Cash in with QashQai - VIDEO
QashQai. This is the product of a £230million investment that provided job security for 3,000 Sunderland workers including 200 new jobs at the Nissan factory.
So, it goes without saying, it's vital to the success of Nissan in Britain.
Until this car came along Nissan had mixed fortunes with the cars it produced in Sunderland.
Nissan Qashqai
Engine: 2.0 dCi 2WD
Power: 150bhp
0-60mph: 10.5secs
Top speed: 119mph
Economy: 42.8mpg
Price: 17,749
The Micra continues to do well, but the Almera and Primera were never the great success stories the company hoped for.
They have stopped building the Almera and have withdrawn the Primera from all European markets.
The chunky Qashqai is something altogether different.
Nissan QashQai: the inside track - VIDEO
Andy Drake, trim and chassis production manager at the Sunderland plant, said the car was doing even better than they had expected.
When it first went into production Nissan hoped to build 130,000 a year.
"But it has proved so popular across Europe that we've increased production to 180,000 to cope with demand," said Andy. "We're even shipping some to Japan."
Nissan describe their compact family car is as a "crossover" vehicle.
What car makers normally mean by that is that it is neither a family hatchback nor an out-and-out 4x4 but a sports utility vehicle designed to appeal to buyers of both types of car.
This gets round the poor gas-guzzling image that large 4x4s have suffered.
The Qashqai has a few more inches ground clearance than the average family hatchback. And it has the sturdy looks of a 4x4 but with rounder corners that make it chunky not hunky, appealing to both men and women.
It is available with either two or four-wheel drive, though most people go for the front-wheel drive models.
The car comes with a choice of 1.5 or two-litre Renault diesel engines and 1.6 or two-litre petrol engines.
We put a 2.0dCi TWD model through its paces on Nissan's test track, giving us the chance to drive at speeds in excess of 100mph.
The car coped well, with just a little wind noise. It felt balanced, solid and secure, even cornering at high speeds.
The test track also has a variety of different surfaces, including rumble strips, to challenge a vehicle's stability and ability to cope, when for example two wheels are on tarmac and two on a different surface.
Standard or optional features include a full-length panoramic glass roof, satnav, and rear-view parking camera.
Personally, I've never been a fan of cameras to help me park. I prefer to see for myself where I am going, using the mirrors and a glance over the shoulder.
There are three different equipment levels called Visia, Acenta and Tekna.
The Qashqai is well priced alongside rivals like the Toyota RAV-4, Ford Focus and VW Golf, as prices range from 13,499 to 23,299.
But some price experts reckon you should be looking to pay about 12,800 for a 1.6 Visia
The Qashqai looks like a compact SUV rather than a 4x4 – though if you buy one with 4x4 capability it will cope fairly well with the odd sortie on to wet grass or gravel – but it's not a go-anywhere workhorse like the big Pathfinder or the X-Trail.
If you want a two-litre four-wheel drive petrol model expect to pay about 17,499 for a mid-range spec Acenta. Performance-wise, you'll, get about 33mpg and something like 0-60 in under 11 seconds. Top speed is 118mph.
A two-litre diesel Visia will cost you about 16,200 with similar performance, but much better fuel economy – you can expect around 40mpg
I like the Qashqai's relaxed driving style, it's got a fine, comfortable ride with a quality interior and some useful equipment.
And, if you can live with that odd-sounding name – it's actually the name of a nomadic tribe living in the deserts of South Western Iran! – if you can live with that, you could end up with a canny little car.
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Weather for Sunderland
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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