Test drive Nissan Qashqai 2007 - 2010 SUV

Normal heroes

Renault Koleos. Price: 20 409. On sale: since 2008
Nissan Qashqai+2. Price: 19 215. On sale: since 2008.
Nissan has its Qashqai+2 positions as a city car, and Renault reads its Koleos sino of the crossover. Are they so different? We try to figure out this issue by arranging cars built on one platform, confrontation

Test pillets
Oleg Kalaushin, 39 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience 21 years old, personal car - Renault Logan
Igor Kuznetsov, 47 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience for 20 years, personal car - Nissan Qashqai
To begin with, let's figure out what a crossover is. This is a car, as a rule, with a station wagon. Its main task is to ensure a high level of comfort and handling on asphalt. At the same time, thanks to the presence of all -wheel drive, he is capable of riding on easy off -road. Therefore, Qashqai also refers to crossovers, which means that it can be safely put on a par with other representatives of this class. You can, if not for one but. The fact is that Qashqai is a compact crossover and cannot directly compete with more massive competitors. But this can do his younger brother Qashqai+2. The car grown up both in length and in height again became interesting to those to whom the usual Qashqai was small. And now it can already be safely compared with more overall relatives. And who is Qashqai a direct relative? That's right, Renault Koleos.
However, it is very difficult to recognize relatives in them. It is understandable, because people from stiff England, which were prone to adventurism and revolutions, were working on one car. The result was what turned out to be: the design Nissan Qashqai+2 accepted almost everything and unconditionally, and this is what Renault Koleos looks like, still causes emotional disputes. But what cannot be recognized is that Koleos looks much stronger than the opponent. There is something in his appearance that in no way allows you to doubt the seriousness of his intentions. Small front and rear overhangs, a smaller wheelbase, stuffy wheel arches all this makes the image of the car more knocked down. Qashqai, alas, is not so courageous, the stretched wheelbase slightly spoiled the silhouette, turning the stocky gymnast into a basketball player. But even after stretching, the appearance of Qashqai+2 is still more familiar.
Its interior is more familiar to the eye: it is strict, but in moderation, functional, but without fanaticism, beautiful, but does not abound in excesses. Here everything is familiar and convenient, with the exception of one, or rather, those very +2. It is difficult to call this couple of chairs that get from the floor of the luggage compartment, it is difficult, even with applied to children. What can we say about adults. The author of these lines failed not only to settle down there, but even to squeeze there. In this regard, to consider Qashqai+2 as an alternative to a mini-wen is simply funny, but like a car with an impressive trunk, please. In addition, in +2, in contrast to the usual Qashqai, the second row of seats has longitudinal adjustment, which allows you to easily balance between the volume of the trunk and the convenience of planting passengers.
Koleos in terms of the transformation of the luggage compartment is not so advanced, and the seats are formed only in the ratio of 60/40, while in a one -platform in a ratio of 40/20/40. And the Frenchman himself is not too large, only 450 liters against 550 Japanese. But what can be put in merit is a large number of fixed installations of the angle of the back, as well as the mechanism of folding it. It is enough to pull the handle in the luggage compartment, like the seats themselves, as if by a wave of a magic wand, are lying on a crush with a floor. In general, everything is for convenience, everything is for comfort. And the French know how to surround themselves with comfort. Which, in fact, is fully manifested in the interior of Koleos. You can, of course, argue for a long time about the location of the control of the audio system or the climatic installation, to talk about not the most uncomfortable place for the heating key, but all this, which you instantly forget about, you just have to move on. The car from the very first meters literally envelops with care and comfort. An energy -intensive suspension, amazing sound insulation, a painful engine, all this acts somewhat relaxing, and sometimes it seems that the care of who is sitting behind the wheel is excessive. In particular, we are talking about steering. An electric power with alternating effort at low speeds is so zealously performing its duties that partially deprives the driver's feedback with the wheels.
Qashqai+2 in terms of controllability is more assembled due to more acute steering, and you can’t call the suspension at all. And no matter what they say that Qashqai+2 has become much softer than its older brother, in reality this is actually not felt, in any case, in comparison with Koleos. However, the latter just allowed the Japanese to keep the road better.
But what about the dynamics cars? Despite the fact that the cars have different and actually incomparable engines, the dynamic indicators are actually similar, while the Japanese clearly won the Frenchman in fuel efficiency, especially when it comes to fuel consumption in urban conditions.
But we, to be honest, did not notice the significant difference in the behavior of the off -road cars. It is clear that all -wheel drive expands the geography of the use of these cars. However, it is not worth it to join that Qashqai, that Koleos is not worth the SUVs. But you should not pass before temporary difficulties. Indeed, sometimes not even a full -wheel drive is important, but the presence of a sufficient clearance. And it is quite acceptable for these cars, in any case, for this class of cars. In order to be in the city on top, it is enough, and then how lucky. Everyone’s roads are different, but the path, as it turned out, is one.
Renault Koleos
Koleos model is international. The design was developed at the Renault Technical Center near Paris, the Japanese were engaged in the chassis, and they produce Koleos in Korea at the Renault Samsung joint venture in Busan. The latter is due to the fact that on one with the Frenchman the conveyor is collected by his twin brother Samsung QM5.
Driving
The car is equally good both on the highway and on the lane. The secret is simple: the suspension is a reasonable compromise between handling and comfort.
Salon
Moderately is spacious, quite convenient and made of materials of good quality.
Comfort
High -quality audio system, decent sound insulation, comfortable seats. All this has a long journey.
Security
Six airbags, ABS, ESP.
Price
High, but the car is worth it.

Nissan Qashqai+2
The enlarged Qashqai+2 wheelbase made it possible not only to add another series of seats, but also to significantly increase the luggage compartment. The stretching and controllability went to the benefit. Otherwise, he is not much different from his older brother Qashqai. The latter also did not claim the role of an SUV, even in trim levels with all -wheel drive.
Driving
The suspension imprisoned under the asphalt gives the car with good controllability, but on the laundry, hard shock absorbers on the lane do not add comfort to the driver or passengers.
Salon
Practical and very convenient, especially pleased the possibility of longitudinal movement of the second row of seats.
Comfort
At an acceptable level, but insufficient noise insulation does not have a long ride at high speed.
Security
At the level.
Price
Acceptable.
Our verdict
Despite the fact that manufacturers position their offspring differently, after a comparative test, one can definitely say that both Renault Koleos and Nissan Qashqai+2 cars are virtually the same. They differ only in design and dimensions, otherwise both the first and second can be safely positioned both as a car for the city and as a crossover. In favor of the latter are the presence of all -wheel drive and sufficient road clearance. But to associate these machines with real SUVs is still not worth it.

Author: Oleg Kalaushin
Photo: Igor Kuznetsov

 

 

A source: Magazine 5 wheel [March 2009]