Old-timer: Detailed Test Of The Crossover Nissan Qashqai

2023 Author: Natalie MacDonald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 02:36

Nissan Qashqai is a car that should be produced with a plaque somewhere in the corner of the front panel or on the radiator grill. On a copper plate, you can engrave something like: "With this model in 2006, began the victorious offensive of crossovers on the European market." Qashqai was not the first, but it was he who was at the origins of the current boom that continues today. Today it is the most popular Japanese car in the Old World, moving forward in the sales ratings of Ford, Peugeot, Opel cars. And among crossovers, only VW Tiguan can compete with it in demand

Nissan Qashqai 1,319,000 - 1,902,000 ₽ Editor's Choice: Options QE Yandex, 2.0 4WD, 144 hp for 1,792,000 ₽ Rating: 3.7 out of 5 Pros

• Design
• Finishing quality
• Equipment

Minuses

• Weak dynamics
• Mediocre handling
• Cramped salon

Ownership cost per year with a mileage of 17,500 km: OSAGO 11,992 ₽ CASCO 56,875 ₽ Maintenance per year 12,540 ₽ Transport tax 5,040 ₽ Fuel 90,475 ₽ Total 176 922 ₽

* The cost of policies and tax are calculated for a driver over 22 years old and with more than 4 years of experience living in Moscow

For a long time, Qashqai was a bestseller in Russia, but in recent years it has been squeezed out by budget crossovers and larger and more expensive competitors. Last year's update of the model revived demand somewhat, but it is no longer able to return to the top of Qashqai. Age affects, because the current generation debuted in 2014.

However, Qashqai is still confidently in the top 25 Russian sales. To figure out what helps to keep customers' love, the crossover in the maximum version will help us LE Top with a two-liter naturally aspirated engine and all-wheel drive. This car is available in the optional blue color. 1,922,000 rubles excluding discounts.

Interior

Inside, the Qashqai is clearly a Japanese car. By the selection of materials, by small details, by the features of ergonomics. And the age of the model cannot be hidden by any updates, although after restyling the interior became better and more comfortable than on cars of the 2014 model.

The design is notable only for the fact that the more expensive Nissan X-Trail will have the same design. The light frivolity of the lines is combined with the maximum severity of all shades of black and light inclusions of silver plastic in the decoration. But if the "big brother" is offered with a bright interior, then the Qashqai is deprived of such an option.

Practicality

In terms of capacity, the Qashqai outright loses to the leader of the Russian crossover market, Tiguan, but this is to be expected: the Japanese car is a good 10 centimeters shorter. And our recent test showed that the rear sofa and trunk are Kashkai's weak weapons in the battle with newcomer competitors of comparable sizes. So it's not in vain that Nissan is promoting its crossover under the slogan “Your city. Your move”- for family trips to the country it is worth saving up money for the X-Trail.

Technique and reliability

In fact, the 2nd generation Nissan Qashqai is two cars at once, the most similar only in appearance. The first one is "European", which is sold in the countries of the Old World. But for Russia and Russian roads, it was considered too hard and too "asphalt". Therefore, a different version is produced at the plant in St. Petersburg, which differs not only in springs and shock absorbers, and their settings, but also in most of the suspension parts!

The engineers abandoned the semi-independent rear beam for the front-wheel drive versions (all cars only have a multi-link), changed the design of the subframes, installed other levers, refined the steering and as a result … unified the Russian Qashqai and X-Trail as much as possible!

Thanks to this, the Russian version of Kashkaya has a wider track and a smoother ride. And the noise insulation has also been improved due to additional sound-absorbing mats, multilayer windshield, plastic shields under the bottom, special ballast, which dampens vibrations of individual components and assemblies.

A two-liter engine, like that of our crossover, is also installed on the X-Trail - this is an aspirated 144 hp. in combination with a variator. Only for Kashkai this motor is considered top-end, and for "X-trail" - basic. Four-wheel drive - with a multi-plate clutch connecting the rear axle.

There is only one alternative to the naturally aspirated engine - a 115-horsepower turbo engine with a volume of only 1.2 liters, which is not supposed to have four-wheel drive. As it is not supposed to and all versions with "mechanics".

However, the turbo engine is not popular in Russia. Alas, deservedly so. It is inconvenient to operate: its power is enough only for measured movement around the city, but even with this style of driving, there is no particular fuel economy. In winter, the engine starts hard, takes a long time to reach operating temperature and cannot properly warm up the interior - owners from cold regions complain about freezing glass.

