Well kitted out

The new Nissan Qashqai has landed in the UK. takes the original crossover for a drive to see how it fares.

Ask anyone at Nissan and they’ll tell you that the Qashqai is the original crossover vehicle. The first-generation model was launched back in 2007, and since then the Japanese manufacturer has gone on to sell around 2.3 million examples in Europe alone. Now in its second generation, Nissan is confident that the latest Qashqai will be able to continue on the success of its predecessor. From an aesthetic point of view, not a huge deal has changed. A new top-flight trim level has also been introduced – called Tekna+ – which Nissan hopes will appeal to those buyers after a more premium crossover. The biggest headline with the new Qashqai, however, is Nissan’s ProPilot autonomous driving technology. This will be available from 2018, and will allow the Qashqai to control its steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane on motorways at cruising speed and in heavy traffic. We were handed the keys to the range-topping Tekna+ model, which was fitted with Nissan’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. This power plant develops a modest 109bhp and 260Nm of torque, which allows for a 0-60mph sprint time of 11.7 seconds and a top speed of 113mph. While performance might not be this engine’s forte, it’s certainly impressive as far as economy is concerned. Nissan claims the 1.5-litre diesel unit can manage a combined fuel consumption figure of 74.3mpg. The car is certainly capable, but it’s not going to set your heart racing. While the Qashqai may not be at home on a winding country back road, as a long-distance cruiser it makes a great deal of sense. Even on those large 19in alloy wheels, our test vehicle dealt with imperfections in the road rather well, and there wasn’t a great deal of road or wind noise. The seats are also impressively comfortable. As you would expect from a top-level trim, Tekna+ offers Qashqai buyers plenty of kit for their money. Prices start at a fairly considerable £27,830 and will get you standard equipment such as full Nappa leather upholstery, a premium Bose sound system, electronically adjustable driver’s seat and a panoramic glass roof. However, the vast majority will likely opt for the mid-range N-Connecta models, which start at £23,805, with a 7in touchscreen with sat nav, 18in alloys, and a range of driver assist systems.