Size Doesn't Matter - Nissan Qashqai... 1.2
Discussion
Yes, I have bought (well, leased) a car that just a few short years ago would have been laughed at: it's an SUV that uses an engine capacity more usually associated with superminis and that drives the front wheels only. Granted, that sounds absolutely awful, but it's really not at all and actually makes a lot of sense in today's world.
For the second generation of Qashqai, Nissan have dumped the more traditional entry-level N/A 1.6 petrol in favour of the 1.2 turbo petrol you'll find under the bonnet of my car. It's both more economical and powerful that the outgoing lump, with a claimed 50mpg, 113bhp and 140lb/ft. I actually went to test drive one before committing to the lease because, to me, the sound of a 1.2-litre engine in a car of this size just sounded odd, but I was completely wrong... it's every bit as quick as you could want it to be, with the engine hauling along the 1318kgs without a hint of its diminutive size. If you had no idea of the engine's capacity and you had to guess, you'd never expect it to be so small.
Okay, if you were to tow or use it for airport runs for obese people and their luggage you may be better with the diesel, but for how my Wife will use it (it's her car really), this petrol engine is without doubt the wisest choice.
It's overall a nice place to be, too, with a generally solid feel to everything and, being the top-spec Tekna model, many, many gadgets. This thing has a spec list longer than your arm: heated, electrically-adjustable leather seats, heated windscreen, 19" diamond cut alloy wheels, bi-LED headlamps, traffic sign recognition, surround view cameras, touch-screen sat nav, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, panoramic glass roof etc. etc. etc.! I don't imagine a new S-Class has an awful lot of stuff that this doesn't.
I don't look at it as an SUV, to be honest - it's front-wheel drive so it'll look ridiculous when it comes to a grinding halt in the snow with just its front wheels spinning, but consider it as a rival to more traditional family cars such as the Focus and Astra and it really is a very attractive package indeed. From a driving perspective it's not an awful lot different to car-shaped hatchbacks and there's no denying sitting a little higher is nice, but I do think the blurb went a little far when describing how the Nissan GT-R has influenced its dynamics.
As you can tell, at the moment I'm extremely pleased with it! The best bit compared with its rivals? It's been designed, engineered and built in the UK. I'm not sure a 1.2 SUV will catch on in America, though.
Please excuse the retail park pictures, but I needed a tax disc holder from Halfords! Here it is in all its magnificent glory:
For the second generation of Qashqai, Nissan have dumped the more traditional entry-level N/A 1.6 petrol in favour of the 1.2 turbo petrol you'll find under the bonnet of my car. It's both more economical and powerful that the outgoing lump, with a claimed 50mpg, 113bhp and 140lb/ft. I actually went to test drive one before committing to the lease because, to me, the sound of a 1.2-litre engine in a car of this size just sounded odd, but I was completely wrong... it's every bit as quick as you could want it to be, with the engine hauling along the 1318kgs without a hint of its diminutive size. If you had no idea of the engine's capacity and you had to guess, you'd never expect it to be so small.
Okay, if you were to tow or use it for airport runs for obese people and their luggage you may be better with the diesel, but for how my Wife will use it (it's her car really), this petrol engine is without doubt the wisest choice.
It's overall a nice place to be, too, with a generally solid feel to everything and, being the top-spec Tekna model, many, many gadgets. This thing has a spec list longer than your arm: heated, electrically-adjustable leather seats, heated windscreen, 19" diamond cut alloy wheels, bi-LED headlamps, traffic sign recognition, surround view cameras, touch-screen sat nav, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, panoramic glass roof etc. etc. etc.! I don't imagine a new S-Class has an awful lot of stuff that this doesn't.
I don't look at it as an SUV, to be honest - it's front-wheel drive so it'll look ridiculous when it comes to a grinding halt in the snow with just its front wheels spinning, but consider it as a rival to more traditional family cars such as the Focus and Astra and it really is a very attractive package indeed. From a driving perspective it's not an awful lot different to car-shaped hatchbacks and there's no denying sitting a little higher is nice, but I do think the blurb went a little far when describing how the Nissan GT-R has influenced its dynamics.