Even more alarming is the fact that some of the turbo engines suffer from diseases that are inherent in many supercharged units: increased oil consumption and rapid wear of the timing chain. There is also an original problem - a suddenly shutdown turbine. It is especially unpleasant when this happens during overtaking …

A two-liter engine is more reliable and easily overcomes the 350 thousand km mark with one or two timing chain changes and smaller repairs such as replacing the current crankshaft oil seal or the rear support of the power unit. The main thing is to hand the car into the hands of competent mechanics who know how gently to handle spark plugs in this engine. If you apply extra effort to them, then the block head will crack near the candle hole - the part is not at all cheap.

Many are dared by the variator from the Nissan crossover. However, here, too, only the basic 115-horsepower version with the notorious JF015 series box inspires great concern. The two-liter Qashqai is equipped with a more reliable unit, but long slippages in mud or snow, as well as abrupt starts, are contraindicated for it.

Otherwise, Kashkai has no pronounced weak points. Is that the creak when turning the steering wheel, which still tormented the owners of the first generation crossovers, has not been completely cured. But it is still not difficult to eliminate it with the help of a can of silicone grease.

Riding

In the crossover hierarchy, Qashqai also stands out. On the one hand, he is taller than B-class kids. On the other hand, it does not yet reach the size of full-fledged C-segment crossovers like Tiguan, Sportage, X-Trail or RAV4. The difference in length is only ten to fifteen centimeters, but in sensations, the gap is much more significant. For example, because the power of 140-150 forces, which for larger crossovers is considered a "living wage", for Kashkai is already the limit.

And atmospheric 200 Nm of torque is not God knows what kind of thrust for a one and a half ton car. Promised in the passport 10.5 seconds of acceleration "to hundreds" and so do not inspire optimism, but in real life the sensations of overclocking are even more modest.

The variator is to blame, which does not allow the atmospheric engine to show even a drop of character. It seems that the desire of engineers to make it "like a machine" played a cruel joke with customers. With smooth acceleration, the box, imitating switching, does not allow the engine to spin above three thousand - despite the fact that the peak of the engine's thrust is at 4400 rpm. Saves fuel and our ears? But he does both that, and another badly. The consumption is still rather big (about 11 l / 100 km), and the engine noise at 5000 rpm will not be too loud - after all, they worked very carefully on the sound insulation during the Russian adaptation.

As a result, Qashqai is perceived as a "dumb" car that does not react well to gas. And there is nothing to cheer him up by raising the sensitivity of the accelerator and "adjusting" the settings of the box - there is no sport mode for the crossover. There is only the mocking Eco, which makes the car even more boring.

You can try manual transmission mode, but it is perfectly defined by the term "imitation of shifting" - sometimes the gear number on the computer screen changes, but the tachometer needle does not move at all.

But such settings are convenient on a dirt road after rain. It is only important not to forget to lock the rear axle clutch - and the car will confidently go forward, spitting mud from the wheels. On this block, plus the braking of the skidding wheels, in fact, the off-road arsenal of Kashkai ends, so it is better not to force the Japanese crossover to storm mountain steeps or punch its way where it does not exist. The variator does not like such exercises - there is a great chance that it will overheat before you reach the finish line.

Qashqai feels much more confident on asphalt. It is stable on a straight line - even where the asphalt has already gone in waves, longitudinal or transverse. The adapted suspension also copes well with pits - harsh and not silent, but without breakdowns. Although minor road irregularities break into the passenger compartment with a noticeable vibrational background, and from somewhere in the trunk you can hear tires: the sound insulation of the wheel arches is worse than that of the engine compartment.

But Nissan does not give the driver the pleasure of driving. In small corners, the steering wheel is loaded only with background effort and is uninformative - a distinct reactive action appears only in medium-steep turns. But twisty lanes are no longer fond of a chassis tuned for understeer. Qashqai rests at the entrance to the bend, trying to straighten the trajectory, and in the limit - tastelessly slides in drift, reacting poorly to gas discharge. The steering responses are also not very fast and accurate, and all this is accompanied by tangible rolls.

Yes, part of the handling claims can be redirected to the 18-inch winter tires that were installed on the test crossover. But in the last test, with the native 19-inch wheels, the Qashqai did not pull on the driver's car. By the way, such large "rollers" are allowed only for top-end versions, and most of the cars sold are simpler wheels.

Equipment

For the Japanese crossover, ten equipment options are offered at once, but this is only because Qashqai does not actually have separate options and a choice of additional equipment packages. All ten levels are available only with a two-liter engine and CVT, while with other power units the choice is more modest.

