November 8, 2013: Nissan has unveiled the second-generation Qashqai SUV for international markets.
Designed in London, engineered in Cranfield and Barcelona and built in Sunderland, UK, the new Qashqai is armed with a smart new exterior look, more fuel-efficient engines, and, perhaps most significantly, a much higher quality, more premium interior.
The first-generation Qashqai, built in Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the north east of England, has been the most successful model in Nissan Europe’s history, selling around 1.5 million units in Europe since 2007 and 2 million units worldwide.
“The first car had to make a real ‘wow’ when people saw it,” said Stewart Callegari, Nissan Europe’s product planning chief. “It needed a big impact, and it has done that. With the second generation, we’ve already made the segment and are the market leader. So rather than make one big wow with the car, we took a more mature approach and made a lot of improvements in small areas to appeal to a wider range of European customers.”
With the new Qashqai, Nissan’s main areas of focus were “enhancing the level of technology and design” and “improving the dynamic performance, while maintaining the package, price and size of the current car”, according to Callegari.
The new Qashqai broadly shares its proportions with its predecessor, growing slightly in length and width, but dropping slightly in height. The new car has a much sportier silhouette, but interior space is improved over the previous model.
More distinctive front and rear ends feature on the evolved look of the new car, along with more sculpted body sides. Front-end features include Nissan’s latest V-shaped grille, wraparound front headlights and a clamshell bonnet, while at the rear there’s an evolved version of Nissan’s ‘Boomerang’ rear lights.
It’s inside where the biggest improvement over the previous Qashqai lies. Higher quality, more premium materials are used in an interior that gets a completely new look.
“We had to improve on the premium element,” said Paul Ray, the interior design leader on the project. “Understanding all the products out there, they’ve caught us up and we want to lead again.”
First European model on Common Alliance platform
The new Qashqai is the first European model to be based on the firm's Common Alliance Platform. By 2020, 11 Renault and 3 Nissan cars will be based on platform which will be produced in factories in 10 countries.
Top-spec models get leather and Alcantara trim to emphasise this premium feel of the new crossover, but the improvements extend to a greater use of soft-touch materials right down to the bottom of the range. The five-seat interior is also made more functional, with improved storage space and room for passengers, plus a bigger, more accessible boot.
Among the standard specification is expected to be air-conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, and stop-start on all the engines.
The launch engine range for international markets includes a base 113bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol, a 108bhp 1.5-litre dCi turbodiesel and a 128bhp 1.6-litre dCi turbodiesel engine.
Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive offered on the 1.6 dCi. All-wheel-drive models also get multi-link rear suspension, front-drivers get twist beam rear suspension. MacPherson struts are used for the front suspension. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on all engines, with a CVT auto’ offered on the 1.6 dCi. Nissan is calling this CVT Xtronic.
“The new CVT gearbox aims to mix CVT smoothness with DCT connection,” according to Nissan engineer Mark Fowler. “We want to eliminate the rubber band feeling and noise under heavier throttle load, deliver a more connected feel, while maintaining the smoothness. There’s a ‘step shift’ feel to the shifts, like a normal auto’. We think we’ve really moved on the technology here.”
A new Chassis Control system features, derived from the GT-R and said to give the function of a limited-slip differential. An Active Ride Control system is said to boost ride comfort. The equipment and technology levels on the Qashqai have also been significantly increased.
The Nissan Connect 2 infotainment system is offered, which includes sat-nav and a full suite of connectivity options. A whole host of safety technology is offered under the Nissan Safety Shield banner, including traffic sign recognition, automatic braking, moving object detection for parking, and park assist.
The seven-seat Qashqai +2 has been dropped from the range, effectively replaced by the new X-Trail, but Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn confirmed Nissan plans to launch a further five crossovers globally in the next 18 months.
MARK TISSHAW, AUTOCAR UK