2014 Nissan Qashqai preview
This is the new 2014 Nissan Qashqai. It certainly looks different, it drives different and it even sounds different but is it an improvement on the old model?
When you take a walk around the revised model you will see that the formula is pretty much the same. It’s still a tall cross-over which is the same size as the Nissan VW Golf, though much roomier inside and therefore simply an all round good car for family life. However, it seems the Qashqai has grown up quite a bit. It’s now longer, wider and lower, ok only by small amounts but just these subtle changes have helped make it look much sleeker and classier. To be honest it needs to look this good because there are now over 20 rivals on the market.
Last year Nissan sold more Qashqais than any other year in its life. Usually buyers get bored of buying cars that have been around for 6 years but this simply isn’t the case with the Qashqai. Perhaps the appeal of the original will eventually fade when people take a good look at the new model. The interior takes a giant step forward with a classy facia and every Qashqai gets Bluetooth, cruise control, air conditioning and a clever device that holds you when you take off on hills. Even the handbrake is electronic! It doesn’t stop there, depending on the model you chose there are a multitude of electronic gadgets to keep you safe in your Qashqai. In fact, select the right optional pack and you could even knock of three levels of your insurance rating.
The large seats are a definite improvement on the outgoing model. We’re told that they are specially designed to suit a whole range of people, from the smallest to those well over 6ft tall, equally well. The roof has been dropped slightly so you’d think there is the risk of reduced headroom especially in the rear but by lowering the seat position there’s actually more head room than before.
At the back, the tailgate opens really nice and wide and the capacity is up a bit too on the old model, though it’s still not massive compared to similar models on the market. If you reposition the bottom panel then it provides a very handy bulkhead to stop the shopping sliding around. Remove it completely and you’ll get an extra 30% of space. The rear seats fold easily to give you a nice flat floor. The biggest drawback however is that there’s no spare wheel instead what you’ll get is a can of goo to inflate the tyres just in case you have a puncture.
We believe that the most popularly sold models will be the front wheel drive 1.5 turbo diesel engine. It will give you 110 bhp which certainly isn’t the quickest and can be a bit slow off the mark, however this won’t worry most buyers. What will be more important is the Qashqai’s 99gm Co2 figure which means big tax savings as well as the improbable claim of 74 mpg and you can’t argue with that!
In conclusion the 2014 Nissan Qashqai does tick all the right boxes as a family car. It even depreciates less than a VW Golf which means great rates at your local dealer. Car buyers will certainly have more fun with a cross-over but few make more sense than the Qashqai.
