Time for a makeover
ive months in, and I’ve lived with the Qashqai long enough to conclude that it’s a decent car. It’s well built, comfortable, pleasant to drive and supremely practical. And though it’s keenly priced, like all Nissans there’s nothing budget about the feel of the interior. Trouble is, from the outside at least, it’s just a bit ordinary looking.
A few months back, I tested the Kia Sportage, which is probably the Qashqai’s closest competitor, and though the Nissan is clearly the better car, the Kia is undeniably better looking. I decided it was time to do something about this because, like any car, the Qashqai’s appearance can be improved dramatically by adding a decent set of wheels.
Our car is the Acenta Premium model, which comes extremely well specced, but the alloys are a bit dull, so I started looking into options. For £1,099, you can upgrade to 19-inch Ibiscus wheels, which look great but would require new tyres for the larger rims. Instead, we decided to save a few quid and stick with 17s, which probably ride better anyway.
It turns out that Nissan dealers have an ongoing promotion offering 17in Snowflake wheels and something they call a Style Pack, which includes chrome trim for the doors and mirrors. Total cost is £799 inclusive of VAT and fitting, which seems like a good deal as it’s nearly 600 quid cheaper than simply buying the same items individually.
In order to really transform the look of the car, perhaps I should have gone for gloss black wheels at the same price, but in order
REPORT 5 1598cc, 4cyl petrol, FWD, 128bhp, 236lb ft 64.2mpg, 115g/km CO2 0–62mph in 10.5secs, 118mph 1535kg £24,430/£24,430 Total mileage 6250 Driver Adam Waddell Why it’s here Can you really get a true 4x4/SUV experience for hatchback money?
Fto protect the resale value, I went for the two-tone ‘diamond cut’ option, which do the job pretty well. As a result, I’ve resolved to never let anyone in the office spec my cars again, because it seems I’m the only one with enough taste to spec the best wheels...
Meanwhile, I’ve been quietly impressed with the fuel economy. I know Nissan’s figures say that 64.2mpg should be possible, and while I am sure that is indeed the case, one doesn’t expect to come close to such numbers in the real world. Rather than driving at a constant 56mph with the aircon turned off, I’ve spent the summer either thundering up the motorway or commuting across London, and in doing so I’ve achieved an effortless 44mpg. My wallet is a bit fatter than expected, even if my Tesco Clubcard points are a bit thin as a result…
Eight hundred quid for new wheels and a styling pack.
Bargain
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