It was revealed to large members of media corps in Braamfontein before getting a chance to play with it from Johannesburg via Pretoria (Cullinan) and back in Jozi on Wednesday afternoon.
After checking at the Reef Hotel ( one of Joburg’s oldest hotels) on Tuesday, yours truly and colleagues drawn from all corners of SA, had a blast in Braamfie- as locals call it- for a night of ‘cityproof’ the coining of the new Qashqai- a significant premium enhancements to establish it as the perfect partner to conquer the City.
An improvement from the previous Qashqai- according to Gobille Xavier- MD Marketing Nissan SA & Sub Saharan Africa, the new one is the ultimate urban crossover.
As we took it for a test ride (two versions- Diesel & Petrol) there’s a vast different though.
Our first assignment was the diesel variant and it played along from ABS brakes to top torque, especially as we negotiated our way with potholes in abundance and unttared roads of Bronkhorspruit. It’s comfortable, safe and powerful as we accelerated from 80km to 120km/h in a space of 10m.
As for the petrol variant, it lacked a bit of oomph-but that’s my observation until you get yours…
Some of the features include Intelligent Blind Spot Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Around View Monitor and Intelligent Cross Traffic Alert.
The Nissan Qashqai combines superior style with unparalleled practicality such as storage solutions situated throughout the vehicle, the 430-litre boot which increases to 680 litres when the 60:40 split rear seats are folded flat.
Available in various colours, it comes peppered with 17-inch and 19-inch alloy wheels, designed to reduce drag and all the enhancements result in an increased overall length of 17mm to 4,394mm while the width (1,806mm) and height (1,595mm) remain unchanged, new front bumper and face with the latest incarnation of Nissan’s iconic
“V-motion” grille and the halogen lights and the “boomerang” Daytime Running Lamp signature consisting of nine LEDs.
The clam-shell bonnet and rear bumper have also been redesigned.
Says Xavier at the media launch that coincided with St Valentine Day (Nissan is synonymous for its red trademark) “cars are a way of life and Nissan support that mantra”, commented a racing car enthusiast with a French accent.
Qashqai -meaning a semi-nomadic tribe in southern Iran who are famous for their carpets and weaving, has sold 3.3million units globally since its launch in 2007. And SA has largely contributed to those numbers.
Nissan has been introducing its highly innovative technologies, known as Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM), to vehicles currently available in SA.
The Patrol and X-Trail, launched last year have several NIM features, and the new Qashqai benefits from these technologies too.
Mother, father or any City dweller this should appetize your taste bud, stru!
The Nissan Assured includes 24-hour roadside assistance and has a class-leading 6-year/150,000km warranty, and a comprehensive 3-year/90,000km service plan.
The new Nissan Qashqai maintains its five-star Euro NCAP Safety Rating.
1.2 T Visia R 334 900
1.2 T Visia + Alloys R 346 700
1.2 T Acenta R 367 000
1.2 T Acenta CVT R 381 000
1.2 T Acenta Plus CVT R 394 000
1.5 dCI Acenta R 394 000
1.5 dCI Acenta Plus R 407 000
1.5 dCI Tekna R 434 000
