The new darling of Nissan

Photo courtesy Nissan
The Nissan Qashqai is intended for buyers of smaller utilities, but also to those who wish to replace a compact sedan from a vehicle more versatile.

Jacques Welcome

Sunday, 14 January 2018 20:31

UPDATE
Sunday, 14 January 2018 20:31

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In the past few months, Nissan offers a new, compact utility very interesting. Called Qashqai, this vehicle is spacious and well-equipped displays an elegant silhouette, which reminds a lot of the very popular Nissan Rogue.

Things are going well for Nissan and this is largely due to the utilities of its range. The canadian subsidiary of this brand in japan ended the year 2017, with sales up nearly 10 %, while overall sales at the national level increased by only 4.6 %. The gain for Nissan is more substantial on the side of its trucks, the sales of this category grew by 11.5 %, while its car sales have increased 7.7 %.

This success is very largely bound to a model : the utility of medium-size Rogue. Alone, it is responsible for a third of sales for Nissan Canada in the last year. But you should know that in addition to the Rogue, the other three utilities are among the five models Nissan sold last year, one of which is new and which is cut very quickly to a place of choice to drivers : the Qashqai.

With the Qashqai (pronounced ” cache-quail “), the manufacturer is aimed at buyers seeking a vehicle less cumbersome than a Rogue. Some of these buyers are eyeing the side of the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3, while others also have an interest in cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Mazda3 Sport. These consumers do not need a cabin with seven-passenger seating, a feature popular with certain buyers of the Rogue. On the other hand, they wish to have a vehicle that is more spacious than a Nissan Juke.

Photo courtesy Nissan

The interior of the Qashqai is very spacious, in front as behind, and the finish is neat.

SHORTER THAN A ROGUE

Built on a platform of Rogue shortened, the Qashqai is therefore shorter than the latter. It is also easier to maneuver and park. However, as the Rogue, it offers a driving position high and the possibility of obtaining a transmission integral.

Still new to us, this model has already existed for over 10 years. Nissan has manufactured more than 2.5 million Qashqai of two generations which have succeeded since 2007 to the markets of Europe and Asia. The current model is produced in the United Kingdom, as well as Japan where from the copies sold in us since last may.

This compact utility has a 4-cylinder 2.0 L direct-injection ; an engine of 141 hp, which is reserved in North America. A manual gearbox 6-speed figure among the standard specification of the entry-level version Qashqai S. Reserved for the canadian market, the manual transmission allows Nissan to offer this vehicle at good price, or 19 998 $.

The Qashqai SV and SL, which have an endowment more complete, are delivered to office with an automatic transmission to continuous variation. This gear box is associated with the all-wheel drive, an option for the SV model, whereas it is standard for the SL. As to the version’s lack of the power to the equip-wheel drive, the latter can nevertheless be equipped with the automatic transmission. The price of this version to be increased to $ 2,000, since this gearbox is combined with a cruise control and 17-inch wheels on the Qashqai SV. These alloy wheels are to replace then with steel wheels 16-inch entry-level model.

Although the manual box is particularly pleasant to use, because of its precise handling and a ratio adequate, for some, the automatic transmission will be more attractive since it contributes to limit the fuel consumption of this vehicle. For versions two and four wheel drive equipped with automatic transmission, natural Resources Canada announces ratings of average consumption of 8.1 and 8.4 L/100 km, while the version with manual transmission shows a rating of 9.2 L/100 km. Even a Rogue with four-wheel drive (automatic transmission) is better, as suggested by his average rating of 8.4 L/100 km. Of course, it is ratings best. By great cold, it can be expected to consume more fuel, as we have seen with a Qashqai SL Platinum leads during the last few days, which gave us an average of 10.3 L/100 km.

Photo courtesy Nissan

The dimensions of the useful volume of the trunk flexible in the Qashqai, the range between the Honda HR-V, champion of its class, and the Mazda CX-3.

