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QASH CONVERTERS

Models Covered: Five-door crossover February 2007- to date: [1.6, 2.0 petrol 1.5, 2.0 diesel (Qashqai, Qashqai+2, Visia, Acenta, Tekna)]

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Although the Qashqai probably wasn’t the innovation that Nissan would have us believe, it’s still a very interesting and capable alternative to the usual family hatch. Throughout the line up, there are pragmatic choices that buyers can make. Standard or Qashqai+ long wheelbase body styles? Petrol or diesel engine? All-wheel drive or front-wheel drive? The Qashqai’s flexibility means that it’s as pragmatic or as adventurous as you want to make it.

"There’s change in the air… Thanks to the Nissan Qashqai, something different has arrived. You need never drive a boring car again." That’s quite the big build up from one of Nissan’s senior product planners and it’s driven home with claims that the Qashqai is "a catalyst for change, a totally new vehicle in a totally new sector of the market", and a car which should be seen as an "urban nomad." There’s even reference to the boldly asymmetric interior, which I took to mean a steering wheel on one side and a lack of one on the other. At this point any right-thinking person’s capacity for hyperbole would overflow and it’s my duty to tell it like it is. The Qashqai, in reality, is somewhere between an all-wheel drive-orientated Family Hatchback (like a Fiat Sedici or a Suzuki SX4) and a road-orientated compact 4x4 (like Toyota’s RAV4 or Honda’s CR-V). And, like all of the current versions of these cars, it incorporates MPV-style practicalities on board. Like many rivals of this kind, the Qashqai offers the choice of a two or a four-wheel drive platform, the front-wheel drive model being perfectly adequate for 95% of customer’s requirements. In case you were wondering where the wacky name came from, it’s pronounced ‘kash-kai’ and is named after a desert-dwelling nomadic tribe from South Western Iran. Perhaps the Qashqai was a bigger deal for Nissan than it was to the average Joe in the street as it was the first model to be styled by Nissan Design Europe in London, with engineering input from Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. First shown at the 2006 Paris Show, the Qashqai was part of Nissan’s move towards utility vehicles in varying sizes and away from the established supermini, family hatch, medium range saloon hierarchy.

There are two bodystyle choices, the standard model joined in the last quarter of 2008 by a Qashqai+2 seven-seater variant. Here, everything behind the windscreen pillars has been modified. The wheelbase has been extended by 135mm and the overall length has grown by 211mm to 4,526mm. To make sure that rear seat occupants don’t feel too hemmed in, the roof line has been reprofiled as well, adding 38mm to the car’s height. The doors have been redesigned and the side windows are now bigger, as is the rear tailgate window, making the back feel anything but claustrophobic. The middle row of seats splits 40/40/40 and the backrest reclines to no fewer than nine adjustment positions. The Qashqai+2’s back row of seats is designed for kids or adults up to 1.6m (5’3"), the seats fold 50/50 and can be folded away simply by pulling a strap. There’s no need to go through the hassle of removing head rests first. When folded down there’s a massive 500 litres of stowage space, and the rear hatch is both wider and has a lower loading sill than the standard Qashqai model. There’s even an underfloor stowage area to keep valuables out of sight. The sturdy lid of this stowage area also doubles as a cargo divider to prevent your eggs getting squashed by your Irn Bru. Built at Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK in Sunderland, the Qashqai is undoubtedly a good-looking design. The rising hipline gives it a wedgy, athletic look and the canted C-pillar is a design cue nicked from the bigger Murano. The Qashqai’s front end is a good deal less extreme than the Murano, a vehicle that looks like an alien lander, the smaller vehicle favouring a more conventional front grille and lights arrangement. A large panoramic sunroof gives the cabin an airy feel. The dashboard is cleanly styled with a neat centre stack and uses better materials than Nissans of late.

