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Nissan Qashqai 1.6 N-tec

Nissan's popular Qashqai crossover cleans up its act with stop/start, we test it here first.

Nissan Qashqai 1.6 front

By Tom Phillips

January 2011

Nissan’s Qashqai is cleaning up it's act! Bosses have introduced stop-start as an option on the popular 1.6-litre petrol engine, and we took the wheel to see if it makes a difference.

The 1.6 accounts for more than 40 per cent of Qashqai sales, and while it doesn’t have the punch of a turbo, it’s responsive. The £200 stop-start cuts power smoothly as you come to a halt. Press the clutch, and the engine sparks back to life without hesitation. 

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Nissan Qashqai

 

Emissions drop 5g/km to 139g/km, which cuts annual road tax by £10 to £110. What’s more, economy is said to be improved by three per cent.

New lights and bumpers fitted as part of last year’s facelift ensure the Qashqai still looks modern. Our n-tec model now gets 18-inch Onyx alloys as standard – they used to be a £400 extra, although they make the ride stiffer.
 
The revamp left the cabin largely untouched. It features sat-nav, a panoramic roof and a reversing camera, but rivals are packaged better. You sit high, so the low-set sat-nav is tricky to use, and while rear 
passengers will love the roof, it cuts head and legroom. Plus, the dash doesn’t have the engaging colours and textures of the Juke.

For an alternative review of the latest Nissan Qashqai visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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3 Comments

"The £200 stop-start cuts power smoothly as you come to a halt. Press the clutch, and the engine sparks back to life without hesitation"

Yep! On a brand new nissan and a Demo car at that, it will work well, but what about in three years time? What about after 50000 miles? Like all these cheap (build, not price!) cars, it is made to get you to buy from the showroom, not from a secondhand dealers forcourt.

Prestige makes have had this for years and it works well, but that's because it is not made down to a price, but to be engineered!

By Rumour on 1 February, 2011, 9:42am

A pointless vehicle with forgettable styling.

By toycollector on 3 February, 2011, 8:07pm

We love our Qashgai dCI here in Germany!

I came from The Austin Motor Company - yes the company in Longbridge and went through the whole run down of BMC/BLMC to run ins with Lord Stokes - killer of the British Motor Industry!

Had great times with my then boss Alan Sheppard now Lord Sheppard later boss and visionary of Grand Metropolitan then later creator of the drinks giant Diageo - look it up,

We wanted something British now and so had one of the first Qashgais here in Dusseldorf. It is a great family car! It is reliable, roomy, has a great driving position, many useful extras such as cruise, blue tooth, 6 speeds for economical autobahn cruising!

Thank you Sunderland!

By vandenplas4litre on 5 February, 2011, 4:38pm

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Pictures

Nissan Qashqai 1.6 rear
Nissan Qashqai 1.6 interior
Nissan Qashqai 1.6 engine

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FIRST OPINION

    The Qashqai still offers something a little more interesting than the likes of the VW Golf or Ford Focus. The new wheels on this n-tec help to give the chunky, revised styling a solid feel, and the high-set driving position provides a sense of security that a normal hatch can’t match. Stop-start is a welcome addition, too, although given how much kit is already included, we think the technology should be standard-fit.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Power: 115bhp
    Torque: 158Nm
    0-62mph: 11.9 seconds
    Top speed: 113mph
    Economy: 47.9mpg
    Emissions: 139g/km
    Equipment: Climate control, 18-inch alloys, Bluetooth, auto lights and wipers, panoramic roof, cruise control, reversing camera
    On sale: Now
     
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