Test drive Nissan Qashqai 2007 - 2010 SUV

Caliber brothers

The form is formidable, the front drive, the requirements of customers are the most diverse. The strengths and weaknesses of Dodge-Caliber and Nissana-Kashkai were identified by Sergey Voskresensky.
 
Dodge Caliber
A five -door hatchback with a characteristic appearance of the SUV made debut in 2006. In their homeland, two types of drives are full and front, in Europe and Russia only the front.
Engines: gasoline 1.82.0 l (140 156 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical (1.8 l), an endless variator (2.0 l).
Configurations: p0, p1, p2.
The price of basic configurations: є17 70023 100 ($ 23 90031 200).
Nissan Qashqai
The compact crossover, which appeared in Russia in the spring, becomes a bestseller. The car is sold in full and front-wheel drive options.
Engines: gasoline 1.62.0 l (115 141 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical (1.6 liters, front-wheel drive), 6-speed mechanical or unaccounted variator (2.0 l, front or complete drive).
Complete: XE, SE, SE+, LE, LE+.
Price: $ 21 90034 350.
So who are they? If just station wagons, why an impressive road clearance during the drive only to the front wheels? Mini-wen? It is unlikely, because the interior of the usual classes with sizes is common for cars. Well, for the SUVs, you understand, muscles are not enough. Having rolled into a cozy green lawn, you risk staying on it for a long time until help comes ... These cars are rather asphalt and, it seems, are well adapted to our streets. It remains to understand whether this assumption is true.
Op! America Europe!
A powerful and some kind of immense front panel. Powerful body racks, a series of small side windows. Outside, all this looks in the spirit of time, because the car must protect. Inside the caliber seems to be enough light, shaded by a warm palette of rough plastics; Even their booming rigidity does not cause much rejection. However, it is difficult not to notice the pressing isolation of space, a simple driver's seat and an inconvenient entrance to the rear. Understand why the movement of the turn of the turning indicators requires titanic efforts, and the cunning work of the tooth switches causes confusion. After all, there are worked out schemes!
But the most annoyed by another: Dodge Caliber is a representative of a completely different world, in which the Russian price of almost 24,000 euros looks ... implausible. In the States, this money can probably be bought two calibers. Well, one and a half for sure!
In many ways, the car is quite logical. A grip, perfectly lying in your hands, the steering wheel, comfortable variator lever, pedals, cheerful against the background of the rest of the device. And, of course, a glove compartment, the cover of which must certainly fall to his knees, but open access to the whole battery of drinks cooled by air conditioning.
Against the background of the American, Nissan-Kashkay looks slightly stiff, dressed in a strict suit of dark thoroughbred plastics and skin. You feel the desire to look expensive, and a car in this configuration for $ 28 150 is much more than a competitor.
For whatever you take, in everything thought out and respect. If the climatic installation, then separate for the driver and front passenger, if the steering wheel is adjusted, you can doubt in both directions. High landing on a solid driver's seat not only improves the sense of dimensions of the machine, but also enhances the feeling of a large vehicle car ...
Although Nissan should be criticized for heavy body racks, an internal mirror that makes you dive under it in search of a better visibility, and a wide threshold that interferes with the planting from behind.
In the zone of ambitions
At first glance, Dodge Caliber is quite comfortable, its behavior on the road is balanced and predictable. Of course, it is felt that nothing uniform, but everything is very solid in setting up the car. Yes, the tandem of the engineurist is too boring to work, when overtaken each time forcing the pedal to the floor. Acceleration fills salon loud doomed roar. But it is worth moving on to manual control of the variator, Dodge pleases with instant shifts and very good traction. And most importantly, the supersonal howl at 6000 rpm almost completely disappears.
However, the prevailing understanding was only for the time being. Complementary is designed for a certain speed range and a calm control manner. It is worth going out for 110120 km/h, comfortable suspensions allow the body to build up on targeted wave -shaped bumps. In addition, they become rude, too noisy on the seams and chips of asphalt.
The man who seemed quite reliable is also deteriorating. Just now, the car, albeit not very willingly, but rather confidently entered the turn. You will add a slightly speed, and the caliber begins to sway greatly in corners, frightening with screening and rolls. It seems that the engineers set the car to the requirements of overseas traffic rules, and the rest just waved their hand.
Some misunderstanding that arose with us with porridge a few months ago (ZR, 2007, No. 4) now melts before our eyes. Then his settings seemed correct, but devoid of expressiveness. Now communication with the car is joy. The six-speed mechanics revealed a completely different way of the capabilities of the 2-liter engine. Kashkai is cheerful, with a spark perceives the driver’s commands. He is clearly daring, sometimes even with a small slip, the start from traffic lights. At the same time, the motor is convenient and elastic in more calm modes. At 6080 km/h, it easily allows you to move to the highest gearboxes and roll, enjoying the coordinated reactions of the machine. Alas, the caliber, despite even a slightly greater power supply, loses to Nissan in all respects.
Kashkai continues to score glasses, being also noticeably quieter, more comfortable than the opponent. The sounds of the engine, tires, aerodynamic whistles are so muffled that you can speak 100120 km/h or listen to quiet music without straining.
Good controllability is another feature of Nissan. Not everyone will like an unexpectedly large and some kind of artificial effort on the steering wheel. Dodge Caliber in this sense is more convenient. However, having tried Kashkai in the case, you forgive him a lot, realizing that at high speed it is a strict steering wheel that allows you to feel better to feel the car. The car is surprisingly emotional in quick turns, and other ordinary cars can be envied by accuracy and assertions of its behavior.
But the settings of pendants caused bewilderment. Dense and rude, they shake on irregularities, at first inspiring confidence in all -resistant possibilities. You quickly get used to this, especially since with an increase in the speed of Nissan is becoming more comfortable. The troubles begin on the seams and chips of asphalt, where the shock absorbers seem to lock, refusing to damp the oscillations. On a really broken road, the pendants clang, showing that they are completely not adapted to such conditions.
The burden of popularity
They do not like bad roads! Despite the formidable appearance and impressive road clearance. Nissan-Kashkai and Dodge Caliber fought more by passenger rules. The rest of the tribute of fashion, the desire to fill in another consumer niche in a diverse and constantly expanding automobile world.
This niche has already formed. Tall cars with a large road clearance learned to be almost cars: compact, fast, obedient. Now to adapt all this to our roads, primarily not only urban ones. You look, and all -wheel drive will not be needed.
Sergey Voskresensky: At first, a solid appearance, which gives rise to permissiveness, impresses in these machines: I will pass where I want and how I want. Then a feeling of everyday life comes: in general, a passenger car that has a little more opportunities.
Dodge Caliber regardless of a large number of lumber, it is too utilitament and easy to in its qualities and capabilities. Apparently, he was still not very clearly defined the niche.
General assessment 7.4
+ Large road clearance, original additional equipment.
- very mediocre visibility, a tendency to build up the body, uninteresting handling.
Nissan Qashqai was not in vain in the top three of the best -selling Nissans in Russia. Car with character. It only shows its abilities exclusively on even roads.
General assessment 8.1
+ A solid and thought -out interior, convenient controls, high acoustic comfort, temperamental behavior on the road.
- mediocre visibility, vulnerability on bad roads.
 
 
 
 
 

 

A source: The magazine "Driving"