Nissan QASHQAI Range : QASH CONVERTER

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Is the crossover Qashqai quite as novel as Nissan claims? Andy Enright isnt sure

Immerse yourself in the launch hype surrounding Nissans Qashqai crossover vehicle and you could easily become convinced that this was the next big thing, Nissan plunging headlong into a brand new motoring niche. Step back a few paces, detach your brain from the endless lifestyle images being pumped at you and youll have cause to ask yourself whether the boldly-styled Nissan is anything really that new.

The Qashqai, in reality, is somewhere between an all-wheel drive-orientated Family Hatchback (like a Fiat Sedici or a Suzuki SX4) and a road-orientated compact 4x4 (like Toyotas RAV4 or Hondas CR-V). And, like all of the current versions of these cars, it incorporates MPV-style practicalities on board. Like many rivals of this kind, the Qashqai offers the choice of a two or a four-wheel drive platform, the front-wheel drive model being perfectly adequate for 95% of customers requirements. In case you were wondering where the wacky name came from, its pronounced kash-kai and is named after a desert-dwelling nomadic tribe from South Western Iran.

A little frisson of the Axis of Evil adds an exotic feel to the Nissan and although its easy to be a little cynical about the window dressing, there can be little doubt that the product on display is rock solid. Theres one of the widest choices of engines in the sector with two diesels and two petrol powerplants. Prices start at around £14,500 and things start off with a 1.6-litre 115bhp petrol unit and move up through 106bhp 1.

5dCi diesel and 140bhp 2.0-litre petrol units before topping-out with the 150bhp 2.0-litre dCi diesel. Nissan hasnt skimped when it comes to transmission options either, the Qashqai being supplied with five and six-speed manual boxes, a six-speed auto option and even an advanced Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT).

"The Qashqai aims to roll the best features of a family hatch, a mini-MPV and a compact 4x4 into one appealing package"

The ALL-MODE 4x4 system is available on the 2.0-litre vehicles for an extra £1,400. This is an electronic system which automatically engages four-wheel drive the moment a loss of traction is detected. It offers more safety and security in extreme weather on-road.

Nissan makes no bones of the fact that the Qashqai is anything but an off-roader, citing its lack of ground clearance. What precludes it from tackling rutted tracks makes it a better car on the blacktop, the hunkered down centre of gravity giving the Nissan the driving dynamics of a typical family hatch. There are two bodystle choices too, the standard model now joined by a Qashqai+2 seven-seater variant. Here, everything behind the windscreen pillars has been modified.

The wheelbase has been extended by 135mm and the overall length has grown by 211mm to 4,526mm. To make sure that rear seat occupants dont feel too hemmed in, the roof line has been reprofiled as well, adding 38mm to the cars height. The doors have been redesigned and the side windows are now bigger, as is the rear tailgate window, making the back feel anything but claustrophobic. The middle row of seats splits 40/40/40 and the backrest reclines to no fewer than nine adjustment positions.

The Qashqai+2s back row of seats is designed for kids or adults up to 1.6m (53"), the seats fold 50/50 and can be folded away simply by pulling a strap. Theres no need to go through the hassle of removing head rests first. When folded down theres a massive 500 litres of stowage space, and the rear hatch is both wider and has a lower loading sill than the standard Qashqai model. Theres even an underfloor stowage area to keep valuables out of sight.

The sturdy lid of this stowage area also doubles as a cargo divider to prevent your eggs getting squashed by your Irn Bru. Built at Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK in Sunderland, the Qashqai is undoubtedly a good-looking design. The rising hipline gives it a wedgy, athletic look and the canted C-pillar is a design cue nicked from the bigger Murano. The Qashqais front end is a good deal less extreme than the Murano, a vehicle that looks like an alien lander, the smaller vehicle favouring a more conventional front grille and lights arrangement.

A large panoramic sunroof gives the cabin an airy feel. The dashboard is cleanly styled with a neat centre stack and uses better materials than Nissans of late. Nissan has built an enviable reputation for safety and the Qashqai incorporates a number of noteworthy features. Accurate electrically-assisted power steering, multi-link rear suspension and beefy anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution should well be enough to keep you out of a prang in the first instance and theres also the additional safety net of Boschs eighth-generation ESP stability control.

While theres an inevitable avalanche of breathless hype to accompany the Qashqai and even a BBC news piece that featured puzzled members of the public trying to pronounce its name, the reality is a welcome addition to the ranks of road-biased compact 4x4s. It has some serious competition to face down but Nissans recent track record is near faultless. You wouldnt bet against it.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Nissan Qashqai range
PRICES: £14,349-£22,699 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 139-204g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 petrol 2WD] 0-60mph 10.1s / Top Speed 119mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 petrol 2WD] (urban) 26.4mpg / (extra urban) 42.8mpg / (combined) 34.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, Active front headrests.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm 4310/1780/1610