As you can tell, at the moment I'm extremely pleased with it! The best bit compared with its rivals? It's been designed, engineered and built in the UK. I'm not sure a 1.2 SUV will catch on in America, though.
Please excuse the retail park pictures, but I needed a tax disc holder from Halfords! Here it is in all its magnificent glory:
Edited by David87 on Monday 9th June 23:45
David87 said:
Yes, I have bought (well, leased) a car that just a few short years ago would have been laughed at: it's an SUV that uses an engine capacity more usually associated with superminis and that drives the front wheels only. Granted, that sounds absolutely awful, but it's really not at all and actually makes a lot of sense in today's world.
For the second generation of Qashqai, Nissan have dumped the more traditional entry-level N/A 1.6 petrol in favour of the 1.2 turbo petrol you'll find under the bonnet of my car. It's both more economical and powerful that the outgoing lump, with a claimed 50mpg, 113bhp and 140lb/ft. I actually went to test drive one before committing to the lease because, to me, the sound of a 1.2-litre engine in a car of this size just sounded odd, but I was completely wrong... it's every bit as quick as you could want it to be, with the engine hauling along the 1318kgs without a hint of its diminutive size. If you had no idea of the engine's capacity and you had to guess, you'd never expect it to be so small.
Okay, if you were to tow or use it for airport runs for obese people and their luggage you may be better with the diesel, but for how my Wife will use it (it's her car really), this petrol engine is without doubt the wisest choice.
It's overall a nice place to be, too, with a generally solid feel to everything and, being the top-spec Tekna model, many, many gadgets. This thing has a spec list longer than your arm: heated, electrically-adjustable leather seats, heated windscreen, 19" diamond cut alloy wheels, bi-LED headlamps, traffic sign recognition, surround view cameras, touch-screen sat nav, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, panoramic glass roof etc. etc. etc.! I don't imagine a new S-Class has an awful lot of stuff that this doesn't.
I don't look at it as an SUV, to be honest - it's front-wheel drive so it'll look ridiculous when it comes to a grinding halt in the snow with just its front wheels spinning, but consider it as a rival to more traditional family cars such as the Focus and Astra and it really is a very attractive package indeed. From a driving perspective it's not an awful lot different to car-shaped hatchbacks and there's no denying sitting a little higher is nice, but I do think the blurb went a little far when describing how the Nissan GT-R has influenced its dynamics.
As you can tell, at the moment I'm extremely pleased with it! The best bit compared with its rivals? It's been designed, engineered and built in the UK. I'm not sure a 1.2 SUV will catch on in America, though.
Please excuse the retail park pictures, but I needed a tax disc holder from Halfords! Here it is in all its magnificent glory:
Do you mind me asking who you leased it through?For the second generation of Qashqai, Nissan have dumped the more traditional entry-level N/A 1.6 petrol in favour of the 1.2 turbo petrol you'll find under the bonnet of my car. It's both more economical and powerful that the outgoing lump, with a claimed 50mpg, 113bhp and 140lb/ft. I actually went to test drive one before committing to the lease because, to me, the sound of a 1.2-litre engine in a car of this size just sounded odd, but I was completely wrong... it's every bit as quick as you could want it to be, with the engine hauling along the 1318kgs without a hint of its diminutive size. If you had no idea of the engine's capacity and you had to guess, you'd never expect it to be so small.
Okay, if you were to tow or use it for airport runs for obese people and their luggage you may be better with the diesel, but for how my Wife will use it (it's her car really), this petrol engine is without doubt the wisest choice.
It's overall a nice place to be, too, with a generally solid feel to everything and, being the top-spec Tekna model, many, many gadgets. This thing has a spec list longer than your arm: heated, electrically-adjustable leather seats, heated windscreen, 19" diamond cut alloy wheels, bi-LED headlamps, traffic sign recognition, surround view cameras, touch-screen sat nav, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, panoramic glass roof etc. etc. etc.! I don't imagine a new S-Class has an awful lot of stuff that this doesn't.
