Nissan

Monday, 8th of September 2008

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Nissan Qashqai 2.0 dCi Acenta 4x4 road test report

2.0 dCi Acenta 4x4

The Nissan Qashqai is a breath of fresh air – it’s stylish 4x4 image, spacious cabin and solid build make it a perfect choice for young families. The looks and driving position of an SUV that drives like a car.

Thanks to West Way Nissan who provided the Nissan Qashqai for the Road Test Report.
Contact Sarah Tare at West Way Nissan on 0845 344 1487 or email d1694svman@westwaynissan.co.uk

Performance

Nissan have really produced a fine diesel engine here which pulls well throughout the rev range and actually makes quite an appealing sound when pushed! At 150ps the 2.0 dci unit was never going to be sluggish, but it also manages to provide an average MPG of around 37.5. Not bad at all for a large vehicle. The 6th gear facility makes for comfortable motorway cruising although the Torque range is impressive enough to allow you to use high gearing in even the busiest inner city roads.

Ride & Handling

The ride is quite firm but this is simply indicative of the sporty handling of the Qashqai. The raised driving position is always appealing and adds to the comfort factor of the vehicle. Our car had the 4x4 option on it although this spec is usually restricted to models from the upper echelons of the range. We never needed to use it anyway and neither will the vast majority of Qashqai drivers on the road......unless they subsequently go off road of course!

Build Quality & Reliability

Really impressed with the progress Nissan has made with the quality of the interior of their new models. Previously this was perhaps the major drawback of Nissan Ownership. This appears to no longer be the case as Nissan catches up to its European competitors. Build quality has never been in doubt however and this remains the case with the Qashqai!

Safety & Security

There is an instinctive desire these days for people to drive raised and bulky vehicles as they perceive them to offer more protection to its occupants. The Qashqai manages to fill these criteria due to its SUV type appearance, on closer inspection though you can see that the Qashqai is no longer than the average hatchback! You definitely ‘feel’ safe in the Qashqai with air-bags and a very solid feel to the vehicle helping enormously.

Space & Practicality

The ergonomics of the Qashqai are very impressive with a lot of space for driver and passengers available in a car which is no longer or wider than most other vehicles on the road. Definitely a strong point of this vehicle!

Ownership & Value

There are at present some very attractive leasing deals available on the Qashqai, with 1.6 Petrol models going for less than £200 per month with some providers. If you can stretch to it I would encourage you to try the 2.0 Diesel unit as it has the same MPG as the 1.6 petrol but the performance is in a different league altogether. There is a huge amount of choice available within the range so chances are there is a Qashqai for you, especially if you have children but still want to enjoy driving every now and then!

Submitted: 29/05/2008 13:51:08

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