Prices start at £11,500 for a 1.6-litre font-wheel drive Qashqai Visia on an 07 plate. These cars are quite widespread, so be fussy. Visias fitted with the CVT gearbox, 2.0-litre manual Visa models or 1.6-litre Acenta models all open at just under £13,000. For £14,000 you’ll be looking at a low mileage 1.5dCi Visia or a slightly higher mileage Acenta with the same engine but you’ll need £15,000 to get into a Visia 2.0 dCi model. The Qashqai+ models are still rather thin on the ground and Tekna versions of the Qashqai didn’t sell particularly well either. Insurance is modest, ranging between Group 5 and Group 10.

As with any compact car that bills itself as a 4x4, look for damage caused by previous keepers taking that claim a little too seriously. This means suspension and exhaust inspections and also a look at the wheel arch liners and front spoiler to check that nothing’s hanging on with cable ties. The interior of the Qashqai is tough enough although the rear extremities can be tough to keep tabs on and can incur parking scrapes. All the engines are tried and tested units with the diesels being particularly robust.

(Approx. values for a 2007 Qashqai Visia 4x2 1.6) A clutch assembly will be around £195 and front brake pads are around £45; it’s around £40 for the rear set. An alternator should be close to £250 and a radiator around £175.

The ALL-MODE 4x4 system is available on the 2.0-litre vehicles and cost an extra £1,400 when new. This is an electronic system which automatically engages four-wheel drive the moment a loss of traction is detected. It offers more safety and security in extreme weather on-road. Nissan makes no bones of the fact that the Qashqai is anything but an off-roader, citing its lack of ground clearance. What precludes it from tackling rutted tracks makes it a better car on the blacktop, the hunkered down centre of gravity giving the Nissan the driving dynamics of a typical family hatch. Nissan has built an enviable reputation for safety and the Qashqai incorporates a number of noteworthy features. Accurate electrically-assisted power steering, multi-link rear suspension and beefy anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution should well be enough to keep you out of a prang in the first instance and there’s also the additional safety net of Bosch’s eighth-generation ESP stability control.

The Nissan Qashqai positioned itself as the alternative to the everyday hatch but has become a bit of a victim of its own success. These days a Qashqai probably isn’t the thing to have if you want to be different. If, on the other hand, you want a solidly engineered vehicle with a raised seat position but which doesn’t attract the ire of militant greens, a used Qashqai has a lot to be said for it.

STRETCHING YOUR QASH
Nissan’s Qashqai was a surprise hit following its 2007 launch and strong initial sales were achieved without the aid of the seven-seater ‘+2’ model that we look at here. With this more complete range, Nissan has good reason to be confident about the car’s chances. Andy Enright reports

Cottoning onto the fact that there exist a host of families who want neither a big, bulky 4x4 nor a style vacuum that most MPV people movers represent, Nissan has brought us the seven seat Qashqai+2. A true ‘crossover’ vehicle with elements of a number of genres, the company hopes it’ll catch on. Don’t bet against it.

Nissan has some form when it comes to bucking convention. When the Almera was pensioned off, it wasn’t replaced by anything directly comparable. The same went for the Primera, evidence that Nissan was tearing up the rule book and abandoning this middle market. Instead, the company concentrated on producing more ‘lifestyle’ choices amongst its vehicle portfolio with cars like the Micra C+C, the 350Z, the Pathfinder and the Navara all doing very good business. The Qashqai has also been a big hit, offering an alternative to the conventional family hatch without looking like a big, profligate urban 4x4. Now it’s bigger but still looks anything but a Chelsea tractor. The Qashqai+2 taps into a market that needs a sizeable family car that will see occasional seven seat usage but which still looks socially acceptable and has a modicum of style. Think for a moment how many other cars can fulfil that brief and you’ll understand why Nissan is so bullish about this model. There’s one of the widest choices of engines in the sector with two diesels and two petrol powerplants. The range kicks off with a 1.6-litre 115bhp petrol unit and moves up through 106bhp 1.5dCi diesel and 140bhp 2.0-litre petrol units before topping-out with the 150bhp 2.0-litre dCi diesel. Nissan hasn’t skimped when it comes to transmission options either, the Qashqai+2 being supplied with five and six-speed manual boxes, a six-speed auto option and even an advanced Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT).