The initial price of Kashkai is 1 319 000 rubles (excluding promotions and discounts) for a car with a 115-horsepower turbo engine and a complete set of mechanics XE … Equipment - ESP, a set of airbags, heated front seats and windshield, dual-zone climate control, audio system with CD, Bluetooth and USB, seats with fabric upholstery and mechanical adjustments, steel 16-inch wheels. The same crossover, but with a variator, costs more by 61,000 rubles … Per 1 452 000 and 1,513,000 rubles The Qashqai XE will have a two-liter naturally aspirated manual or CVT and 17-inch alloy wheels. BUT 1 605 000 rubles - the minimum price for the same, but four-wheel drive car.

In the next configuration SE fog lights, light and rain sensors, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, power mirrors, steering wheel and rear seat heating are added. Prices, depending on the power unit, - from 1 424 000 before 1,722,000 rubles.

There are a couple of "bonus" ones to this level - SE + or SE Yandex … In the first for 40,000 rubles added multimedia with navigation, 7-inch touchscreen and camera, plus tire pressure monitoring. In the second, just for 15,000 rubles, - 8-inch multimedia system Yandex. Auto and 18-inch disks.

Qashqai QE and the next steps in the configurator are already available only with a 144hp motor and CVT. At this stage, the wheels become at least 18-inch, adaptive LED headlights appear, and in the version QE + (here is the surcharge for it 50,000 rubles) - also all-round cameras and a panoramic roof. Price range - from 1 690 000 before 1,832,000 rubles.

In top trim levels LE, LE + and LE Topthat start with 1 750 000 rubles, electronic assistants are added (control of marking, monitoring of blind spots, etc.), keyless entry, leather trimmed seats and their electric drives. Plus gets a parking lot, driver fatigue control and panorama, and the LE Top is the only version with 19-inch wheels. This Qashqai is worth 1,810,000 rubles front-wheel drive or 1,902,000 rubles with four leaders.

Competitors

KiSeltos

Корейский кроссовер уже одержал над Кашкаем победу по очкам в нашем тесте и явно готов закрепить успех на ринге продаж. За те же деньги Seltos предлагает больше «плюшек», он динамичнее и удобнее для пассажиров. Хотя и не может перевезти столько же багажа. На выбор предлагаются три мотора мощностью 123–177 л.с. Диапазон цен – от 1 119 900 до 1 999 900 рублей " style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

SkodKaroq

Тех, кому грузопассажирские характеристики важнее дизайна, может сманить новичок из Чехии. Skodтрадиционно предлагает большой багажник и просторный салон. Ещё один сильный аргумент – традиционный «автомат» вместо вариатора у переднеприводной версии. Но полный привод – только с роботом DSG. Мотор пока один (150 л.с., 1.4-турбо), прайс – от 1 387 000 до 1 754 000 рублей, плюс много­численные опции, способные заметно увеличить цену " style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Mitsubishi ASX

В очередной раз обновлённый ASX близок к Кашкаю по размерам, оснащению и ценам. Только выбор комплектаций у него скромнее и это ограничивает рыночные манёвры. Силовых агрегатов два – либо 117-сильный 1.6 с «механикой» и передним приводом, либо 2-литровый атмосферник (150 л.с.) с вариатором и всеми ведущими. Стоит ASX от 1 432 000 до 1 872 000 рублей" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Nissan X-Trail

Более крупный Nissan тоже можно считать конкурентом - особенно для тех, кто выбирает Qashqai побогаче. Построенный на той же платформе автомобиль имеет более просторные салон и багажник, его можно купить с дизелем (но только с «механикой»), при этом разница цен в сходных комплектациях не превышает 300 тысяч рублей. X-Trail со 144-сильным мотором стоит от 1 676 000 до 2 196 000 рублей " style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

conclusions

The result of this test is a somewhat paradoxical picture. On the one hand, the structurally elderly Kashkai has many shortcomings. But there are also a lot of admirers, despite all these shortcomings. Surely each of the more than 25 thousand people who bought Qashqai in 2019 had their own arguments in defense of this particular model.

The brand image, familiar powertrains and competitive prices play a role. And many people just love cars with their eyes - and this is where the Japanese crossover is still good. It is moderately conservative, moderately bright, especially if you do not skimp on the additional payment for the color. The same can be said for the interior. Goes inexpressive? So for most buyers this is not too important. Cramped? Only for the mother-in-law in the back row and her seedlings in the trunk. And if so, why not take Qashqai? But recently, there are more and more alternatives to the Japanese crossover - with Korean and European emblems. And the engraved commemorative plaque may soon no longer protect against them.