There’s still plenty of grip up the front in spite of a heavier nose, while the steering weights up reassuringly as you turn the wheel. With a full tank (65 litres), we are confident the Qashqai diesel is capable of clocking over 1000km of cruise-controlled freeway driving.ĭespite the diesel model weighing some 150kg more than the petrol variant, its driving dynamics are no less accomplished. Its body is well composed and stays relatively flat around the bends. Driven normally (not conservatively) for a week over varying types of roads and traffic conditions in both urban and country areas, our Qashqai 1.6 diesel TL recorded an impressive 6.0L/100km in the combined cycle. Perhaps, what impresses most is its fuel economy. There’s still a hint of turbo lag but its quickly gone with a gentle increase in throttle. It’s also a better match for the CVT than the petrol unit, as the higher torque means the transmission can stay at lower revs for longer, offering a more effortless driving experience. The engine is smooth and quiet for most proceedings, with almost no diesel clatter audible in the well insulated cabin. One major improvement in the new diesel model over the previous generation is refinement. 96kW may not sound like a lot of power but when accompanied with 320Nm of torque, the Qashqai diesel feels pretty quick off the line. The 1.6-litre turbo diesel with automatic idle stop/start feels surprisingly strong for its capacity. There are up to 16 possible configurations. These panels can be used to divide up the boot space so smaller items don’t slide around. The boot, for example, not only yields 430 litres of luggage capacity (an improvement of 20 litres over the previous model and 35 litres more than a VW Tiguan) with the rear seats in position, but also includes a pair of floor panels lined with carpet on one side, and coated with slip-resistant plastic on the other. The cabin is one of the most flexible in its class, too. There’s also Active Ride Control that counteracts pitching caused by bumps.īuilt on the new CMF (Common Module Family) platform co-developed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the Qashqai’s interior has enough space to keep four adults comfortable for long trips, while a fifth person can squeeze in for short drives. The range has some cool driving tech for better dynamics, such as Active Trace Control, which can apply braking automatically to each wheel, helping to keep the vehicle on the cornering line as steered. The upper spec Qashqai TL includes Intelligent Park Assist (featuring both reverse parallel and bay parking), Blind Spot Warning, Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Attention Support, LED Headlights, Panoramic Roof and High Beam Assist. Standard across the range includes LED Daytime Running Lights, Hill Start Assist, Adjustable Steering Modes (offering Sport Mode with firmer feel and increased feedback), Electric Park Brake and NissanConnect smartphone connectivity, which provides integrated access to supported Apps on the user’s smartphone. The front-drive only Nissan Qashqai is one of the best equipped compact SUV in the segment. It produces 96kW of power and 320Nm of torque, offering 1,400kg of braked towing capacity. Both are powered by a 1.6-litre R9M turbo diesel engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), or Xtronic in Nissan speak. In this review, we get behind the wheel of the diesel-powered Nissan Qashqai to find out if it is just as accomplished as its petrol equivalent.Īvailable in two variants, the Qashqai TS and TL are priced from $33,200 and $37,990 respectively. A new diesel variant has now joined the 2015 range, promising exceptional fuel economy without compromising drivability. Late last year, we drove the Nissan Qashqai petrol and loved the compact crossover’s attractive styling, decent road manners and great versatility.
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