Motoring review: Superb new Nissan Qashqai sets itself up as the ideal family car
The SUV market is becoming an increasingly competitive platform for car manufacturers in Ireland, and there is certainly plenty of reasons for designers to change the style and performance diagnostics of their vehicles in an attempt to get the upper hand on their competitors.
It is somewhat striking to note that the Nissan Qashqai has not changed all that much in the last number of years, and that's no bad thing. Opposition in the marketplace is fierce, with the likes of the Ford Kuga and the Hyundai Tucson also being highly popular amongst car buyers, so it is always imperative that the Japanese producers hold their own.
It is now nine years since Nissan unleashed the Qashqai into the market, and the style of the vehicle has yet to drastically change. That's simply because the original design is fine. There are no striking aspects on the exterior, but it is a stylishly simple looking SUV that would leave very few people grimacing at the sight of it.
The aim behind the production of the Qashqai was to target families, and there are certainly many of the boxes ticked that one would look for in a family vehicle. It's a spacious SUV, with plenty of leg room in both the front and the back, while a rather large 430 litre boot space is ideal for trips to the supermarket.
Inside the vehicle there are a number of different options a perspective buyer can go for. The XE version is the cheapest model on the market, but the features included in that model are quite good compared to what other cars in the market offer for this type of price. There is bluetooth as standard, while there is also an eye-catching 5" touchscreen. There is a lack of alloys on this version however, which does grate somewhat.
If you want a little more bang for your buck, the SV model provides 17" alloys that come in a number of different designs, while there is also dual-climate air conditioning.
There are a range of different engine sizes available to buyers, but the 1.5 diesel engine is certainly the most popular. It's a 6-speed 109bhp version, meaning it's very cheap to run and there is still quite a decent amount of power under the bonnet. The other versions that Nissan offer are a 1.2 litre 113bhp model and a 1.6 litre 161bhp model. Both would be slightly more expensive to run than the diesel version, but the 1.6 litre petrol model is very quick.
Nissan have rolled out a whole new raft of safety options too, which mirror that are on offer from other car manufacturers. Features such as traffic sign recognition, forward emergency breaking and moving object detection are all incredibly modern safety gadgets that are available on the top model of the Qashqai.
The cheapest available version of the Qashqai i the 1.2 litre petrol version which is priced at €26,620, while standard 1.5 diesel model is priced from €28,520.
Contact your local Kildare dealer at Naas Nissan, Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare
Phone: (045) 888 438 Hours: Open today · 9am-6pm.