Car Reviews > Nissan > Qashqai > Nissan Qashqai Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: From £19,445
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo diesel
Gearbox: Front-wheel drive, 6-speed manual
Power/torque: 128 bhp/ 320 Nm
0-62 mph: 10.3 seconds
Top Speed: 118 miles per hour
Economy: 62.8 miles per gallon
Emissions: 119g per kilometre
Equipment: Around View Monitor, iPod connection, electric windows, climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth

The popular Nissan Qashqai gets additional gadgets and a brand new and extra efficient 1.6-litre diesel engine.

Over a million models of the Nissan Qashqai have been sold all over the world since it was first launched four years ago back in 2007. Now Nissan is aiming to continue that success story with the addition of a number of subtle updates to the vehicle – such as the introduction to the range of the most powerful 1.6-litre diesel engine in the entire world.

The new diesel engine basically replaces the old 2.0-litre dCi version, which nonetheless still remains in order to be able to give power to the automatic 4-wheel drive Qashqai, and boasts a bhp rating of 128 as well as a torque rating of 320 Nm, exactly the same as the one provided by the larger diesel. Even more impressive still is the fuel economy rating of 62.8 miles per gallon in the 2WD manual mode tested here, which itself demonstrates an improvement of as much as 32 per cent on the 2.0-litre dCi. CO2 emissions have likewise been slashed from 155g per kilometre to just 119g per kilometre.

These figures have been achieved thanks to a number of fuel saving measures such as the inclusion of a stop-start system. However, it is worth pointing out that cars with stop-start systems are not due to begin production until January 2012, because of the supply shortages caused by the tsunami in Japan. Without the stop-start system, the figures for CO2 emissions can rise to as high as 129g per kilometre.

The engine is certainly one of the smoothest diesels available in this segment and is especially quiet both on start up and when under acceleration. 320 Nm of torque is available when you reach 1750 revs per minute, which makes it incredibly flexible and provides it with a 0-62 mile per hour time of just 10.3 seconds. The top speed achievable is 118 miles per hour.

In other areas, the fantastic all-round ability of the Qashqai remains undiminished. The well-controlled suspension means the car does tend to roll a little in the bends and yet there is always plenty of traction on offer. The steering, despite being somewhat short on feel, constantly stays both direct and responsive. The level of ride comfort is also very good, with one of the few gripes in this department being a tiny amount of vibration that can be felt whenever the car travels over small bumps.

Changes to the cabin are minor, although Nissan is now offering an Around View Monitor that utilises four cameras that are placed around the exterior of the vehicle in order to allow for a top-down view of the car’s position on the road during parking.

The rear seats have a decent amount of both knee and headroom for larger passengers, and the boot is well shaped and generous in size with as much as 410 litres of space. When the rear seats are folded down, that figure rises even further to 860 litres.

Because of its enviable list of talents, that 1.6-litre dCi engine has proved to be the ideal companion for the already excellent Qashqai, although it is also the most expensive choice.

by Autoweb