Nissan Qashqai SUV 2014 review

Weird name but a replacement nevertheless for the popular Dualis SUV, pumped up hatch or whatever you want to call it.

It has always been called Qashqai overseas, but they didn't like the name here and decided to name it Dualis for Australia instead. Fast forward and we're told the name, pronounced "Cash-ceye" is now "unique, catchy and memorable".

Same name, so what's changed? Wasn't it all these things back in 2007 when the vehicle was launched?

Explore the 2014 Nissan Qashqai range

• Nissan Qashqai 2014 review: road test video
• Nissan Qashqai 2014 review: video
• Nissan Qashqai 2014 review: road test
• Nissan Qashqai 2014 review
• Nissan Qashqai SUV 2014 review
• Nissan Qashqai TS diesel 2014 review

Famously, Nissan of course went through a similar process with Tiida/Pulsar nameplates. For the record, the Qashqai draws its name from a group of nomadic tribes from different ethnic backgrounds that are found mainly in Iran.

Design

A bit of market strategising here. The entire range is front wheel drive this time around and the larger 7 seat version has been dropped - if you want all-wheel drive or seven seats then the X-Trail is the car for you.

Designed and built in Europe it looks similar to Dualis from the back but wears the new family face. In terms of size it sits between the odd ball Juke and larger X-Trail, although it shares the same platform as X-Trail.

Qashqai is 47mm longer than the Dualis which it replaces, but 164mm shorter than the 7-seat Dualis +2. Most people bought the Dualis +2 for the extra luggage space, not the third row of seats.

Like the metallic black piano finish which helps give the car a premium feel. Lower grades are fitted with 17 inch alloys, higher grades with 19s - a space saver spare is provided in case of a flat tyre.

Value

The Australian Qashqai lineup is split into two petrol and two diesel models. Prices start from $25,850 for the entry level ST with a petrol engine and manual transmission, followed by the Ti at $32,490, with the entry level TS diesel $33,200 and top of the line TL $37,990.

The auto adds $2640 to the price of ST or $2500 to the Ti - the diesel comes with an auto as standard (there is no diesel manual).

Standard features across the range include Electronic Park Brake, Rear View Camera, Daytime running lights, Bluetooth handsfree, cruise control, height and reach adjust steering wheel, 60/40 split fold second row seating, ISOFIX child restraint anchorage points and four rear cargo area luggage hooks.

Ti and TL grades also include front heated seats, six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, panoramic glass roof, roof rails and LED headlights with auto levelling.

Engine / Transmission

The 2.0-litre petrol engine and 1.6-litre turbo diesel basically carry over from the previous model, with some minor changes. The now direct-injected 2.0-litre petrol engine produces 106kW of power and 200Nm of torque compared to 102/198 before while the diesel is good for the same 96kW and 320Nm.

The Xtronic CVT continuously variable style auto has been redesigned, with 70 per cent new parts, 40 per cent less friction, Eco mode, a lower first gear and higher overdrive ratios.

In the diesel it adds auto stop-start which helps reduce fuel consumption but this function is not available with the petrol engine. Fuel consumption for the petrol model is rated at 6.9L/100km for the auto or 7.7L/100km for the manual (less than before) while the diesel returns 4.9L/100km (0.4Lmore than before).

Safety

Herein hangs a tale . . . Nissan has found itself the subject of criticism, notably from the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) that crash tests and rates cars here, for not including automatic braking - a feature found in European models.

The idea which is rapidly gaining ground is that sensors keep a track of the traffic in front and if it stops then so do you, whether the driver intervenes of not.

The system will probably be mandated for all Australian cars from 2016, about the time they stop building cars like the Falcon here in Australia. Cynical? Perhaps, but in reality just a cost-cutting exercise to get the cars here cheaper.

With six airbags and the usual array of driver assistance systems, the car still earns a maximum five-star safety rating. A reverse camera is standard, so are front and rear parking sensors and higher grade models add blind spot warning and lane departure warning.

Driving

We drove all three drivetrain variants at the Qashqai's Australian launch. Our pick is the petrol engine with the manual transmission. It was more responsive than the auto and felt lighter on its feet than the diesel. The manual shift falls easily to hand and is just as easy to use, with a light action and clutch that is light too.

The CVT on the other hand was not quite as responsive but delivers better fuel economy. You can however opt to change gears manually via the shifter with six-steps that equate to gears. In contrast the CVT works well with the higher torque output of the diesel and is more suited to its relaxed style of driving.

The car sits flat through corners and the driver can adjust the amount of steering effort required, with a choice of Normal and Sport modes - but to do so requires drilling down through the computer menu.

We like the digital speed display and the navigation system in higher spec models displays the current speed limit, but unfortunately gets it wrong frequently.