Test drive Nissan Qashqai 2007 - 2010 SUV

Entertaining arithmetic

Nissan Qashqai+2. Price: from 692 000 rub.* On sale: since October 2008
The world bestseller Nissan Qashqai got a younger, but a big brother. The seven-seater Qashqai+2 has become two more spacious passengers and 30 thousand rubles more than the original. Will this double increase in Qashqai sales affect the Russian market?
Test pilot
Vladimir Makkaveev, 31 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience of 12 years, personal car Ford Focus
Having established himself in the rank of the pioneer of the segment of compact crossovers, Nissan continues to strengthen the conquered bridgehead. The demand for Qashqai already exceeds all the calculated indicators. To meet the growing demand in July 2008, Nissan even had to introduce the third shift at the factory in British Sanderland. But the Japanese do not think to rest on the laurels. While competitors are looking for an antidote for Qashqai, Nissan creates an even more perfect weapon of the seven -seater Qashqai+2. In the coming weeks, +2 will appear on the Russian market, and therefore it's time to get to know the revolutionary novelty. What we did by going to the first test drive of the Big Qashqai in the foothills of the French Alps.
They are not looking for good from good. One glance at Qashqai+2 is enough to understand that this principle was guided by Nissan designers, developing in London Paddington the world's first seven-seater compact crosover. The basis of the new car is naturally already familiar to us by the traditional Qashqai. Until the front rack, there are no differences at all, except that the radiator grille, if you look closely, is slightly modified. But then the most interesting begins. Since all design solutions are designed in the inherent Qashqai style, grown in the sizes of the door and side windows do not catch the eyes. However, from a constructive point of view, there are still many differences.
To place the third row of seats in the luggage compartment, Qashqai had to be lengthened by 211 mm. Naturally, it would be absurd to choose all this distance due to an increase in the rear overview, so Qashqai+2 was built on the elongated platform of the new Nissan/Renault C-class. As a result, the base of the seven-seater Qashqai was 135 mm longer than the five-seater, and the car itself, depending on the configuration, became 100-150 kg heavier and 38 mm above the parent. As is known from the laws of physics, all these advantages inevitably had to give rise to minuses, given that under the hood Qashqai+2 hides all the same gasoline engines with a volume of 1.6 (115 hp) or 2 liters (140 hp. ) as in the five -seater Qashqai. Depending on the volume and configuration, cars are available with 5-6-speed manual KP, and with a 6-speed CVT variator.
Natural losses +2 in the dynamics, controllability and efficiency of Nissan engineers were partially minimized due to cosmetic changes in suspension, steering and increasing the diameter of the brake discs. A small difference in the behavior on the road between the large and small Qashqai is certainly traced. Despite the more viscous, primarily in the transverse plane, the suspension settings, the increased inertia of the car is clearly felt on the mountain road. But the losses in the dynamics (+0.4-0.9 C when accelerating to 100 km/h) and efficiency (+0.2-0.3 liters of fuel per 100 km) are really minimal. In the absence of noticeable constructive changes in the chassis, it was not possible to expect more from Qashqai+2 more.
Moreover, all these insignificant disadvantages fully pay off with huge positive amounts as soon as it comes to the capacity of Qashqai+2. With a folded third row of seats, the volume of the luggage compartment increased by 140 liters: from 410 to 550. The middle series of seats is now shifted in the longitudinal plane within 240 mm. At the same time, he received a new design of the folding mechanism that allows you to fold the seats in three components in a ratio of 40/20/40, while on a five -seater Qashqai+2, the rear sofa was two -section: 60/40. The maximum luggage compartment with folded seats of the middle row is as many as 1520 liters. The only thing that has somewhat lubricates the general, a good impression of acquaintance with the interior Qashqai+2 is the process of landing and landing from the third row of seats.
The back row is designed exclusively for children and dwarfs up to 160 m. Everyone else has to literally screw into the narrow gap between the counter and a half -abreed back of the middle row. Yes, and fixing children's seats to the rear seats is not too convenient. However, all this negative is critical only for European fans of the model that consider Qashqai+2 as a full-fledged alternative to seven-seater mini-wenes. In Russia, not too lazy half -in -law solutions, the main advantages of Qashqai+2 can be considered not so much an extra series of seats as an increased luggage compartment and increased carrying capacity. All this, of course, costs those extra 30,000 rubles that are asked for +2. And in other conditions, the success of the model would have no doubt. But it hurts not by the time Qashqai+2 appeared on the market. If the global financial crisis is developed, it can painfully click on the nasal of the beginner: in the strict savings mode, many buyers that are not burdened with large number of children will surely prefer a cheaper five -seater version of Qashqai.
Driving
It differs slightly from the usual five -seater Qashqai, except that inertia is slightly higher.
   
Salon
The interior familiar in design has become much more voluminous and spacious.
   
Comfort
A viscous and excellent balanced suspension, good sound insulation.
   
Security
6 airbags, including curtains that protect all in the cabin in the case of a lateral blow.
   
Price
Quite justified for the car growing in the size of the car.
  
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Very voluminous and roomy salon.
- The third row of seats is designed only for children, while the installation of a children's chair is not very convenient on it.

Specifications
Mark and model - Nissan Qashqai+2
Dimensions - 4525x1780x1645 mm
Engine - gasoline, 1997 cm3, 140 hp/6000 min -1
Transmission - mechanical, 6 -speed
Dynamics - max 190 km/h; 10.5 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - Citroen C -Crosser, Peugeot 4007, Mitsubishi Outlander

Our opinion
It is unlikely that in Russia there are many people who want to buy elongated Qashqai only because of the presence of the third row of seats. In the Russian market, an increased capacity of the car will play an important role. It is the benefactor to her Qashqai+2 that will be fifted to shut up behind the belt of his older, but lesser brother.

Author: Vladimir Makkaveev
 
 

A source: Magazine 5 wheel [November 2008]