Classy and sassy, even if it’s not truly sporty 2017 NISSAN QASHQAI BY COMPARISON
Nissan didn’t have far to look for inspiration for its new compact utility vehicle.
The 2017 Qashqai gets some of its style — and its sturdy platform — from, you guessed it, the larger Rogue.
The Qashqai (pronounced cash-kye) has actually been around for more than a decade in Europe (the current body style launched there in 2013). But why bring it here now? Because the surging popularity of small and tall wagons in North America means new opportunity.
How so? Where the Rogue is large enough to accommodate a third-row seat, the smaller Qashqai does not. For buyers who don’t need the space, the smaller and less-expensive Qashqai is a good fit. It’s also a good fit in urban areas where maneuverability and a smaller footprint for parking are welcome.
Viewed from the front, the Qashqai’s smaller “V-Motion” grille is a point of differentiation, but just barely as there’s only a hair’s breath of difference in overall width between the two models. A lower (by 14 centimetres) profile and a 30.5-centimetre reduction in overall length places the Qashqai in a more compact segment along with the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and the new Toyota C-HR.
The distance between the front and rear wheels is nearly the same for the Rogue as the Qashqai, which means that rear-seat passengers are at least afforded a decent amount of leg and knee room and only the tallest of them will experience any headroom issues.
There’s also plenty of people space up front where the busy-but-attractive dashboard is a near copy of the Rogue’s, right down to the gauges, switches, touch-screen and vent outlets.
As for cargo volume, the Qashqai lags behind its larger sibling, but not as much as you might think, especially with the second-row seat folded flat. In terms of room, the Qashqai is out front in its class.
The engine? Not so much. The Qashqai has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that generates 141 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. The bigger Rogue’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder makes 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet. The 2.0 is by no means a speed demon, but it will be sufficient for most buyers in a stop-and-go urban environment. Type: Four-door, front- /all-wheel-drive compact wagon Engine (h.p.): 2.0-litre DOHC I-4 (141) Transmission: Six-speed manual; continuously variable (CVT) Market position: Car-based tall wagons of every size and description are growing more popular than traditional sedans (such as the Sentra and Maxima), which is exactly why Nissan has brought the Qashqai to the Canadian market. Points: Rather than create a fresh look, Nissan stuck with the global design that’s nearly five years old. • Being one of the more spacious wagons in its class will be a sales boon. • Standard-issue engine could use a power/efficiency boost. • Sensibly priced and optioned trim levels. • Think of the Qashqai as a five-passenger version of the sevenpassenger Rogue. Active safety: Blind-spot warning with cross-traffic alert (opt.); active cruise control (opt.); emergency braking (opt.); pedestrian alert (opt.) Fuel economy: L/100 km (city/hwy) 10.0/8.1 (FWD). Base price (incl. destination) $22,000 Honda HR-V Base price: $22,850. Small but versatile model offers great fuel economy from a 141-horse engine.