Following the 2010 update of the Nissan Qashqai at the company’s Sunderland manufacturing plant in England, the South African operation has introduced this model to local buyers. I’ve driven the Qashqai before and I think it’s an awesome little machine deserving of its international success. Actually it’s one of the cars that emphasise Nissan’s revival in the industry, five years after near-bankruptcy threatened its very existence.
New to the exterior are the bonnet, which is now more muscular and redefined, a distinctive front grille with sporty undertones, different headlights, a rear lights cluster with 12 LED bulbs, as well as a new side aerodynamic spoiler. Roof rails seen on the 2.0-litre models are fitted as standard.
A new model line, already available in Europe, has been added for our market as well. It’s the Qashqai +2 which essentially adds a third row of seats in order for the car to accommodate up to 7 passengers in total. That vehicle is 211 millimetres longer than its normal sibling and comes with a wheelbase that’s 135mm longer. Because of the extra space demands it doesn’t have a full-sized spare wheel like the ordinary Qashqai, but features a thinner space-saver unit.
Jazzy 10-spoke diamond cut alloy wheels adorn the tyres and bring added funk to the looks. They measure 18-inches while the tyres are 215/55 R18s on all models except for the Qashqai +2 Visia entry-level which has 16-inch steel and 215/65 R16 tyres.
The great handling characteristics are assisted by the McPherson struts at the front and independent multilink setup with stabilisers at the rear. My first-hand experience behind the wheel around the Port Elizabeth area proved how agile this car still is.
The drivetrain features a 1.6-litre petrol, 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre dCi turbo diesel. The 1.6 is driven by a 5-speed manual, while a 6-speed manual and CVT transmission are available for the more powerful examples. At 81kW made at 6000rpm and 154Nm at 4400rpm, the 1.6 won’t light up the skies at all with its performance. Even the 2.0-litre petrol with its 102kW at 5200rpm and 198Nm at 4400rpm is only sufficient for everyday cruising, nothing special.
However, the 2.0 dCi would be the pick of the bunch, especially for those living at high altitude places like Gauteng, Free State and Limpopo. Expensive as it is, it kicks out 110kW at 4000rpm and 320Nm of torque at 2000rpm. Unfortunately because the South African government refuses to force oil companies to supply us with the cleanest available fuel all around the country, these engines are only Euro 3 compliant, making them relatively fuel inefficient compared to their Euro 4 and Euro 5 counterparts elsewhere.
Interior niceties include air conditioning (climate control for higher models), a CD audio system, electric windows, a 12 V power socket for recharge whatever items can be recharged, adjustable steering wheel, power steering and standard audio controls on the wheel.
Nissan says the Qashqai’s main rival is the Volkswagen Golf, yet this car sits higher than the German and offers a wider range of engines. Another close competitor Nissan probably overlooked is the popular but inferior-quality Dodge Caliber.
Whether buyers truly also think about these two cars when considering the Qashqai is neither here nor there. Fact is, this is a leader in its segment, and a real contender in the top-seller list.
Nissan Qashqai Pricing
Qashqai
1.6l Visia (R227 500)
1.6l Acenta (R248 500)
2.0l Acenta (R282 500)
2.0l Acenta CVT (R295 000)
2.0l Acenta dCi 4X2 (R308 000)
2.0l Acenta dCi 4X4 (R333 000)
Qashqai +2
1.6l Visia (R249 500)
2.0l Acenta (R303 500)
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