Test drive Nissan Qashqai 2007 - 2010 SUV

Nomadic polytheist

Far, far, behind the mountains of Poros in the southwest of Iran lives a tribe of nomads who call themselves Keshkay. I believe that the guardians of the traditions there even in the brightest dreams could hardly imagine that Nissan’s designers would inspire nothing for the uninitiated person. But how! Having imbued with the spirit of restlessness and vagrancy, they created not just a car, but a whole philosophy, boldly, partly even recklessly going beyond the generally accepted frames. Having placed Nissan-Keshkai between the SUVs and the usual golf-class machines, the company's specialists did not skimp on emotions.
The bridge between the worlds, the city tramp, creative expression - this is how marketer expressed. Muscular appearance, lean silhouette, athletic appearance - the stylists echoed. More mundane layouts noted compact for the SUV sizes, a convenient and spacious salon, excellent maneuverability and balanced driving capabilities. In competitors, on the one hand, Volkswagen-Golf, Renault-Magan and Ford Focus are listed, and on the other, Toyota-Rav4 and Honda CR-V. What kind of all -around is hiding between them?
 
SUV, but compact
That is how, perhaps, Keshkai should be indicated in a car tablet table. At least, by no means a small car, I do not want to compare with golf classmates. In the smooth lines of the body, the look is more likely to highlight familiar contours and characteristic features of Murano or other popular SUVs: impressive wheels of wheels, powerful bumpers, small body overhangs and a 200-mm roadless lumen for urban tramp. We must pay tribute to the stylists, Keshkay really looks energetic.
It is worth being inside, the accents change noticeably. The skin, solid plastics, comfortable seats, controls, thoughtful and rather unusual functions of a separate climate installation, even a fashionable glass roof is practical, comfortable, calculated-and yet something is wrong. Just looking carefully, you see - inside Keshkai is more compact than it seems outside. For example, the rib from the curtain of the glass roof hangs closely above the head. Of course, this is an option, you will refuse it - it will become free. But the mighty rear wheel arch and a wide (probably tribute to passive safety) threshold will remain, which make it difficult to enter. Feeling this, I move the reference point in the direction of the golf class: perhaps the same golf is more spacious from behind, and the comparison of the salon with other passenger classmates looks quite correct. Such a many -sided nomad turns out.
 
Balance of artificial forces
The choice of modifications is small: a two-liter gasoline engine, front-wheel drive or complete with the All-Mode 4x4 system, as well as the latest Renault turbodiesel, which is not planned to be supplied to Russia by tradition. We will get acquainted with Keshkai in stages: first the engine and everything else, then, for a sweet, all -wheel drive with a connected rear axle.
While we are restrained in communication. I - because I closely look closely, sniff, listen to what is happening, but he, the car, - because they are thoroughly clamped with Euro -norms. Although it is already obvious: you will not particularly hold this good. Unless the sightseeing is thoroughly spoiled by the massive front front desks and a low inner mirror.
In the effort to be special, the car was again in an intermediate position. At the slightest opportunity, Keshkai does not miss the case to emphasize some superiority over larger competitors. Say, I'm not like them, in capabilities, more like cars. Evaluated how much more accurately and more informative the steering wheel is, quieter engine, more comfortable suspension, sensitive brakes. And although Keshkai almost convinces the integrity of character on the Autoban, some kind of artificiality, understatement is felt. And the point is not so much in the motor, which is a little lacking of the expression - he performs his work, albeit not very brightly, but with convenient rubber burden.
No, in a debugged system, rather, the electric power amplifier is fake: with an increase in speed, it loads the steering wheel, but the feedback is very approximately corresponding to the real state of things. Once on large potholes, comfortable suspensions become rather shaking and noisy, it prevents the car from being transparent, understandable, especially for an active driver.
 
Not off -road for the sake
Full -wheel drive, the front for fans of parquet all -terrain vehicles is obvious. The choice is obvious. It is felt that in the soul and Keshkay is unambiguously solidarily with them, despite the presence of monopoly versions. The car armed with the ALL-Mode 4x4 transmission is noticeably more interesting on mountain serpentines. The front -wheel drive was simply kind, but it was worth increasing the pace a little, fell out of the turn, forgetting about the almost passenger accuracy of control.
The presence of another, albeit connected by the electronics of the leading axis, not only added confidence in fast turns. When driving on the verge, it is really easier to drive a machine. She generously forgives errors, allows you to use traction more actively. Keshkai rides anyway in transition, while always behaving reliably.
In the spring, Nissan-Keshkai will appear in Russia. Already this year, at least 10,000 cars are hoped to sell, of which 35-40% all-wheel drive. It is understandable - where, if not with us, not even a car will take root, but a whole philosophy, designed for city nomads. Prices are dual, like the car itself: Nissan-Keshkai with front-wheel drive, they are closer to passenger analogues: from 21,900 to 32,000 dollars. Well, the version with all -wheel drive gravitates to the SUVs: $ 26 800-34 300. And in this sense, the car is a polythever ...
 
CVT - alternative to automatic
For several years, Nissan has been using the variator with might and main (CVT - Continously Variable Transmission), for example, on Murano or example. Now the CVT, with the exception of the 1.6-liter version, is armed with Keshkai. In comparison with the automatic, the advantages of the variator are economical, more comfortable (without jerking) acceleration of the car. Losses of energy in transmission are also less, which provides better dynamics.
Nissan Qashqai is not only an interesting and rather successful attempt to create another niche in the struggle for a non -standard consumer, but also searching for the golden mean in the concept of a city car.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sergey Voskresensky
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"