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Nissan’s compact crossover Qashqai is the vehicle for you if you want to enclose yourself in a world of quietude. Aninda Sardar reports

Named after an Iranian nomadic tribe that is reputed to be the descendants of the only tribe in history to have successfully resisted the fearsome medieval central Asian conqueror Timur, it remains to be seen whether Nissan’s Qashqai will be able to withstand the onslaught of competitors in its segment. The Qashqai compact crossover is Nissan’s latest offering for those who want the height and presence of an SUV but desire the handling and road comfort of a saloon car.

The most striking feature of the Qashqai is how quiet it is, inside as well as outside. At idling the engine can just be heard, more a reminder that it is ready to move when you are, rather than make a loud announcement. Once inside you don’t hear it at all and the only thing that lets you know that the engine is still running is the needle on the tachometer. Consequently you can enjoy your music even at volume levels as low as five. Nissan has indeed done the most wonderful job of insulating the cabin against noise.
From the outside, the Qashqai resembles the Murano in more ways than one would have imagined from the graphic images that are available on the Internet. The bonnet, however, is somewhat marred by two ridges that extend upwards from the trademark Nissan grille. This latest crossover in the block will get you noticed for sure, albeit in a subtle understated manner each time you drive into a parking lot or stop at the traffic signal.

The instrument cluster is nicely laid out and the backlit panel looks even better in the dark. Although most of the other switchgear is easy to reach, the knob for adjusting the wing mirrors is placed in a slightly odd position. The seats are comfortable and provide more than adequate support to the upper body as well. While legroom at the rear is not class leading, it is adequate for most people. The airconditioning unit is good and cooled the cabin quite fast despite leaving the vehicle in the afternoon sun.

Nissan has fitted the Qashqai with a six-speed automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a manual mode. This means that neither driver nor passengers feel any kind of shift shock at all since the gears change seamlessly.

Despite super smooth shifts, the Qashqai often feels sluggish, especially when pulling away at a signal or while entering a busy roundabout. This is because of the way its power and torque is developed. Although 142hp and 201Nm appear sufficient on paper, they are both developed at relatively high engine speeds. This means that the car needs to be revved into its mid and upper ranges for it to be accelerating quickly. If you enjoy the feeling of being pushed back into the seat each time you bury your foot into the throttle then the Qashqai will disappoint. However, if you enjoy cruising then this car does the job quite well. It takes its own time to reach the speed limit of 120kmph, but once there the six-speed transmission ensures that the vehicle continues cruising along effortlessly.

The car excels in the steering, handling and braking departments. The power-assisted tilt and telescopic steering feels nicely weighted and provides the right amount of feedback. So you are never in doubt that the car is responding in perfect tandem with your steering inputs, however little those may be.

Nissan has equipped the Qashqai with stabilised McPherson struts in front and independent multi-link suspension with stabiliser at the rear, which do a fine job in striking a balance between ride comfort and handling and prevent excess bodyroll.

As a result, sharp turns can be taken confidently even at high speeds. The four-disc brakes on the Qashqai are powerful and have more than enough bite to stop the almost two-tonne vehicle well in time should you have to panic brake.

Although available as a 4WD also, the Qashqai is essentially a city slicker. Consequently, dishing out the extra cash for two more driven wheels seems pointless, especially when you can get genuine off-roaders for a little more than what this crossover’s 4WD version would cost. It is a good car but for the category in which it has been positioned.

Blurring the lines
The credit for creating the crossover goes to Moskvitch, an automotive brand set up by the Soviets in 1929. The company went bankrupt in 2002. In 1957, the Russian automobile manufacturer produced the 410, a four-wheel driven version of the 402 that the company had introduced the year before. In doing so they created what is arguably the first ever crossover vehicle.

The initial 410s were powered by the same 1,220cc inline four engine, producing 35hp, which the 402 featured. This was later upgraded to a more modern 45hp engine and was followed with an estate version designated 411. Intended for use by farmers, the Moskvitch 410 had a ground clearance of 220mm, a wading depth of 300mm and could climb a 33-degree incline in first gear.