Nissan 360: the Qashqai
The Qashqai is a European-designed, Japan- and Euro-market crossover. We didn't drive the gasoline version, but the diesel is doable, if a little slow off the line, and the steering is pretty crisp for a CUV. The Qashqai +2 adds a third row... but there really isn't a lot of room back there, only suitable for new additions to the family. In a theme among all of the Nissan vehicles we drove today, the interior is quite pleasant. As ever, the Euros get mid-range vehicles with some really nice fit and finish. The leather in the diesel was especially nice, if a little puffy. The center console pleases the eye at a glance, but when you look closely at it you realize there are enough buttons and glyphs for a Sikorsky helicopter. It really takes scrutiny to decipher, and you don't want to do it while you're driving. But the panorama roof? Magnificent.
You can head over to the Nissan 360 event site for more details on the vehicles. But first, be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res photos below.
Gallery: Nissan 360: the Qashqai
Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Victor 6:38PM (4/29/2008)
Qashqai: What the Rogue should've been (I know they're both based on the Nissan C platform, shared with the Sentra)
Reply
Torrent 7:21PM (4/29/2008)
The front end is too outdated.
Reply
Andrew 1:31AM (4/30/2008)
Unless you are European or Japanese it doesn't matter what you think. It's not made to suit your taste :)
alphabeta777 7:46PM (4/29/2008)
The vehicle is sold over here (not the seven seater). Generally receives alright reviews, it's marketed as an car in between a hatch and an SUV, but almost all reviewers thinks it's overpriced for what it is.
Reply
42 7:55PM (4/29/2008)
how the heck do you say "Qashqai?" it sounds like some vile middle-eastern food served on a stick.
Reply
ugg.tryptophan 8:53PM (4/29/2008)
its pronounced cash+(k-eye)
CarlosMC 9:08PM (4/29/2008)
> "qaʃqaːʔiː" :)
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qashqai
tony 8:51PM (4/29/2008)
this vehicle looks way better then the Rogue, it has a stickshift and a diesel engine...but what a crappy, goofy name! I bet they lose sales on this thing just on the moronic name alone. Qashqai!!...wtf!! . the ''Nissan Hemmeroid'' sounds better then Qashqai.
Reply
psarhjinian 12:29AM (4/30/2008)
I don't know why people are dumping on the Rogue, other than the automatic "it's European, so it must be better" assumption that many are inclined to make. They both ride on the Sentra platform, but the Qashqai is shorter, rides on a shorter wheelbase and comes with much weaker powertrains. We definitely got the more sensible interior (there's a little too much Renault insanity in the Qashqai). As far as handling goes, neither are stellar.
Sleeker, more spacious, faster, cheaper: I think, in this case, we got the better deal. Unlike Honda, Ford or GM, Nissan doesn't screw the North American market as a matter of course.
Reply
Smeagle 3:28AM (4/30/2008)
I'm pretty sure this is the same car we get here except it's called the Dualis. Slight improvement but still a stupid name. The car seems pretty mediocre to me, the whole idea of trying to create a niche market for the sake of it shows you it's more about marketing than substance. The advertisments are pretty stupid too, like a marketing student took a serious amount of LSD.
Overall, this is one of the only cars that has completely failed to ilicit any emotion from me, good or bad. It's just blah
Reply
nezza 3:16PM (5/03/2008)
Whilst the Qashqai may have a strange name, it hasn't proved an obstacle to the car's success in Europe. Nissan stated its annual sales plan was 120k units a year at launch. It's blown that wide open with sales of 170k in the first year.
So, it seems that they have a hit on their hands - and goes to show that a strange name is no barrier to popularity if a car is fundamentally good. A bit like the Golf.