Test Drive Nissan Qashqai Since 2010 Crossover

Battle Samurai

Nissan Qashqai. Price: from $ 21,900 Honda C-RV. Price: from $ 33,800 Suzuki Grand Vitara. Price: from $ 30 475
For the new Nissan Qashqai has already lined up multi-month queues. However, it should not be assumed that the life of the debutant will be happy and cloudless. He will have to fight with the long-established Suzuki Grand Vitara and Honda C-RV.
In our test, three all-wheel drive cars are involved in the following characteristics of 2 liter gasoline row engines. However, Suzuki Grand Vitara is equipped with a traditional design machine with a planetary gearbox. In service with Honda C-RV ordinary mechanics, truth is 6 speed. And already loved by the Russians newcomer Nissan Qashqai Market trumps exotic for our latitudes, a variator or simply putting a stepless box.
The gear ratios in the Honda C-RV manual box are chosen with the achievement of maximum accelerations. The higher the step, the longer the transmission. After 120 km / h, the control becomes harder, the rate of speed set is noticeably falling. The sixth stage is economical, that is, the maximum speed is achieved on the fifth. It is very convenient to save on fuel on a long journey. The advantage of traditional mechanics is that the driver is free to choose the necessary power management strategy. You can accelerate on the first up to 60 km / h, switch to the sixth and move with a constant speed, without spending precious gasoline. Suzuki, working in conjunction with a longitudinally located engine, gives more comfort. However, it will be difficult to get used to the switching algorithms. Sometimes there is a desire to not use the drive mode at all, but go to manual control. But such, alas, no. There are only four transmissions in the box that today it can be considered an unsatisfactory indicator.

The Qashqai Variator will be able to deliver a lot of pleasure to fans of an active ride. It combines the comfort of the machine and the mechanical method of power management. Avoid drivers If they want to try out in the case of six programmed steps, I except the habit and very soon go back to automatic mode. With the maximum pressure on the gas pedal, the engine quickly spins up to 6,700 revolutions and pays out the power available in the covers. When the speed set, no rejection stress recession is an exceptional prerogative of a stepless transmission.
The steering wheel of Nissan Qashqai should be recognized as the most comfortable. However, the onboard system control buttons are not entirely successful on the hub. For example, to adjust the volume of the radio will have to remove the left hand from the rim.
It is not possible to reach the adjustment with a thumb. The instrument panel is tilted at a large angle. So I want to pull the neck to look into two wells, at the bottom of which the dials of the tachometer and the speedometer are placed. True, you quickly get used to it. Unlike well-readable information of the main appliances, the screen of the on-board computer is very glare. In general, the design of the instrument panel is to recognize obsolete and little attractive, but very functional.
The most successful from the point of view of ergonomics can be considered the dashboard and the Honda C-RV steering wheel. The hub is not overloaded with buttons, so they managed to position directly on the spokes. The color execution of the instrument panel is the most successful and comfortable. At first glance, it looks like a Christmas tree, but you can drive the whole night and without tired to perceive the necessary information. If you analyze the flower gamut, it will be found that only three colors are constantly observed on the dashboard. The hands of the speedometer and tachometer are highlighted red, rims of dials are highlighted in blue. Such a decision rooted the readings of speed and revolutions from all other secondary information. Basic white-moonlight.

 
 
 
 
 
The steering wheel Suzuki Grand Vitara turned out to be the most inconvenient slippery and thin. In addition, there are no thickens in places of proper grip. The dashboard is constantly highlighted and information is readily read from it.
The main trump card Grand Vitara is the transmission configuration. There is a lower transmission in the transfer box and the possibility of forced locking the inter-axis differential. But manageability is not at the height. No feedback on the steering wheel, roll suspension, and as a result, inadequate behavior when performing maneuvers at speed. Honda has a little cotton steering reactions. In the turns not to do without rolls, but at the same time the car is well holding a given trajectory. True, on the off-road path C-RV ordered. No drive control is missing. With straight uniform motion, the car front-wheel drive. In the case of slippage of the front wheels, the coupling (disc complision is provided by hydraulics, and not a fashionable electromagnet today) moves part of the thrust (up to 70%) to the rear axle. This is enough to get to the cottage along the broken road.
Nissan Qashqai cannot boast an inter-axis differential, but will allow you to choose one of the three drive modes: only on the front wheels, the all-wheel drive (the rear axle connection is automatically), a constant full with a blocked coupling. In the latter case, the blocking provides an intelligential connection between the bridges, which significantly increases the possibilities of the car on off-road. In addition, Nissan shows the best handling. The suspension allows you to move very actively, but face frequent tributes. Qashqai showed a good result and divided the championship with Honda. The only truly strong argument Grand Vitara properties on off-road, so Suzuki closes the top three participants.
Suzuki Grand Vitara.
The last update of Suzuku Grand Vitara occurred in 2005. The demand for the car remains consistently high. This contributes to an expressive appearance, which, in combination with a lower transmission in a transfer box, is a good proposal. Prices for the car begin with $ 30475 (792350 rubles) and ends $ 36,692 (954,000 rubles).
Driving
Management of a car in urban conditions should be recognized as heavy. All units are configured for off-road driving.
Salon
The interior decoration is not distinguished by delisons. In a long trip, the driver's body is still asking for a warm-up.
Comfort
Ergonomic salon solutions in the traditional bed.
Safety
The body has a reinforced frame and zone of the programmed deformation.
Price
Considering that in the arsenal of the model there is only a full-fledged four-wheel drive, the price is to recognize the overestimated.
Nissan Qashqai.
The all-new crossover Qashqai made its debut at the beginning of the year. The car attracted a nice design, a wide variety of complete sets, a set of options and, most importantly, adequate prices. The cheapest equipment with four-wheel drive and an automatic continuously variable transmission will cost $ 28,300.
Driving
Being behind the wheel of this car is a pleasure. Steering informative.
Salon
Due to the compact size had to sacrifice something. In this case, the trunk volume suffered.
Comfort
Ergonomic solutions are not ideal, and in the interior requires getting used to.
Safety
Newbie created with all the required safety standards.
Price
The abundance of complete sets has allowed prices vary over a wide range.
Honda CR-V
Honda C-RV entered the Russian market a little earlier than the Qashqai. He got a completely new look, has become more dynamic and aggressive. Prices remained unchanged. But this does not mean that for some consumer properties model became worse. All done with the same thoroughness Japanese. Prices range from $ 33800 to $ 39500.
Driving
Manual can effectively control the traction and ensure good dynamics.
Salon
Salon is spacious and comfortable. Everything is at hand, and the abundance of armrests and different capacities makes C-RV is like a mini-van.
Comfort
Seats in the cabin with an excess, but the profile of the seat is not too good.
Safety
The car is equipped with multiple systems, both active and passive safety.
Price
The emergence of a new generation of C-RV has not caused a significant increase in prices. Our opinion
Our opinion
Nissan Qashqai showed a good result and a divided Honda C-RV lead. Newbie attracts adequate price, plenty of complete sets and the possibility of ordering the automatic transmission on the basis of the variator. C-RV is more expensive, but it is justified fee for large cabin and trunk. Suzuki Grand Vitara behind opponents on the part handling on dry pavement. This crossover is only one indisputable trump transfer case with reduction gear. But with modest luggage does not go far.
TEXT: 5 Wheel
Photo: Sergey Crosses

A source: Magazine 5 Wheel [May 2007]