Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai, known as the Nissan Dualis in Japan and Australia, is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan since 2007. It replaced the off-road capable body-on-frame Mistral as its small SUV offering and its P32L automobile platform will be also used by other forthcoming Nissan crossover SUVs.

Production

The Qashqai has been built at Nissan's NMUK Washington, Tyne and Wear plant since December 2006.^[1]

It is the first model to be styled by Nissan Design Europe in London, with engineering development led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. It was globally presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

By the end of 2007, Nissan had sold approximately 100,000 Nissan Qashqais in Europe, including 17,554 in UK, 15,376 in Russia, and 10,746 in Italy.^[2] Nissan expects to deliver its 500,000th Qashqai before the end of 2009,^[3] ahead of a facelift for the 2010 model year.

The Qashqai is exported to the Middle East and additional overseas markets.

Features

Built on an all-new platform, the Qashqai went on sale in February 2007, and Nissan targeted more than 100,000 sales per year. Nissan said the car, named after the nomadic Turkic Qashqai tribe in Iran, would cater to those buyers who want a more dynamic design, but are not attracted to the large, aggressive nature of a sport utility vehicle. The car slots below the X-Trail in the Nissan range and partially replaces the conventional Primera, even though it took the production place of the smaller Almera. In terms of size, its 4,310 millimetres (169.7 in) length and 1,610 millimetres (63.4 in) height make it fall between compact MPVs, such as the SEAT Altea and Renault Scénic; and compact SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander.

The top half of Qashqai has a sleek, dynamic form with a distinctive shoulder line which rises at the rear — a design cue similar to that of the Nissan Murano. The lower portion resembles an SUV due to large, pronounced wheel arches and a slightly elevated ground clearance. The Qashqai uses the same platform as the X-Trail (the vehicle upon which the Qashqai is based), but is not as functional or as off-road capable as the latter. Nissan regards the Qashqai as a rival to such cars as the Toyota RAV-4 and the Honda CR-V and in 2007 it received a five star Euro NCAP safety rating — the best ever adult occupant score.^[4]

Four engine choices are available: a 114 PS (84 kW; 112 bhp) 1.6 L or a 141 PS (104 kW; 139 bhp) 2.0 L petrol, while the 106 PS (78 kW; 105 bhp) 1.5 L and 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) 2.0 L provide the diesel offerings.

Qashqai+2

Production of a seven-passenger version of the Qashqai, named "Qashqai+2", began at NMUK in July 2009. Launched in October 2009, it is a larger variant of the standard model with the wheelbase extended by 135 mm. The overall length of the car is extended by 211 mm to allow for a third row of seats, and roof height is increased by 38 mm at the rear.

From the A-pillar back the car's chassis is unique, but trim and engine models remain the same as on the standard Qashqai.

2010 facelift

On 4 December 2009, Nissan announced the Qashqai's next version, which went on sale in March 2010. The model's front end has been completely restyled while the rear now includes LED tail-lights. Modifications to the interior include a new instrument panel layout for the vehicle's drive computer, better soundproofing and minor storage additions. ESP is now standard across the range and two new exterior colours have been added. The launch of an eco-friendly Pure Drive variant has also been announced.^[5][6]

2011 update

A new 1.6 dCi engine replaces the previous 2.0 dCi. Peak power is down from 148 to 128 bhp (95 kW; 130 PS), but there’s the same 236 lb·ft (320 N·m) of torque, available at 1750 rpm, rather than 2000 rpm. Nissan hasn’t released full performance figures, but says the 1.6 dCi has a quicker 30-50 mph acceleration figure than the 2.0 dCi.

Nissan has also added its Around View Monitor as standard equipment for Tekna versions of the Qashqai and Qashqai +2. The system uses a set of external cameras to create a 360-degree view of the car to help with parking manoeuvres. The driver can focus on any camera to look out for a particular obstacle.

Japan

The Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Dualis is offered in 2.0 G, 2.0 S, 2.0 G Four, and 2.0 S Four trim levels. All models are powered by 2.0-litre MR20DE engine matched to 6-speed Xtronic CVT.

Middle East

In the Middle East the Nissan Qashqai is offered in S, SE and LE, Standard on all trims is the 2.0L 142 hp (106 kW) MR20DE engine, CVT Transmission, front fog lights, auto air conditioning, six disc CD changer, Parking sensors and ABS.

North America

The Qashqai is not offered in North American markets. Instead, Nissan offers the Nissan Rogue. Although larger and appearing to be a completely different model it is based on the same basic platform as the Qashqai / Xtrail with some visual similarities. In Mexico, the X-Trail and Rogue are both sold and the Qashqai is about to be offered in the Mexican Market.

New Zealand

Nissan New Zealand also uses the Qashqai name to distinguish the model from Dualis grey imports that were shipped from Japan before the official release. The New Zealand spec Qashqai is sourced from Sunderland having initially been sourced from Japan. The range consists of two specification levels: St and Ti both with 2WD 2.0L MR20DE CVT. The Qashqai+2 was added to the range in July 2010. [1]

United Kingdom

The Qashqai has been made at the Washington, Tyne and Wear plant since December 2006, occupying the production line previously occupied by the Almera. Its launch also coincided with the withdrawal of the Primera from the UK market due to low sales. This left the company with no direct successor to the Almera or Primera on the UK market, with the "supermini MPV" Note being sold as an indirect successor to the Almera, and the Qashqai as a successor to the Primera. This move was seen as controversial, but in time appears to have paid off as the Qashqai has proved a major sales success in the United Kingdom, with more than 39,000 sales in 2010 making it the tenth best selling new car in Britain - the first Nissan to make the top 10 in Britain since the Sunny in 1983.^[7]

Name

The Qashqai is named after the Qashqai (pronounced [qaʃqaːʔiː]) tribe in Southwestern Iran. Nissan's designers believe that the car's typical buyer would also be itinerant in nature. The Chinese nameplate was to be CCUV, an initialism for "Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle", but since the Chinese launch the car has been named Qashqai. In Australia, the Qashqai carries the name Dualis from the JDM version. This was chosen out of fear that Australians might call it the "cash cow".

References

External links

• Official UK Qashqai website
• Qashqai concept homepage
• Press release announcing the car