"For families who want neither a big, bulky 4x4 nor a style vacuum that most MPV people movers represent…"

The ALL-MODE 4x4 system is available on the 2.0-litre vehicles. This is an electronic system which automatically engages four-wheel drive the moment a loss of traction is detected. It offers more safety and security in extreme weather on-road. Nissan makes no bones of the fact that the Qashqai+2 is anything but an off-roader, citing its lack of ground clearance. What precludes it from tackling rutted tracks makes it a better car on the blacktop, the hunkered down centre of gravity giving the Nissan the driving dynamics of a typical family hatch. The Qashqai+2 weighs 100kg more than its five seat sibling and the suspension and steering systems have been retuned to take account of this. Everything from the windscreen pillars forward is standard Qashqai. Everything behind this point has been modified in the Qashqai+2. The wheelbase has been extended by 135mm and the overall length has grown by 211mm to 4,526mm. To make sure that rear seat occupants don’t feel too hemmed in, the roof line has been reprofiled as well, adding 38mm to the car’s height. The doors have been redesigned and the side windows are now bigger, as is the rear tailgate window, making the back feel anything but claustrophobic. The middle row of seats splits 40/40/40 and the backrest reclines to no fewer than nine adjustment positions. The back row of seats is designed for kids or adults up to 1.6m (5’3"), the seats fold 50/50 and can be folded away simply by pulling a strap. There’s no need to go through the hassle of removing head rests first. When folded down, there’s a massive 500 litres of stowage space, and the rear hatch is both wider and has a lower loading sill than the standard Qashqai model. There’s even an underfloor stowage area to keep valuables out of sight. The sturdy lid of this stowage area also doubles as a cargo divider to prevent your eggs getting squashed by your Irn Bru. Like the five seat Qashqai, the +2 is available in three different trim and equipment versions – the now familiar Visia, Acenta and Tekna levels.Depending on the version, standard equipment includes automatic lighting, automatic wipers, speed sensitive door locking, cruise control, privacy glass, electric windows, parking sensors, a choice of 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels and Nissan’s Intelligent Key. Manual or automatic air conditioning incorporates mild flow ventilation while to provide sufficient airflow for the rearmost passengers, a larger compressor is fitted. Also standard are the full-length panoramic glass roof and roof rails. Nissan has built an enviable reputation for safety and the Qashqai+2 incorporates a number of noteworthy features. Accurate electrically-assisted power steering, multi-link rear suspension and beefy anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution could well be enough to keep you out of a prang in the first instance and there’s also the additional safety net of eighth-generation ESP stability control from Bosch. There’s little doubt that the Qashqai will find ready buyers when the time comes to sell as it seems to have struck a chord with British customers looking for a socially responsible alternative to the usual ‘Chelsea tractor.’ The front wheel drive cars are in even hotter demand than the four-wheel drive models as a result. The front-wheel drive diesel model with the manual gearbox returns 42.8mpg. To give you an idea of how easy it is to dent this once all-wheel drive comes into the equation, the automatic 4x4 diesel variant gets a mere 36.2mpg. The same goes for carbon dioxide emissions. Where the 2wd manual diesel emits a reasonable 174g/km, the 4x4 diesel automatic isn’t anything like so saintly at 208g/km. Going for the petrol 1.6? Well, the official combined fuel economy figure of 42.2mpg is a lot better than you’d expect from a petrol-powered compact 4x4. Go for the 2.0-litre petrol and that figure falls to 34.9mpg. There aren’t too many cars that aim to exploit an as-yet untapped niche which seem as guaranteed of success as the Nissan Qashqai+2. Like all the best ideas, it’s dumbfounding that nobody thought of it before. Perhaps it’s a case of an idea whose time has come. Research has shown that we demand more of our cars in terms of space and versatility but this is balanced against an increasing environmental concern that makes big, profligate vehicles appear rather gauche. The Nissan Qashqai+2 taps into this mindset and is sure to generate a host of me-too imitators in due course. Many of these will be rushed into production without the depth of engineering of the Qashqai+2. With a broad range that encompasses four engines, three trim levels and the choice of two or four-wheel drive, it’s hard to see how Nissan can fail.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Nissan Qashqai+2 range PRICES: £15,250-£22,250 [est] - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-10 [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 139-208g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0 petrol 2WD] 0-60mph 10.1s / Top Speed 112mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 petrol 2WD] (urban) 26.4mpg / (extra urban) 42.8mpg / (combined) 34.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, Active front headrests. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4521/1780/1648 mm

