicely behind the wheel.  A quality feel to the dash and its detailing makes you feel like you are driving something quite special.  A large armrest sits between the front seats, and the top of the armrest is a lid to a spacious storage compartment.  A couple of cup holders are situated in front of the arm rest, while up passed the gear lever is the smart central console where you’ll find a multi-information display screen and all the switchgear for most on-board features like air-conditioning, audio and satellite navigation (depending on the model).  The air vents placed strategically across the front dash, and even in the front doors, are well thought out and provide excellent fresh air into the cabin area.  With Australia’s hot climate, the cabin temperature system is a beauty for keeping you cool and relaxed.  Audio control, cruise control and Bluetooth functions can be accessed via the switches mounted on the steering wheel.  You’ll find the time you spend in a new Nissan Qashqai to be enjoyable.

Nissan Qashqai Interior

Slip into the rear seats, and while not being as roomy as a Nissan Patrol, you do find that seat comfort and leg room is more than adequate.  I can imagine the Nissan Qashqai being a great companion for the family of five.  Open the rear gate, and the boot space is very useful.  The boot has a capacity of 430 litres, and the flat floor can be extended when the seats are laid down flat.  Clever under floor storage space is part of the Qashqai packaging.  You know, if I was on the lookout for even something like a hatchback, the Nissan Qashqai would be worth a look because of the SUV styling, space and commendably low running costs.

On the road, the Nissan Qashqai rides nicely and feels very secure on all road surfaces.  There are 2WD and 4WD models available with four equipment levels.  Engine power comes from three power plants, and of the three, I reckon the diesel options are probably going to be the best choice for most people.  As is the case with most modern cars, the most economical engines are the diesel versions.  The 1.6-litre diesel engine provides combined fuel economy of under 5 litres/100 km.  The Qashqai 1.5-litre diesel is the most efficient, providing a combined fuel consumption of under 4.0 litres/100 km in 2WD form and just over 4.0 litres/100 km in AWD guise.

Is the 1.2-litre petrol engine thirsty?  By no means; this peppy little unit provides 2WD and 5.6 litres/100 km compared with the diesels.  The drive in the new Nissan Qashqai is generally quiet and smooth, and though not fast, the little Nissan Qashqai SUV finds a normal daily drive a walk in the park.  Motorway speeds are easily observed.

How are the Nissan Qashqai safety credentials?  Now that Nissan and Renault are co-working on their models, you can safely bet that the Nissan vehicles are very safe.  The wide range of premium safety technology is standard, and on the base model you can tick a few boxes and the full Nissan Safety Shield technology becomes yours – which are all there on the higher spec models.  You can add things like blind spot warning, driver drowsiness detection, front collision avoidance, lane departure warning and park assist systems to the base model, too.  In the Euro NCAP crash tests, the Nissan Qashqai gained the full five stars, scoring particularly highly for driver and child protection.

I can hear you getting excited, so the Qashqai is available in four different specifications – the flagship model has all the gadgets; 19-inch alloy wheels, satin silver roof rails, graphite leather trim, heated front seats, Intelligent Park Assist, Bi-LED headlamps and dual zone climate control air conditioning.

The all new Nissan Qashqai comes highly recommended, and the models include the:

• Qashqai 1.2-litre six-speed manual 2WD
• Qashqai 1.5-litre six-speed manual 2WD
• Qashqai 1.6-litre six-speed manual 2WD
• Qashqai 1.6-litre X-tronic transmission 2WD
• Qashqai 1.6-litre six-speed manual 4WD

For any more information on the new Nissan Qashqai or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Nissan dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!