Nissan’s new ‘cashcow’
THE NISSAN Qashqai redefined the family sports utility market when it was launched a decade ago. The latest generation will be in showrooms next month and I was behind the wheel for its global launch in Austria. It won’t blow your socks off. But it’s an all-round easy drive that will appeal to families. And it’s plusher than its predecessor.
The Qashqai — dubbed the ‘cash cow’ because it’s proved so lucrative for Nissan — has also been a boon to the British economy and jobs, too. Since its launch in 2007, more than 2.5 million have rolled off the Sunderland production line.
Prices go from £19,295 for the entry- level Visia 1.2 petrol version in two-wheel drive, to £32,530 for the 1.6dCi 130-diesel four-wheel drive 6-speed manual. Several trim levels are offered. Surfaces are more tactile and soft-touch. A D-shaped steering wheel makes it easier for the driver to get in and out, and its thicker rim offers an easier grip and greater control. To stop you rolling backwardsb there’s a new Stand Still Assist function, which holds manual cars in position for up to three minutes allowing the driver to take his or her foot off the brake when held up. After that, it automatically applies the brake. The top-range Tekna+ trim has a panoramic glass roof as standard, electrically adjustable driver and passenger seats, a four-way electric lumbar support, satin-finished roof rails, and an eight- speaker sound system. The semi-autonomous Pro-Pilot system, to keep you in lane and brake automatically, will be an option from next year. It’s already being used in Japan. Road noise inside the cabin has been reduced, while all-round cameras help parking. The 1.5 litre 110 bhp diesel version promises 99g/km CO2 emissions and 74.3 mpg fuel economy.