MAKING YOUR QASH GO FURTHER
Nissan’s QASHQAI has caused a few heads to be scratched. The diesel model makes things a little clearer. Andy Enright takes a look

Perhaps we should have seen vehicles like the QASHQAI coming a while back when Nissan decided not to replace the Almera with anything directly comparable. That was one of the first signs that the Japanese company was ditching the traditional family hatch market and moving into producing more ‘lifestyle’ choices amongst its vehicle portfolio. The slow-selling Primera wasn’t doing much for the company’s bottom line and so it has devoted its attention to cars like the QASHQAI, the 350Z, the Pathfinder and the Navara. Initial financial reports look like that’s been a smart move.

The QASHQAI in particular is fascinating, Nissan having produced a car that sits amid a range of big 4x4s yet acts as an articulate riposte to any all-wheel drive backlash. The diesel version we look at here boasts the ride height of a 4x4 and the same feeling of security, allied to a choice of all-wheel-drive or conventional front-wheel drive and a body that’s manageably sized. Could it just be too clever for its own good though? The 2.0-litre dCi engine generates 150bhp at 4,000rpm and a healthy 320Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. Nissan expects this to be the most popular pick in the QASHQAI range and with good reason. Co-developed by Renault and Nissan, the engine is decently refined, yet not slow to deliver its mid-range performance. Nissan hasn’t skimped when it comes to transmissions, the QASHQAI 2.0 dCi being supplied with either a six-speed manual box or a six-speed auto option. The ALL-MODE 4x4 system is available for an extra £1,600 over the base price. This is an electronic system which automatically engages four-wheel drive the moment a loss of traction is detected. It offers more safety and security in extreme weather on the road. Nissan makes no bones of the fact that the QASHQAI is anything but an off-roader, citing its lack of ground clearance. What precludes it from tackling rutted tracks makes it a better car on the blacktop, the hunkered down centre of gravity giving the Nissan the driving dynamics of a typical family hatch.

"It’s a vehicle that’s judged the public mood perfectly"

