ROAD TEST - NISSAN QASHQAI 2.0 N-TEC:
Cruisin' 'round the 'hood in my pimp-mobile
Stylin' neck breakin' under chains of gold
…As you can see, I'd make a terrible rapper. But those were the lines that popped into my head when meeting this Nissan Qashqai n-tec edition. It's as if, on a much subtler scale, it's trying to be one of those black Cadillac Escalades that rap stars cruise around in. You know, the ones with gigantic chrome wheels that dwarf the wheelarches.
I mean, what's the point of fitting fancy 'smouldering black' 18-inch rims with low profile tyres to something was designed with SUV ambitions?
Sure, it's more fitting to call the Qashqai a softroader, but even these are designed to tackle the odd dirt trail, ruined country road or occasional mild off-road jaunt. But surely these rims are no match for even the pavement kerbs of Sandton?
Guess I've been missing the point here. This Qashqai is all about style. You buy this if you want the status of an SUV in a more glittery wrapping, not to mention that special sensation of being a bit higher off the ground than Joe Average and his 2.7 kids in the Tiida driving alongside.
Thanks to the recent facelift, the Qashqai is still arguably one of the better lookers on the block, but it lacks the crisper, more daring attitude of newer rivals like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai ix35.
The n-tec package does add some flash though, and in addition to those big rims, it gains roof rails, leather upholstery and the option of a glass roof in the case of the 2-litre petrol.
While a 1.6 petrol engine is also available, our test unit was a 2-litre, powered by Nissan's familiar 16-valve motor with 102kW on tap at 5200rpm and 198Nm at 4400. It's available in 4x2 form only, channelling power to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.
Despite its urban orientation, testing this Qashqai coincided with a weekend in the country, which included a few smooth dirt roads and some badly potholed and rutted tar surfaces. I thought this would be a better idea than a trip to the ghetto, since I couldn't figure out how to drive with the seat-back almost horizontal while still dangling my right arm from the window.
The Nissan's wheels survived the dodgy roads, including a good smack on a tar section, and it provided a comfortable and relaxed journey.
The ride was smooth on all surfaces, the interior quiet, the steering accurate, cornering neat and the engine proved just adequate for overtaking. I wouldn't describe it as quick by any stretch of the imagination, but I never cursed it for lacking urge and it felt flexible enough at lower revs.
Comfortable, solidly built, spacious and versatile enough for the family, the Qashqai remains a decent choice when viewed in isolation but at R299 900 for the 2.0 n-teq, it is too expensive for what it offers.
Consider that you can have the far more powerful turbocharged (albeit lesser specced) VW Tiguan 1.4 TSI 118kW for the same price or the high-spec Kia Sportage 2.0 for R277 995. Buy the Tiguan for refinement and performance or the Kia for style and value.