Contents Show
Nomad from Japan. Automobile manufacturers prefer to give their cars names that evoke a certain association. At Volkswagen, the first off-roader was given the name “Touareg” - that made one thing clear: Here comes a real off-roader. Because the Tuareg people live in an unreal landscape of deserts and scree paths for us Central Europeans and therefore the name (theoretically) fits perfectly on an off-roader. In the case of the Nissan Qashqai, the explanation is similar, if not quite as easy to see.
The people of the “Kashgai” are nomadic people who live between Iran and Turkey. In 1982, the last 200.000 members of the Kashgai people were counted - with the previous sales figures for the Qashqai from Nissan, however, one could put several Qashqai in front of the tent of every “nomad”.
The success of the compact SUV. No vehicle segment is currently more successful than that of the compact SUV models. Clear all-rounders. Also with all-wheel drive, space like in a station wagon, more ground clearance to find your own little freedom in everyday life even away from the paved paths.
Compact SUVs have become a kind of balm for the soul of the battered motorist. You sit upright and with a wide view you can see the traffic jam in front of you and in your mind you have already broken through the guardrail of everyday life with a lot of momentum and bypassing the traffic jam thanks to all-wheel drive over the field of bliss. At heart we are all nomads on the move, or cowboys who look melancholy on the back of their tin horse into the evening sun ...
On the move with the Qashqai in the jungle between Aschaffenburg and Würzburg:
Looking for new ways!
Compact SUV: In contrast to manufacturers who have missed this trend, Nissan has been part of the “Kompkat SUV class” establishment with the Qashqai since 2007. Well done you might think out loud and be happy about the successful car of the Japanese.
Diesel and four-wheel drive: No diesel? No success in Germany. The Qashqai, however, offers diesel variants in addition to the less useful petrol models. The 2 liter variant with 150 hp that I drive is available as a top engine. Among them are the already older 1.5 diesel with 110 hp and the 1.6 liter diesel with 130 hp, which only came onto the market this year. The 150 hp diesel is always available with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic. The 1.5 diesel, on the other hand, only has front-wheel drive and only a manual gearbox. With the 1.6 diesel you can choose between all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive, but an automatic is also not available with it.
Who has the choice: Typically Japanese, the equipment lines and the very short list of optional equipment. My test car came into service as the “Acenta”. Below that is the entry-level variant, named “Visia”, and above that the top equipment line called “Tekna”. This year the equipment line “I-WAY” was added.
I give a clear purchase recommendation for the right engine and the most sensible equipment line at the end of the driving report.
Anyone who remembers my first SUV driving report knows: "I never want an SUV! ” That has changed in the meantime, from an SUV hater to an SUV fanatic. Could I also make friends with the Nissan Qashqai?
Who needs an SUV like that? Who wants that? Is such a pseudo-SUV actually good for "something"? That and my personal evaluation of points - now here in the driving report about the Nissan Qashqai Acenta 2.0dCi 4WD automatic
[One_half]- Model Name: Nissan Qashqai
- Equipment: Agency
- Test car Price: 31.540€
- Basic price series: 19.790€ (117 PS petrol engine)
- displacement: 1.995 ccm³
- Power: 150 PS
- maximum speed: 188 km/h
- Acceleration: 0-100: 11,0 seconds
That's what he wants to be:
An unconventional crossover with an all-round view
[/ One_third] [one_third]He can do that:
Take the nomad in us on a big city tour.
[/one_third][one_third last=last]
He can not do that:
In the absence of ground clearance and real barriers, really cross every desert.
[/ one_third]
Design exterior: unagitated
Apart from the bonnet, which pays homage to the 300 SL from Mercedes, alternatively also reminiscent of the bonnet of its sporty brother in coupé form, the 370Z - the Qashqai offers only a few external highlights.
LED taillights with LED brake lights, reversing light and indicators in standard halogen version.
[/one_half] [one_half last=last]Design & feel inside: back in black
Once again too much black, only interrupted by silver-lacquered plastic, which luckily doesn't even want to look like aluminum. It remains with my standard accusation with Japanese automobile manufacturers: More attention to detail in the interior. Except in this case: the panel for the air conditioning. Logically grouped, well summarized and with a tactile feedback that is commendable.
[/one_half]
Driving performance & driving experience: solid & quiet
Despite the SUV roadholding and the winter tires with a high cross-section, the steering of the Qashqai gives a binding impression of the road, I am almost inclined to say: The Qashqai is sporty for an SUV. The setup of the chassis feels extremely successful, especially on the autobahn.
everyday factor: to keep an overview
The compact SUV is particularly good at mastering the extensive everyday life of a family car. The trunk, which normally has a capacity of 410 liters, can be easily loaded through the large tailgate, the loading sill is pleasantly high and all passengers enjoy the slightly elevated all-round view. In the case of the Qashqai, there is another fine feature: AVM. What sounds like a modem manufacturer from Berlin is the abbreviation for “around view monitor” and describes the fact that you can get a clean picture of the area around the Qashqai with 4 cameras. As shown on the navigation monitor, the SUV can be parked with astonishing accuracy.
If you fold down the rear seats, you get an almost level loading area and with 1.513 liters of loading volume enough space for the next move!
Standard equipment: darkened
Of course, there are advantages to combining equipment in packages. Above all, of course, in the manufacturing process for the manufacturer. But it also has massive disadvantages, namely when you have specific equipment requirements, but can only meet them if you buy an entire “package” right away. The xenon light is only available in the Tecna version and if you want to treat yourself to the luxury of a rain sensor, you also have to choose at least the Acenta version.