Nissan has built an enviable reputation for safety and the QASHQAI incorporates a number of noteworthy features. Accurate electrically-assisted power steering, multi-link rear suspension and beefy anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution could well be enough to keep you out of a prang in the first instance and there’s also the additional safety net of eighth-generation ESP stability control from Bosch. "There’s change in the air… Thanks to the Nissan QASHQAI, something different has arrived. You need never drive a boring car again." That’s quite the big build up from one of Nissan’s senior product planners and it’s driven home with claims that the QASHQAI is "a catalyst for change, a totally new vehicle in a totally new sector of the market", and a car which should be seen as an "urban nomad." There’s even reference to the boldly asymmetric interior, which I took to mean a steering wheel on one side and a lack of one on the other. At this point any right-thinking person’s capacity for hyperbole would overflow and it’s my duty to tell it like it is. The QASHQAI, in reality, is somewhere between an all-wheel drive-orientated family hatchback (like a Fiat Sedici or a Suzuki SX4) and a road-orientated compact 4x4 (like Toyota’s RAV4 or Honda’s CR-V). And, like all of the current versions of these cars, it incorporates MPV-style practicalities on board. Like many rivals of this kind, the QASHQAI offers the choice of a two or a four-wheel-drive platform, the front-wheel drive model being perfectly adequate for 95% of customer’s requirements. In case you were wondering where the wacky name came from, it’s pronounced ‘kash-kai’ and is named after a desert-dwelling nomadic tribe from South Western Iran. Trim levels run from Visia through Acenta to Tekna but there are quite a dizzying range of variants depending on whether you want auto or manual gearboxes, sat nav or just a dog eared A-Z or whether you want to fork out for all-wheel-drive or stick with power going to the front pair of wheels only. Prices start at £16,499 and top out at £20,899 for a Tekna. Even the Visia models are well appointed with ESP stability control, 16-inch alloy wheels, a CD stereo with four speakers, Bluetooth compatibility on the audio system, air conditioning and a drive computer. Trade up to Acenta and you get features such as rain sensing wipers, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a better stereo and 17-inch alloys. Tekna models receive leather upholstery, funky interior mood lighting, heated front seats and xenon headlights. The development of this model is illuminating. Despite its external similarity to the bigger Murano model, the QASHQAI is the first car designed from scratch by Nissan Design Europe, based in London. Home to more than sixty international designers, modellers and support staff, NDE’s first brief was to convert the Micra hatchback into the convertible C+C. A much bigger project was to develop the QASHQAI as a vehicle not just for European markets but as a car that is sold globally. It’s also the first European vehicle built on the Nissan/Renault Alliance ‘C’ platform and follows the launch in Japan of the Nissan Lafesta, a badge that probably wouldn’t scan too well in English-speaking markets. There’s little doubt that the QASHQAI will find ready buyers when the time comes to sell as it seems to have struck a chord with British customers looking for a socially responsible alternative to the usual ‘Chelsea tractor.’ The front wheel drive cars are in even hotter demand than the four-wheel drive models as a result. The front-wheel drive model with the manual gearbox returns 42.8mpg. To give you an idea of how easy it is to dent this once all-wheel drive comes into the equation, the automatic 4x4 car gets a mere 36.2mpg. The same goes for carbon dioxide emissions. Where the 2wd manual car emits a reasonable 174g/km, the 4x4 automatic isn’t anything like so saintly at 208g/km. When it comes to buying a QASHQAI, you’ve got to box clever. Buying the all-wheel-drive variant is, to not put too fine a point on it, a bit of a waste of time. It doesn’t possess any real off-road ability, it puts a dent in the fuel economy figures and may be of benefit on the odd snowy day but the rest of the year it’ll mean hauling around some largely redundant mechanicals. Save yourself the bother and go for a front-wheel drive model, with a manual box for mixed driving and an auto box if you’re going to be stuck in the city for much of the time. The QASHQAI 2.0dCi is a brilliant city scoot, being tall enough to spot a gap, narrow enough to fit through it and short enough to park once you get where you’re going. It’s also decently economical and doesn’t draw the wrong sort of attention. I can see why Nissan sell every one of the 700 they make per day. It’s a vehicle that’s judged the public mood perfectly.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Nissan QASHQAI 2.0 dCi PRICES: £16,499-£20,899 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 8-10 CO2 EMISSIONS: [2wd manual] 174g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.0s / Max Speed 134mph [est] FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2wd manual] 42.8mpg (combined) STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, Active front headrests. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm 4310/1780/1610

QASH CONVERTER
Is the crossover Qashqai quite as novel as Nissan claims? Andy Enright isn’t sure

Immerse yourself in the launch hype surrounding Nissan’s Qashqai crossover vehicle and you could easily become convinced that this was the next big thing, Nissan plunging headlong into a brand new motoring niche. Step back a few paces, detach your brain from the endless lifestyle images being pumped at you and you’ll have cause to ask yourself whether the boldly-styled Nissan is anything really that new.

