Solid, but not a CUV standout
Popular Nissan is roomy and rides well, but engine performance is languid
OK, so Nissan named the Qashqai after some mountain people living in southwestern Iran. I’m not sure why. It’s an appellation that doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue — which is probably why it’s known as the Rogue Sport in the U.S.
Like many others, I have taken to calling the small crossover the “Cash Cow,” appropriate in that sales have taken off since it arrived in Canada in June of last year, with just under 9,000 units sold. It is practically a gift to the corporate coffers, as the Qashqai is not a brand-new model, having been around in Japan and other markets since 2006. The current, second-generation version was released in 2014.
Nissan’s timing for bringing in the Japanese-built Qashqai was just about perfect; the small-crossover segment saw a 24-per-cent increase in sales last year. And the little Nissan is a bit of a charmer, which it needs to be to go up against the Honda HR-V, Kia Soul, Mazda CX-3 and at least another half-dozen models. There’s just one issue (admittedly a personal choice on my part): The test vehicle, in mid-level SV trim, is front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is optional.
Now, I have been dismissive of FWD crossovers before, referring to them by another term: hatchbacks (though the more accepted descriptor seems to be “tall wagon”). But that’s my bias; not everybody feels the need for four-wheel grip, and those shopping the Qashqai will save $2,200 by not ticking that box.
Yet not doing brings out a different set of competitors, including the aforementioned Kia Soul, plus Toyota’s C-HR, the Fiat 500L and even true hatchbacks such as the Mazda3 Sport, Toyota Corolla iM and Chevy Cruze Hatch.
The Qashqai slots into Nissan’s SUV lineup just below the Rogue, which is Nissan’s best-selling vehicle in this country.
“While we expect Rogue to continue to appeal to owners with young families,” notes Bert Brooks, senior manager, product planning at Nissan Canada, “Qashqai fills a need for singles and couples who want more space and versatility than the average sedan for everyday urban use and social activities.”
The five-seat Qashqai is just under 4.4 metres long, a size that makes it nimble enough for city use, while also a reasonable choice as a family vehicle for those with younger progeny. It’s also an attractive design, being much more mainstream than the polarizing Juke, yet still distinct within the parameters of a wagon’s two-box shape and with a solid stance.
Inside, the cabin leaves a favourable impression. Its clean design is simple and logical, and it has enough features — among them the remote engine start, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, heated and powered outside mirrors, rearview monitor and a good audio system — to warrant the SV’s $24,598 price. But OK, there are a few issues: infotainment technology is lacking (no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay), the parking brake is foot operated, the five-inch colour monitor is a little small and the warmth from the heated steering wheel verges on tepid. There is also a lot of plastic throughout, but at least it’s textured and offset by piano-black trim bits.
There’s plenty of room up front for taller occupants, but less so in the back where room can be tight for the leggy. Behind the second-row seat is a very generous 648 litres of cargo room and 1,730 L with the seats folded down. Like the Rogue, the Qashqai also offers the Divide-N-Hide (adjustable floor) cargo system.
With a couple of exceptions, the players in the small-crossover segment tend to be adequately powered rather than abundantly so. That said, the Qashqai’s 141-horsepower 2.0-L four-cylinder is particularly languid, a quiet-running unit for everyday use, but offering little in the way of sportiness or anything remotely approaching scintillating acceleration. It takes about 10 seconds to get to 100 km/h and the 80-to-120 km/h passing move is almost as leisurely. The engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission that comes with a sport mode shifter and eco mode switch.
The Nissan is agile, though, easy to drive in city traffic and very stable at highway speeds, thanks to a well-sorted four-wheel independent suspension with stabilizer bars both front and rear. But, with its shorter wheelbase, the Qashqai’s ride, though not harsh, does tend to jostle those occupying the back seats with every tar strip and pothole. Vehicle dynamic control, intelligent trace control and intelligent ride control are all standard.
A couple of snowy days made driving conditions a little dicier than usual, though nothing the Qashqai tester, fitted with winter tires, couldn’t handle. Still, there was just enough slip and slide to strengthen my belief that AWD would be a wise upgrade. Without it, the Nissan’s biggest strength in comparison with regular hatchbacks is cabin room and cargo capacity.
The Qashqai is what I call an all-rounder; it is solid in most departments, though not a particular standout in any. Certainly it is worthy of being put on the shopping list for anyone considering a small crossover-type vehicle. It is, after all, a rational choice. But as I said earlier, with the depth of competition out there, it’s by no means the only choice.