In the case of the 2 liter diesel with all-wheel drive and six-speed automatic, it is just annoying that you have to pay almost € 5.000 extra to get the desired xenon headlights.
For all other details of the equipment packages, however, I would like to express my praise to Nissan. Particularly nice: a Bluetooth hands-free system is already included as standard in the basic Visia equipment!
Engine: 2.01 Diesel
150 hp and 320 Nm are provided by the two-liter four-cylinder diesel engine. Introduced in 2006, the Qashqai's diesel engine is one of the more efficient diesel engines on the market. It is used in the Renault Laguna as well as in the Nissan X-Trail and is offered there with an output of up to 180 hp.
Particularly noteworthy is the smoothness and, for a diesel, pleasant acoustics. During my test drive, the 16-valve diesel was particularly economical. Everyday life can be mastered with a low 5 liters. Fleet motorway stages do not require significantly more than 8 liters per 100 km, despite the large SUV structure. Ergo: a very good four-cylinder diesel engine!
Transmission: 6-gear automatic
While the shift lever feels "cheap", the automatic transmission does an extremely good job. Trimmed for smooth shift changes, it avoids hectic shifting maneuvers and lets the Qashqai live from its 320 Nm torque. However, it quickly implements kickdown commands, in case of doubt also once by skipping two gears. Anyone who swims quietly in traffic will not notice the smooth gear changes of the comfortable machine.
Multimedia & Audio: bull's-eye
The sound from the cute loudspeakers will disappoint audiophile connoisseurs, but for them there is a Bose package with 7 loudspeakers available in the Tekna equipment line. One recommendation is the “Nissan Connect” system built into the test vehicle. For € 750 you get a 5 inch touchscreen system with navigation, USB interface, Bluetooth audio streaming and a reversing camera. For € 1.150 instead of € 750, the system includes the Nissan Around View package, as in the test car. As can be seen in the picture (below), the 4 cameras provide you with a clean “picture of the surroundings”. Practical when you want to know how far the fence is in front of you, how much space is left on the dirt road to the left and right - or to check how far the curb is away.
The relationship between price and performance is correct in the case of "Nissan AVM Connect“Definitely a system!
Around View Monitor: What is it exactly?
Four cameras provide an all-round picture - this is always displayed on the 5-inch monitor of the Nissan infotainment system. A camera sits in the front directly in the Nissan logo. The two cameras for taking pictures of the sides of the car are located in the lower mirror caps. And the fourth camera, as usual for a reversing camera, is located in the tailgate.
The Around View Monitor System is something special in this vehicle class. There would be more points for this fine feature if the monitor were larger and the resolution of the camera images was even better!
The cost factor:
If you pull yourself together when choosing your Qashqai, you can get a compact 19.790 hp SUV with plenty of space, reasonable clarity and good driving comfort, even if only with front-wheel drive, for € 110.
In my opinion, you will only be really happy with the 150 hp diesel, the 4 × 4 all-wheel drive and the six-speed automatic - and here, as in the case of the test car, Nissan calls up € 29.490. Compared to the Primus (Tiguan) from Volkswagen, that's still an easy € 5.000 less. Even if the surcharge policy is not particularly attractive due to the “package obligation”, the Nissan cuts a fine figure here!
Briefly mentioned:
[One_fourth]Halogen light:
The Qashqai comes to the test with modern DE headlights, but less pleasant halogen lighting technology. For vehicles of the “almost € 30.000” class, I see a simple option for “xenon light” as necessary and up-to-date!
[/one_fourth][one_fourth]
All wheel drive:
Wet roads, leaves, dirt roads, winter and similar situations can easily be mastered with the Qashqai's switchable all-wheel drive. However, there is no reduction or even a differential lock.
[/one_fourth][one_fourth]
haptics:
The workmanship is impeccable. But - as always and again: there is simply a lack of attention to detail. The Qashqai scores particularly well with the climate control panel. This is logically structured and easy to use.
[/one_fourth] [one_fourth last=last]
Warranty:
Nissan offers a 3 year warranty. Given the pressure from Korea, that might soon not be enough. Compared to German premium manufacturers, however, it is even more attractive than the only 2-year guarantee there!
[/one_fourth]
And finally ...
"Once Upon a time…“This is not only how all fairy tales begin, in the future I will also have to talk about my aversion and my prejudices towards compact SUVs. (Yes, I have this formulation - something like that or very similar - already with the DS4 and at Kia Sportage uses 🙂 - but it also applies here!)
Actually, I never wanted to drive an SUV, but these vehicles offer an extreme range of comfort, practical use and - this is new - they are even really economical. In the case of the “Wanderer”, the nomad from Nissan - the consumption was just too shockingly low. However, I was able to find out often enough on the autobahn that I was still traveling in a 150 hp diesel.
A real, universal one Multipurpose motor vehicle - not only for nomads!
The conclusion:
There is no room for discussion: The points result in an overall ranking and are comparable across all vehicle classes - as they are directly and objectively based on the model class and target group. The more points, the better the vehicle. A sports car cannot achieve 100 points because its everyday use is low. A family van may fail in the “straight performance”. The ranking is of course completely subjective - it is that my-car-blog Ranking. Bjoern Habegger
Text / photos: Bjoern Habegger | autohub.de | 2012 |