The Qashqai, in reality, is somewhere between an all-wheel drive-orientated Family Hatchback (like a Fiat Sedici or a Suzuki SX4) and a road-orientated compact 4x4 (like Toyota’s RAV4 or Honda’s CR-V). And, like all of the current versions of these cars, it incorporates MPV-style practicalities on board. Like many rivals of this kind, the Qashqai offers the choice of a two or a four-wheel drive platform, the front-wheel drive model being perfectly adequate for 95% of customer’s requirements. In case you were wondering where the wacky name came from, it’s pronounced ‘kash-kai’ and is named after a desert-dwelling nomadic tribe from South Western Iran. A little frisson of the Axis of Evil adds an exotic feel to the Nissan and although it’s easy to be a little cynical about the window dressing, there can be little doubt that the product on display is rock solid. There’s one of the widest choices of engines in the sector with two diesels and two petrol powerplants. Prices start at £13,799 and things start off with a 1.6-litre 115bhp petrol unit and move up through 106bhp 1.5dCi diesel and 140bhp 2.0-litre petrol units before topping-out with the 150bhp 2.0-litre dCi diesel. Nissan hasn’t skimped when it comes to transmission options either, the Qashqai being supplied with five and six-speed manual boxes, a six-speed auto option and even an advanced Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT).

"The Qashqai aims to roll the best features of a family hatch, a mini-MPV and a compact 4x4 into one appealing package"

The ALL-MODE 4x4 system is available on the 2.0-litre vehicles for an extra £1,400. This is an electronic system which automatically engages four-wheel drive the moment a loss of traction is detected. It offers more safety and security in extreme weather on-road. Nissan makes no bones of the fact that the Qashqai is anything but an off-roader, citing its lack of ground clearance. What precludes it from tackling rutted tracks makes it a better car on the blacktop, the hunkered down centre of gravity giving the Nissan the driving dynamics of a typical family hatch. There are two bodystle choices too, the standard model now joined by a Qashqai+2 seven-seater variant. Here, everything behind the windscreen pillars has been modified. The wheelbase has been extended by 135mm and the overall length has grown by 211mm to 4,526mm. To make sure that rear seat occupants don’t feel too hemmed in, the roof line has been reprofiled as well, adding 38mm to the car’s height. The doors have been redesigned and the side windows are now bigger, as is the rear tailgate window, making the back feel anything but claustrophobic. The middle row of seats splits 40/40/40 and the backrest reclines to no fewer than nine adjustment positions. The Qashqai+2’s back row of seats is designed for kids or adults up to 1.6m (5’3"), the seats fold 50/50 and can be folded away simply by pulling a strap. There’s no need to go through the hassle of removing head rests first. When folded down there’s a massive 500 litres of stowage space, and the rear hatch is both wider and has a lower loading sill than the standard Qashqai model. There’s even an underfloor stowage area to keep valuables out of sight. The sturdy lid of this stowage area also doubles as a cargo divider to prevent your eggs getting squashed by your Irn Bru. Built at Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK in Sunderland, the Qashqai is undoubtedly a good-looking design. The rising hipline gives it a wedgy, athletic look and the canted C-pillar is a design cue nicked from the bigger Murano. The Qashqai’s front end is a good deal less extreme than the Murano, a vehicle that looks like an alien lander, the smaller vehicle favouring a more conventional front grille and lights arrangement. A large panoramic sunroof gives the cabin an airy feel. The dashboard is cleanly styled with a neat centre stack and uses better materials than Nissans of late. Nissan has built an enviable reputation for safety and the Qashqai incorporates a number of noteworthy features. Accurate electrically-assisted power steering, multi-link rear suspension and beefy anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution should well be enough to keep you out of a prang in the first instance and there’s also the additional safety net of Bosch’s eighth-generation ESP stability control. While there’s an inevitable avalanche of breathless hype to accompany the Qashqai and even a BBC news piece that featured puzzled members of the public trying to pronounce its name, the reality is a welcome addition to the ranks of road-biased compact 4x4s. It has some serious competition to face down but Nissan’s recent track record is near faultless. You wouldn’t bet against it.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Nissan Qashqai range PRICES: £13,799-£20,999 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-10 CO2 EMISSIONS: 145-204g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0 petrol 2WD] 0-60mph 10.1s / Top Speed 119mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 petrol 2WD] (urban) 26.4mpg / (extra urban) 42.8mpg / (combined) 34.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, Active front headrests. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm 4310/1780/1610

