NISSAN Qashqai 2018
Say hello to the miniature Rogue—above-average comfort included
Pros and cons
Pros
- Roomy cabin and cargo area
- Comfortable ride
- Generous equipment, for the price
- Good driving position
- Comfortable front seats
- Availability of a manual transmission
Cons
- Vague steering
- Body lean in curves
- Noisy acceleration (automatic transmission)
- Restrictive rear visibility
Overview
Nearly ten years after it began a successful career in Europe, the Nissan Qashqai crossed the pond last year to take up residence in the booming subcompact sport-utility segment. It is so similar in appearance to the Nissan Rogue that the little newcomer is called the Rogue Sport in the United States. Like nearly all of its competitors, the Qashqai is looking to conciliate all-wheel drive and the high driving position that are so popular nowadays with a format adapted to an urban environment.
At dealerships since June 2017, the Qashqai is priced starting at $21,748, including destinations fees. The presence of a manual transmission in the front-wheel-drive base-model S explains the very competitive base price. Nissan Canada says selling the idea of a manual gearbox wasn’t easy because our neighbours to the south decided to pass on the manual, and their choices often dictate the general pattern of the Canadian market.
The base price includes air conditioning and heated front seats, but not cruise control, available only with the automatic transmission (at a cost of $2,500 in the SV, and $2,700 in the S). All-wheel drive adds another $2,200 to the cost of S and SV models, whereas it is standard on the SL.
The Nissan Qashqai is assembled in Kyushu, Japan.
(Video in French only)
Verdict
To set the record straight: Despite its sleek lines and bold colours, the 2018 Nissan Qashqai actually drives quite sedately. The manual transmission spices things up a bit, but the Qashqai is in no way as dynamic as a Mazda CX-3. On the other hand, it is nearly as roomy as the Honda HR‑V, which tops the segment for versatility. Along with good comfort and a favourable equipment/price ratio, the Nissan Qashqai has every chance of enjoying a successful run on our market.
Evaluation
Body and cabin
At first glance, the 2018 Nissan Qashqai is styled so much like the Rogue that you almost have to see them side by side to realize how much smaller the Qashqai really is.Though nearly as wide as its big brother, the newcomer is 11 cm lower and 25 cm shorter. Nissan also shrank the wheelbase but by only 6 cm, choosing instead to reduce front and rear overhang. All things considered, in terms of size, the Qashqai hovers somewhere between the other compact SUVs and the old Toyota Matrix, a high-stance compact hatchback.
As a result, the cabin is one of the roomiest of the segment, with plenty of space for four adults despite the fact that Nissan is essentially targeting singles and young couples. The high driving position will please the majority of mini-SUV buyers; Nissan also deserves kudos for the telescoping steering wheel, seldom offered on its affordable models.
Though well padded, the front seats are unimpressive in terms of side support. The SL provides power driver seat adjustment including power lumbar support, which is rare for the segment, as is the heated steering wheel starting with the mid-range SV. The logical control layout and comprehensive instrument panel are also deserving of mention.
Otherwise, the level of equipment is par for the category, with features such as Bluetooth, USB port, climate control and power controls across the whole line-up. However, one unfortunate exception is the absence of cruise control on the manual-transmission S model. Nissan Canada admits the decision is to allow it to advertise a starting price under $20,000, before destination fees.
Safety
Advanced safety features are becoming mainstream in all segments of the industry. The Qashqai offers all current systems including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning with lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. It is the only subcompact SUV to offer surround-view cameras, and its automatic emergency braking (AEB) includes pedestrian detection.A welcome change for 2018: you don't need to buy the most expensive model in the line-up to get the most important of these features. A simpler AEB (without pedestrian detection) as well as blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert are now standard all the way from the S with automatic transmission. This largely explains the $700 increase in the price gap between the manual and automatic for 2018. All further driver assist systems remain exclusive to the SL with Platinum package.
Crash test results
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)Overall score: 4 / 5
Frontal impact: 4 / 5
Side impact: 5 / 5
Rollover resistance: 4 / 5
Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS)
Moderate overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Small overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Side impact: 4 / 4
Rear impact: Not tested
Roof strength: Not tested
Mechanical overview
The 2018 Nissan Qashqai is built on the same platform as the Rogue, itself based on the Sentra sedan. In other words, the chassis derives from that of a compact car, one step higher in the hierarchy compared to most competitors. That represents a certain advantage for the Qashqai, since compacts are generally quieter and more refined than subcompacts.Additionally, an independent multilink suspension is bolted to the rear; most competing models make do with a less sophisticated torsion beam design.
At the launch in 2017, Nissan vaunted the dynamic virtues of this arrangement for its newcomer. However, our extensive road test confirms our first impressions from last year: the Nissan Qashqai leans noticeably in curves, and the body can jounce at times on pavement undulations. An advanced suspension is fine and dandy, but you can’t expect sharp handling if the tunings are too soft.
The good news is that this relative softness delivers higher-than-average comfort for the category. Straight-line stability was reassuring, and no stiff reaction was noticed on degraded pavement with the 16- and 17-inch wheels. The SL's 19-inchers do allow small bumps to infiltrate the cabin in city driving. The steering provides little information on the condition of the road, but it is well weighted, making it easy to guide the vehicle both in the city and at highway speeds.
The 2.0-litre four cylinder engine outputs 140 hp, which is sufficient for normal driving. Despite its long, rubbery throws, the manual transmission injects a bit of zest while allowing you to step up the pace, if necessary, on a climb or when passing. The continuously variable transmission makes for a blander experience and drones the engine in moderate acceleration. On the other hand, it maintains the RPMs at a much lower level than the manual to promote both quiet and economy on the highway.
All in all, the Nissan Qashqai’s placid, serene road comportment should please the many drivers who prefer comfort to dynamic performance, additional proof of its kinship with the Rogue.