VERSION PLATINUM VERY WELL-TO-DO

The appellation Platinum means a set of facilities reserved for the Qashqai SL. It raises its endowment by adding, among other things, LED headlamps, interface, NissanConnect with navigation and various applications, an adaptive cruise control and four devices driving assistance : a system of automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, an obstacle detector in the blind, a detection system and maintenance of way, even an alarm of traffic back transverse. This all pushes up the cost of the Qashqai SL of 2 700 $ and makes him take cheerfully the bar for 30 000 $… before tax.

This does not preclude the standard specification of this utility to be relatively satisfactory. It includes heated seats, an air conditioner, a rear view camera, electrically adjustable mirrors and a Bluetooth system for hands-free telephony. The implementation of Siri voice control is also part of, but it lacks the systems CarPlay from Apple and Android Auto.

The two versions of more richly equipped, the Qashqai SV and SL, have a remote start system that we particularly appreciate in this time of great coldness. It makes the interior more welcoming at the time of boarding. However, the small capacity engine of the Qashqai does not generate very quickly from the heat. In this regard, the heated seats, but also the heated steering wheel that have these two versions, are appreciated. A pity, however, that the button used to initiate the heating of the steering wheel, located very low to the extreme left of the dashboard, is so difficult to identify and reach.

The cabin offers a finish very correct, given the price of the vehicle. The interior is spacious in front as behind. In addition, the dimensions of the useful volume of the trunk very satisfactory place this Nissan among the HR-V, champion of its class, and the CX-3, which is less fortunate in this chapter.

The driving of the vehicle is generally pleasant, except on bumpy roads where the rear suspension proves to be noisy and don’t always manage to hide the defects of the coating. In addition, the automatic transmission lacks refinement. Acceleration, especially supported, often make this drivetrain noisy.

Beyond these irritants, the Qashqai remains competitive and desirable in a niche market where the innovations have not, however, finished multiply.

Nissan Kicks, a smaller size

Photo courtesy Nissan

Nissan Kicks 2018.

A new model joins the range Nissan in 2018. Called Kicks, it is up to the international auto Show of Montreal, presented from 19 to 28 January, that it will make its debut in Canada.

The Kicks is aimed at the niche of the growing market for small utilities ; a niche where sales are currently dominated by the Honda HR-V, Kia Soul, Subaru Crosstrek and Mazda CX-3.

This model, which will gradually replace the Juke, will offer a more spacious interior and more versatile. A body and a wheelbase slightly longer will give more space to the rear and a useful volume higher. A 4-cylinder 1.6-L that is said to be low consumption (7.1 L/100 km) delivers 125 horsepower to the front wheels through an automatic gearbox with continuous variation. The manufacturer will not offer all-wheel drive. In contrast, the standard specification will include a braking system, automatic emergency collision detector front, while a set of cameras perimeter Around View with detection of moving obstacles will be listed among the options. The Kicks will go on sale in Canada in early June and it will be manufactured at the factory Nissan in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Nissan Qashqai

Base price

19 998 $ (S BVM 2WD); 24 598 $ (SV BVA 2WD); 29 498 $ (SL BVA 4WD); 32 198 $ (SL Platinum PVA 4WD).

Transport and preparation

1 950 $

Powertrain

L4 DOHC 2.0 L, 141 hp at 6,000 rpm and 147 lb-ft at 4 400 r/min. Gearbox 6-speed manual or continuously variable automatic. Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Features

Four-wheel independent Suspension. Disc brakes to all four wheels. Anti-lock braking system series. Tires : 215/65R16; 215/60R17 (S and SV); 225/45R19 (SL).

Ratings

Wheelbase : 2 646 mm; length : 4 380 mm; width : 1 838 mm; height : 1 587 mm. Weight : 1 515-1 478 kg. Trunk Volume : 564-1 730 L. tank capacity : 55 L.

Average consumption

(test, BVA, 4WD) : 9.1 L/100 km.

Competition

Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax, Fiat 500X, Ford EcoSport, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Jeep Renegade , Jeep Compass, Mazda CX-3, Mitsubishi RVR, Nissan Kicks, Subaru Crosstrek, the Toyota C-HR

Strengths

• Elegant Silhouette
• Spacious interior
• All-wheel-drive effective

Weak Points

• Automatic transmission, room for improvement
• Command the heated steering wheel is a little practice
• CarPlay from Apple and Android Auto not available