I don't look at it as an SUV, to be honest - it's front-wheel drive so it'll look ridiculous when it comes to a grinding halt in the snow with just its front wheels spinning, but consider it as a rival to more traditional family cars such as the Focus and Astra and it really is a very attractive package indeed. From a driving perspective it's not an awful lot different to car-shaped hatchbacks and there's no denying sitting a little higher is nice, but I do think the blurb went a little far when describing how the Nissan GT-R has influenced its dynamics.
As you can tell, at the moment I'm extremely pleased with it! The best bit compared with its rivals? It's been designed, engineered and built in the UK. I'm not sure a 1.2 SUV will catch on in America, though.
Please excuse the retail park pictures, but I needed a tax disc holder from Halfords! Here it is in all its magnificent glory:
Edited by David87 on Monday 9th June 23:45
TurboHatchback said:
19" Wheels on a 1.2L hatchback 
. That'll be fun when it comes to buying new tyres. I'm sure it'll be a nice, comfortable, reliable car to own but it does seem a triumph of style and marketing over substance.
19in tyres can be bought for £100-£120 corner. Gone are the days of when Mondeo had 15in and 16in alloys. . That'll be fun when it comes to buying new tyres. I'm sure it'll be a nice, comfortable, reliable car to own but it does seem a triumph of style and marketing over substance.Back on topic. Good looking car and being a Nissan, good value too
bakerstreet said:
TurboHatchback said:
19" Wheels on a 1.2L hatchback . That'll be fun when it comes to buying new tyres. I'm sure it'll be a nice, comfortable, reliable car to own but it does seem a triumph of style and marketing over substance.
19in tyres can be bought for £100-£120 corner. Gone are the days of when Mondeo had 15in and 16in alloys. . That'll be fun when it comes to buying new tyres. I'm sure it'll be a nice, comfortable, reliable car to own but it does seem a triumph of style and marketing over substance.Back on topic. Good looking car and being a Nissan, good value too
Car looks good OP. will do the job its made for.
Thanks for all the comments, guys. Current fuel economy is running at 43mpg. In response to a few questions:
The only sticker going on it will be a PH one! 
I have to say, the 19" wheels were the only bit of the Tekna model that I wasn't that keen on (most other Qashqais come with 17" wheels). That said, the model I test drove wore 17"s and it didn't ride much different to my one. They do look pretty cool too! I'm not too concerned about tyres, to be honest - over the course of the lease I should only have to replace two if I'm lucky. They're 225/45 R 19 96W.
quote=eric twinge]You had to buy your own tax disc holder?
The one they sent me was massive and ugly, so I steered clear!buachaille193 said:
DUMBO100 said:
Congrats OP enjoy, that's a nice looking family car but you'll need one of those "powered by fairy dust" stickers
Don't forget the headlamp eyelashes...pimpchez said:
Surely that kerbweight cant be right . Car looks nice dont get me wrong , but maybe the derv variant will bettter in the real world .
Were you expecting it to be heavier? I have to say, I was surprised by it too. The 1.5 diesel is 1365kgs.TurboHatchback said:
19" Wheels on a 1.2L hatchback . That'll be fun when it comes to buying new tyres. I'm sure it'll be a nice, comfortable, reliable car to own but it does seem a triumph of style and marketing over substance.
I know. . That'll be fun when it comes to buying new tyres. I'm sure it'll be a nice, comfortable, reliable car to own but it does seem a triumph of style and marketing over substance. I have to say, the 19" wheels were the only bit of the Tekna model that I wasn't that keen on (most other Qashqais come with 17" wheels). That said, the model I test drove wore 17"s and it didn't ride much different to my one. They do look pretty cool too! I'm not too concerned about tyres, to be honest - over the course of the lease I should only have to replace two if I'm lucky. They're 225/45 R 19 96W.quote=eric twinge]You had to buy your own tax disc holder?
jack01825 said:
Do you mind me asking who you leased it through?
Mental Ling from Dragons' Den. I have to say, the service was outstanding.budgie smuggler said:
Chelmer Village?
Sounds like a good spec. Dare I be so vulgar as to ask the price?
Indeed it is! Leasing on 3+35 at 12,000 miles per year. Costs £298 / month including road tax for the duration of the lease. Seems like a good deal to me! List is £24,105.Sounds like a good spec. Dare I be so vulgar as to ask the price?
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff