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Nissan Qashqai now fit for seven at a squeeze
publication date: Oct 25, 2008
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author/source: David Miles
 | | | The crossover Qashqai built in the UK at Sunderland Tyne and Wear has been a big sales success for Nissan, not just in the UK but throughout Europe. Nissan say the Qashqai in its original five-door, five-seat form started the ‘crossover' movement combining the function of a C-segment hatchback with the looks of an SUV but with the option of two and four wheel drive models.
In fact proving that customers like SUV styling but in the main do not require 4x4 traction, 75pc of Qashqai UK sales to date have been for the two-wheel drive models.
Now Nissan is introducing a longer wheelbase seven-seat version, called Qashqai+2, again with two and four wheel drive model options with petrol and diesel engines at prices ranging from £17,199 to £23,799.
The five-seat Qashqai was launched in the UK in March 2007 and has achieved 32,000 sales so far in the UK and 250,000 across Europe. Nissan GB expects the seven seat version to attract 3,200 customers between now and the end of next March, 9,000 in 2009. and 50,000 in Europe in its first full year of sales.
Nissan GB expect UK sales to be split 50-50 between 2.0-litre petrol and diesel models, 90pc with manual transmission and 75pc to be two-wheel drive. Visia specification will attract 25pc of customers, Acenta 50pc and top of the range Tekna 25pc. Nissan GB said at its media launch they expect most of the sales to come from conquest customers rather than current Qashqai owners moving from their five-seat models. Competitors will be typical C-segment SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4, C-segment MPVs such as the Vauxhall Zafira and D-segment estates such as the Ford Mondeo.
Aimed at families who have the need for seven seats, or five seats and extra load space in their vehicles, the wheelbase over the standard Qashqai has been extended by 135mm and the overall length by 210mm and is now 4,525mm.
The roof height at the rear is increased by 40mm to 1,645mm and this results in 16mm more front seat headroom, 10mm more for the middle row and 23mm more knee room for the middle row seats as well. The vehicle has restyled front and rear doors as well as a new tailgate with a deeper rear window.
With all seven seats in use the boot space is minimal but fold them flat without having to remove the headrests and the load space is 550-litres. Fold both the rear and centre row seats flat and the maximum load space increases to 1,520-litres.
| | Check out the sister Nissan Murano model tested yesterday - only in Wheels Within Wales | There is the choice of two four-cylinder engines, a 150PS 2.0 dCi or 140PS 2.0-litre petrol. Both are available with six-speed manual or CVT/auto transmissions. Fitted as standard across the range are a panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass, roof bars and electronic stability programme.
The five seater Qashqai ‘crossover' has been a success story for Nissan combining their reputation for building very good 4x4s but with the real-life practicalities of having a C-segment sized, hatchback family car but with SUV looks.
The masterstroke was letting customers choose either two wheel drive only, or 4x4 models. Three quarters choosing the two wheel drive versions so that shows where the real market is. UK customers like the SUV styling but with front wheel drive performance and running costs.
By adding two extra seats, with more leg and headroom throughout thanks to the extended body will appeal to families where having seven seats is an important requirement or most likely where five seats are enough but the added load area space is the real reason to purchase. Be warned the rear row of two seats offers only very limited legroom so treat them as occasional seats. Load space ranges from very little with all three rows of seats in use up to 1,520-litres with the middle and rear rows folded flat.
So with two and four wheel drive models on offer and with the option of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines and auto/CVT transmissions options as well the Qashqai range as a whole is a now a formidable contender for sales in a very competitive market.
Having driven most combinations of the Qashqai+2, bearing in mind the 13p advantage petrol fuel has over diesel and with the extra cost of a diesel engine over petrol, my view for the vast majority of families is that the 2.0-litre 140PS petrol model with two-wheel drive is the best option and I'd go for the Acenta middle level of specification which will take 50pc of sales. | This model costs £18,749, very well priced for the flexibility and running costs it offers.
Being high geared with a six-speed manual transmission the responsive and smooth petrol engine returned a real-life 38.1mpg, better than the official 33.6mpg combined figure and CO2 emissions are 197g/km giving a VED road tax bill of £210 until next March and £260 from April 2009.
A 2.0-litre, two wheel drive diesel version, costing £20,149 with Acenta specification, will return 42.2mpg (43.2mpg on test), VED is £170 and £205 from next April. |  | | | | MILESTONES Nissan Qashqai+2 Acenta 2.0-litre petrol 4x2 Price: £18,749 | | | | | Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, petrol, 140PS, 196Nm, 6-speed manual, two-wheel drive. Performance: 118mph, 0-62mph10.5 seconds, 33.6mpg (38.1mpg actual), CO2 197g/km, VED £210, BIK tax 27pc. | For:
SUV styling, family hatchback running costs, refinement, comfortable ride, good grip, nicely weighted steering, added two seat accommodation or more load space.
| Against:
Very limited legroom for rear row passengers so it really needed to be longer still. | | ©DAVID MILES |
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