FLASHING THE QASH
Nissan’s Qashqai is fast becoming the 4x4 it’s OK to like. Except in 1.6-litre form, it isn’t a 4x4. Steve Walker reports

It’s useful for car buyers to pigeonhole cars, it helps us get a grasp of what sort of vehicle we’re looking for. It’s a way of narrowing down the mass of models that are lurking out there these days, making like for like comparisons and, hopefully, of reaching an effective decision. That’s what makes Nissan’s Qashqai a bit problematic. Most people are damned if they can work out what it is. Nissan flummoxed some of the industry’s finest minds when they pulled the covers off this one and most are still none the wiser. Your best bet in trying to nail it down is to let the hammer fall somewhere between the compact 4x4s and the family hatchbacks. If that doesn’t help, give up and just try to judge the Qashqai on its merits as we do here with the 1.6-litre version.

Our streets are rammed with 4x4 vehicles bought for reasons of fashion and practicality that will never turn a wheel on mud, grass or snow. Most are massively more capable than their owners would dare to imagine but their off-road ability comes at a cost. Many of the same qualities that make a vehicle strong in the rough compromise its performance on the road so 4x4s manufacturers are inevitably forced into a compromise. Or are they? Nissan took a refreshing approach with the Qashqai, and the entry-level 2WD versions in particular. By ditching any pretence of off-road ability, the Qashqai optimises its performance in the conditions where buyers actually use it. The 1.6-litre unit is the entry-point into the Qashqai club. At the opposite end of the range there are models with four driven wheels but only the front pair get the power in the 1.6. The engine produces a respectable 115bhp and can propel the Qashqai through the 0-60mph sprint in 12s before topping out at 109mph. Performance is aided by the absence of a hefty 4x4 drivetrain. The four-wheel-drive 2.0-litre model has 140bhp but isn’t that much quicker, it takes 10.5s to reach 60mph and can only muster a 111mph top speed. The Qashqai is still a substantial vehicle and the 1.6 doesn’t move it along with any great pace but it’s reasonably refined when you drive in a measured fashion and has more than enough grunt to get around town with.

"If you’re going to be doing most of your driving in the urban traffic, the 1.6 has all the power you need"

