Back in the day, the name Qashqai created confusion especially in the South African context because we have cliques in our languages that use alphabets such as the c, q, and x. But we quickly learned that Qashqai was named after a nomadic tribe in southern Iran. The new Qashqai has grown in leaps and bounds, and so have its looks. There are plenty of options available out there when it comes to Crossover SUVs. We have seen manufacturers immerse themselves into providing as many options as they can for consumers in this segment. Nissan didn’t sit this one out, their refreshed third-generation Qashqai is here for the piece of the pie.
I was recently assigned the new Nissan Qashqai, a range-topping model; Acenta PLUS. First impressions? I struggled a bit with the front, the Vmotion grille, which is what they call it. It takes some getting used to. The overall styling of the refreshed Qashqai is quite striking and the car has undeniably moved up a notch.
The car is a pleasure to drive, thanks to the Xtronic automated transmission; smooth and quick on its feet. The 1,3-litre turbocharged engine is punchy, you can expect a responsive Qashqai on the freeway and even get one of those unsolicited road photoshoots along your trips. The engine pushes out a good 110kW/250Nm. I also found myself swooning over the comfy and exceptional cabin, there is plenty of room for everyone onboard and the premium finishes are evident, a good example is the Bose sound system with this spec and the Napa leather with quitted front seats. I must mention the road noise and I do feel a sunroof would make it that much nicer.
Safety Features
The Nissan Qashqai has some impressive features that are sure to keep the driver and passengers safe. Fitted with onboard Predictive Front Collision Warning which keeps an eye up to two vehicles ahead detects sudden deceleration ahead and gives the driver audible and visual warning to slow down. There’s also Lane Keeping Aid (LKA) that not only keeps the driver centered using either steering wheel action or brakes in an emergency and also aids in avoiding unintentional lane departure. An intuitive car that addresses driver fatigue and driving behaviour through its Driver Attention Alert (DAA) system. And that’s just to name a few.
The third-generation Qashqai made its way to the South African Car of the Year Finalists because it’s got a lot to offer, however, the segment is filled with some stiff competition; the likes of the new Kia Sportage are in the mix. If it took my sister just one glance and decided she wants the Qashqai, there must be a winning formula somewhere in this vehicle.
Model & Pricing:
- Qashqai Visia R568 200
- Acenta Xtronic CVT R639 300
- Acenta Plus Xtronic CVT (2-Tone) R644 800
BY MOTLATSI KEKANA
