Here at Car Articles, we were scratching our heads when considering which four wheeled wonder stood out for the best reasons. We considered left field choices, expensive choices, reasonably priced choices, fast cars, luxury cars and just about everything in between. Finally, we were left with a car that can be seen (and used) just about everywhere – the 2014 Nissan Qashqai.
The Qashqai was a massive success in the mark one version and this mark two got quite a lot of hype prior to release. Luckily, it appears that it was in the main completely justified. Nissan have produced a genuinely quality product that has an eye catching form which appears to have evolved from the softer lines of the previous model. The interior has also been vastly improved to offer a more mature, more luxurious place to sit.
The key to the popularity of the Qashqai is the perceived value of the car. It is at the right price, of a good quality and having done some research there seems to be positive feedback from the dealerships. The flexibility of the crossover means that you can do some soft roading with it or alternatively just enjoy the smooth (whichever power plant you pick) drive when taking the kids to school.
As per the previous car, there’s the choice of two or four wheel drive and the option of Xtronic CVT gearbox, so again there’s flexibility for the car buyer. Handling is predictable, sure footed and aided by a number of electronics to assist in preventing any accidents. There are a wide range of options and at the time of writing (16/12/2014) there are 17 different trim/engine options to pick from.
If you need to pack plenty of holiday gear for a GT style cruise to the continent, the Qashqai has plenty of space to do so. Go for the four wheel drive variant and you’ll be able to tackle most terrain a standard driver will come across. Performance is more than adequate and having driven the Qashqai, it’s the comfort that really impresses. Given this formula that Nissan have struck on it’s no wonder that others have jumped on the crossover bandwagon.
You can’t argue with sales success – at least not when it’s backed up by a quality product like the Qashqai. For the first time in a good while the new Nissan Qashqai got us genuinely excited in crossovers and SUVs again. For this reason, it is the Car Articles Car Of The Year 2014!
Launched in January 2014, the new Qashqai is available from £18,265 and is offered with five trim grade options. Engine outputs range from 110PS in the 1.5dCi to 163PS in the new 1.6-litre DIG-T petrol engines, while technology features include Nissan Safety Shield Technologies, Around View Monitor, New NissanConnect infotainment system and Intelligent Park Assist.
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