The first Qashqai attracted not by off-road brutality or voluminous body, but by a dynamic silhouette with a strong slope of the rear pillar. Nissan was the first to come up with a hatchback with increased ground clearance and an unpainted plastic body kit. The recipe turned out to be successful: in the first year in Europe, 100 thousand cars were sold, and in 10 years Qashqai has sold over 3 million.
At first, Qashqai looked modest, but already in the second generation of the model, the Japanese relied on design. Despite the fact that four years have passed since the premiere of the crossover, it still looks bright even against the background of the latest innovations. That only is, for example, the scattering of lanterns. At night, LED ticks in the headlights are clearly visible, by which the Qashqai can be identified with absolute certainty.
The new car has retained the silhouette of a hatchback, but looks more impressive. The fenders are arched over the wheel arches, the edge of the convex hood is on the headlights, which makes the crossover seem to frown. The protruding bumper edge hints at a stubborn character. The interior, despite the bizarre shapes and strict inserts under the piano lacquer, is very cozy. The rounded panels are pleasantly springy under the fingers - some are made of soft plastic, some are sheathed with eco-leather with stitching.
© Nissan press service
Qashqai is in no hurry to dive into the abyss of virtual technology. His dials are not painted, but real, with large hands and numbers. For additional information, a narrow screen between them is sufficient. The multimedia touchscreen is surrounded by many raised buttons that aid in navigating the menu.
The combination of leather and Alcantara on the seats is a serious claim for the mainstream segment. The driver's seat, which was tailored from NASA's calculations, was surprisingly comfortable. Convex front pillars emphasize the strength of the body.
© Nissan press service
The front panel smoothly goes into the "window sills" and, it seems, hugs the passengers. It is completely symmetrical, and the multimedia display does not tilt to the left as on many driver-oriented vehicles. Qashqai stands for equality and family values, although it does not have much back row space, and the volume of the trunk has been sacrificed for a dynamic silhouette. At the same time, the crossover cannot be called cramped, and the folding backs of the rear seats will allow you to load a couple of carts from IKEA.
The big city is the ideal habitat for the Nissan Qashqai. It is compact, gently passes speed bumps and road joints. Large mirrors and an all-round visibility system make it easy to fit into a parking space without the help of a parking assistant, which is also on the equipment list.
1 of 8 © Nissan Press Service © Nissan Press Service © Nissan Press Service © Nissan Press Service © Nissan Press Service © Nissan Press Service © Nissan Press Service © Nissan Press Service
He is well prepared for not the most delicate Russian reality. The windshield is quickly freed from ice thanks to electric heating, the rear-view camera is equipped with a washer, and it does not need to be constantly wiped from dirt and reagents, and the black bottom of the bumpers is not afraid of contact with snowdrifts.
Navigation learns about traffic jams via the radio channel, but even if you build optimal routes, the city consumption is alarming - more than 11 liters. For those who like to save money, Qashqai offers a 1.2 L turbo engine (115 HP) or a 1.6 L diesel (130 HP). But neither one nor the other can be ordered with all-wheel drive. There is only a two-liter Qashqai with all driving wheels.
Why does an urban crossover need four-wheel drive at all? For example, to feel confident on snow-covered streets and on a highway shining with morning ice. To go to a summer house in winter or to the coast of the Barents Sea - for the polar lights.>