The Qashqai may have dumped most of the traditional 4x4 design features but it retains the tall shape and high ride height, even if they are toned down a little. This inevitably leads some body roll when cornering but the angles of lean are less severe than in most compact 4x4s. Otherwise, the driving experience is pretty good. The speed sensitive steering has a nice heft to it on the open road and provokes crisp responses while the suspension serves up a comfortable ride with less of the annoying bounce you can experience with proper off-roaders. Riding a little loftier than a conventional family hatchback, the Qashqai takes speed humps in its stride and it’s that much easier to get a good view out for parking or turning into traffic. At these low speeds the steering lightens up noticeably to taking the strain out of tight manoeuvres. The Qashqai’s styling has more in common with 4x4s than family hatchbacks. The classic off-roader design cues pop-up all over the exterior. Thick bumpers, dark plastic lining down the flanks and round wheelarches, a bold grille, big square headlamps and the chunky, upright stance, its all present and correct. The interior isn’t as spacious as the boxy dimensions might lead you to believe. Space in the front two seats is fine but the rear bench is only really wide enough for two adults unless it’s a really short journey. Headroom isn’t great in the back if you’re over six foot as the Qashqai’s racy sloping roofline comes into play. The full length glass sunroof fitted on certain models is great for adding light to the cabin but cuts back further on rear headroom. For larger families, there’s the option of a Qashqai+2 seven-seater model. Here, the doors have been redesigned and the side windows are bigger, as is the rear tailgate window, making the back feel anything but claustrophobic. The middle row of seats splits 40/40/40 and the backrest reclines to no fewer than nine adjustment positions. The back row of seats is designed for kids or adults up to 1.6m (5’3"), the seats fold 50/50 and can be folded away simply by pulling a strap. When folded down there’s a massive 500 litres of stowage space, and the rear hatch is both wider and has a lower loading sill than the standard Qashqai model. The Qashqai is a very well built car and you quickly come to that conclusion after a few slams on the doors and a twiddle with the controls. The impression that you’re in a 4x4 is rife as you sit in the upright driving position and look out across the dash. The clusters of buttons on the centre console are difficult to get to grips with at first and the layout isn’t particularly easy on the eye but the instrument cluster is far more pleasing and intuitive. The steering wheel feels compact and wieldy in the hand with controls for the stereo and the cruise control (if you have it) mounted prominently on it. The boot runs to 410 litres and is wide with a high floor for lifting items out easily. The 1.6-litre engine is available in all three Qashqai trim levels and constitutes the cheapest option in each. £13,799 will get you the VISIA with its trip computer, electric windows, a CD stereo, air-conditioning, speed sensitive power steering and 16" alloy wheels. The ACENTA trim level needs another £1,500 and adds rain sensing wipers, a CD autochanger, cruise control, rear parking sensors, climate control and front fog lights in to the mix. Finally, comes the range-topping TENKA has the panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, Xenon headlamps and 17" wheels for £16,799. Overall, equipment levels are strong and all Qashqai derivatives get passenger side and curtain airbags although ESP stability control is a cost option on the 1.6-litre model. As a result of its positioning somewhere between the conventional family hatch and compact 4x4 market sectors, things could have gone one of two ways for the Qashqai. The car might have slipped from the memory as buyers failed to understand or care what it was all about, preferring to stick with what they know. Alternatively, it could have tapped into the zeitgeist and had the run of both sectors. Fortunately for Nissan, the later appears to be true. Despite looking like a bit of a gamble at first, the Qashqai has sold strongly on the back of its unusual mix of qualities. The official combined fuel economy figure of 42.2mpg is a lot better than you’d expect from a petrol powered compact 4x4 giving the 2WD 1.6-litre Qashqai a further edge over the competition. It’s also more economical than the 2.0-litre dCi diesel model that carts around the 4x4 transmission. Around town, this is likely to fall to something more like 33mpg but that’s still not a disaster. CO2 emissions are measured at 159g/km and the 1.6 engine drops into insurance group 6. There’s little doubt that the Qashqai will find ready buyers when the time comes to sell as it has struck a chord with British customers looking for a socially responsible alternative to the usual ‘Chelsea tractor.’ The front wheel drive cars are actually in even hotter demand than the four-wheel drive models as a result and so 1.6-litre owners can expect hearty residuals. The Qashqai is a bit of a misfit but in breaking with the conventional categories that manufacturers slot their vehicles into, Nissan has hit on a winning formula. The Qashqai takes the features that make most people buy compact 4x4s, including the chunky looks, the high driving position and the accessibility, but gets rid of the heavy-duty mechanicals that buyers never use. It makes perfect sense when you think about it and the 1.6-litre versions take things to their logical extreme by ditching four-wheel-drive completely. Rival marques will be kicking themselves that they never came up with it first. The 1.6-litre engine is Qashqai’s least exciting powerplant but it suits the vehicle’s outlook rather well. By doing away with the stuff that we don’t really need, Nissan has created a tight and functional product that contrasts strongly with the ostentation and excess that gets some 4x4s such a bad press. If you’re going to be doing most of your driving in the urban traffic, the 1.6 has all the power you need and the Qashqai could quite easily be all the car you need as well.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Nissan Qashqai 1.6 PRICES: £13,799-£16,799 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 6 CO2 EMISSIONS: 159g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.0s / Max Speed 109mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 33.6mpg / (extra urban) 49.6mpg / (combined) 42.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS with Brake Assist and EBD / Active front headrests / front, side and curtain airbags. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm 4310/1780/1610