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Nissan Qashqai two thousand sixteen review
January 27, two thousand sixteen by Perrys Content Team in Reviews
The original Qashqai wasn’t fairly a re-invention of the wheel, but it did herald the freshly cost-effective, family-sized SUVs that have since taken the market by storm. Amongst the most popular in this class, the Qashqai reached the end of a typical six-year life-cycle at the tail end of 2015, but has returned thicker, with lower fuel consumption and a greater choice of engines. So, will these switches, alongside some minor aesthetic tweaks, enable the fresh Qashqai to proceed to predominate one of the fastest growing car markets in the world?
Exterior
Drivers familiar with Nissan’s upgraded Qashqai will warm quickly to the latest version, as the exterior styling remains largely the same except for a few choice sporty additions. Subtle lines added to the bodywork of the previous, 2nd generation platform have added extra dynamism and bite. Re-designed LED daytime headlights have switched the car’s complexion somewhat, and are a welcome fresh feature, while standard 19-inch alloy wheels request respect even for the basic spec model of this car.
Interior
The interior is the most drastic visible transition from previous versions, mirroring the evolution of the SUV market. It’s modelled strenuously on that of the Rogue (available in the US), with a layout that surpasses the likes of the Kia Sportage and Hyundai’s ix35 in terms of feature orientation and practicality. The chunky plastic of yesteryear is gone, and the fresh Qashqai has far exceeded the standard hatchback levels of convenience and convenience. The interior is chic and contemporary, with sleek, ergonomic design features akin to Korean or German car manufacturers.
Keeping more or less the same outer shell means enhancing space in the Qashqai is all about margins. However, they’ve risen to the challenge, with puny adaptations (such as the removal of the handbrake lever) providing a much roomier feel. The adaptions that have been made to the outer shell have paid off in bucket geysers, with a modestly enlargened wheelbase providing more legroom for rear seat passengers and a lowered roofline that loses nothing in terms of headroom. Twenty litres has been added to an already generous boot space, bringing the total up to 1,585-litres with rear seats folded. Access is a cinch too, with the fresh tailgate opening 150mm higher and dual reversible floor panels that can be lowered all the way to a fully plane floor.
The fresh Qashqai comes with Nissan’s standard trim range, with four levels including Visia, Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna. Generously tooled across, even the entry level models come with Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, heated wing mirrors, hill embark assist, a tour computer and air conditioning. To fully take advantage of the Bluetooth system, a step up to the Acenta Premium gives access to Nissan’s advanced Connect system, which lets you control apps, sat nav and music from a centralised seven-inch screen.
On the road
Nissan have inducted two fresh engines into the Qashqai range, which now features two diesel and two petrol options. The base-level model includes a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine with 115bhp and 190nm torque, while the premium version features an Inline-4 1.6-litre engine with 161bhp with an approximate fuel consumption of Five.6-litres per 100km. The diesel options include a 1.5-litre dCi that cranks out 110bhp with a fuel consumption of Three.8-litres per 100km, as well as a powerful 1.6-litre variant that can generate 130bhp with a measly diet of Four.6-litres per 100km. Overall spectacle is as good as the old Qashqai and better, with acceleration enhanced to zero – 60mph in ten seconds and top speed shoved up to 125mph.
The two thousand sixteen Qashqai comes with a host of safety and monitoring systems to help keep you and your family protected on the road. Sensors surrounding the car have enabled the uptake of traffic sign detection, track departure warning, bling spot monitoring, front crash prevention and a rear-view camera. Meantime, there’s a host of passive features that improve safety and convenience, including numerous airbags and anti-lock braking, as well as binary piston shock absorbers and power steering with an innovative twist.
Verdict
With this latest model, Nissan have undoubtedly strengthened the Qashqai’s position as the nation’s favourite SUV crossover. Minor adaptions to engine capacity, cargo storage and interior design have seen the Qashqai grow from an innovative experiment that took the world by storm, into the big brother of the car class with a meteoric popularity that shows no sign of dying down. So, while rivals including the Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5 were catching up quick, the Qashqai two thousand sixteen is likely to stay the go-to option for practical, cost-effective family SUV motoring for the foreseeable future.
For more information on the fresh Nissan Qashqai or any of our other fresh cars, contact the experts at your local Perrys dealership today.