DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (CU)_Looks like South Africa is getting in the fast lane with the new fast cars. According to the latest reports there have been three generations of the Nissan Qashqai since it went on sale in 2007 and this Japanese vehicle, with an Iranian name, was one of the early pioneers of the now-dominant crossover niche.
The latest model that is built on a new alliance CMF-C platform is much refined with better technology and looks than the outgoing model. It has gone on sale in South Africa.
To look at it from an aesthetic point, though 35mm longer and 32mm wider now, it’s unmistakably Qashqai. The V-Motion grille that is now flanked by slimmer and sharper headlamps and popular “boomerang” daytime running lights remains shiny, but is also thinner.
The character lines, bulges and creases on the body have been tidied up to leave a more arresting, athletic and upmarket-looking crossover and we picked the spectacular Ceramic Grey car to highlight this feature. It is available in 11 body colours, with five two-tone combinations and alloy wheels in 17-, 18- and 19-inch sizes.
Moving inside, the new model with an increased wheelbase of 2,665mm feels adequately spacious for regular-sized families. It’s available in three specification levels: entry-level Visia, mid-tier Acenta and top-grade Acenta Plus.
The cheapest model costs R568,200, but gets an impressive list of standard features that include LED headlamps and daytime running lights, reverse camera through a colourful seven-inch touchscreen, 17-inch alloy wheels, Intelligent Cruise Control technology, a stop/start system, Push Button Ignition, wireless charger and a remote key.
Spend R71,100 more and you get the Acenta and a raft of new intelligent driving systems including High Beam Assist, the ProPILOT autonomous drive system, Intelligent Around View Monitor, navigation, 18-inch alloy wheels, Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention, Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, Forward Emergency Braking system, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning system, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) including Intelligent Lane Intervention (I-LI), Lane Keep Assist and Driver Attention Alert (DAA). A further R5,500 investment on this model gets you two-tone paint.
