The Nissan Qashqai, known as the Nissan Dualis in Japan, is a compact crossover produced
by the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan since 2007. It replaced the off-road capable body-on-frame
Mistral/Terrano II as its small SUV offering and its P32L automobile platform will be also
used by other forthcoming Nissan crossover SUVs.
First generation Name
Nissan named the Qashqai after the Qashqai semi-nomadic tribe living in mountainous Southwestern
Iran. Nissan considered releasing the Chinese version as the CCUV.
Production and sales The Qashqai has been built at Nissan's Nissan
Motor Manufacturing UK Sunderland, Tyne and Wear plant since December 2006.
It is the first model to be styled by Nissan Design Europe in London, with engineering
development led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. It was
globally presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.
By the end of 2007, Nissan had sold approximately 100,000 Nissan Qashqais in Europe, including
17,554 in UK, 15,376 in Russia, and 10,746 in Italy. Since its facelift in 2010, the
Qashqai has sold over 200,000 annual units in Europe every year, and the first generation
Qashqai has sold more than 1.24 million units in Europe during its 7.5 year production run.
The Qashqai is exported to the Middle East and additional overseas markets.
In order to increase production capacity in Nissan's UK plant in Sunderland, some models
of the 2014 Qashqai will be produced in Nissan's Russian plant in Saint Petersburg.
Features
Built on an all-new platform, the Qashqai went on sale in February 2007, and Nissan
targeted more than 100,000 sales per year. Nissan said the car would cater to those buyers
who want a more dynamic design, but are not attracted to the large, aggressive nature
of a sport utility vehicle. The car slots below the X-Trail in the Nissan range and
partially replaces the conventional Primera, even though it took the production place of
the smaller Almera. In terms of size, its 4,310 millimetres length and 1,610 millimetres
height make it fall between compact MPVs, such as the SEAT Altea and Peugeot 5008; and
compact SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander.
The top half of Qashqai has a sleek, dynamic form with a distinctive shoulder line which
rises at the rear — a design cue similar to that of the Nissan Murano. The lower portion
resembles an SUV due to large, pronounced wheel arches and a slightly elevated ground
clearance. The Qashqai uses the same platform as the X-Trail. Nissan regards the Qashqai
as a rival to such cars as the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V and in 2007 it received
a five star Euro NCAP safety rating — the best ever adult occupant score.
Five engine choices are available: a 114 PS 1.6 L or a 141 PS 2.0 L petrol, while the
106 PS 1.5 L, 130 PS 1.6 L and 150 PS 2.0 L provide the diesel offerings.
Qashqai+2
Production of a seven-passenger version of the Qashqai, named "Qashqai+2", began at NMUK
in July 2008. Launched in October 2008, it is a larger variant of the standard model
with the wheelbase extended by 135 mm. The overall length of the car is extended by 211 mm
to allow for a third row of seats, and roof height is increased by 38 mm at the rear.
From the A-pillar back the car's chassis is unique, but trim and engine models remain
the same as on the standard Qashqai. The Qashqai+2 has been discontinued to be
replaced by the new version of the X-Trail with a seven-seat configuration.
2010 facelift
On 4 December 2009, Nissan announced the Qashqai's next version, which went on sale in March
2010. The model's front end has been completely restyled while the rear now includes LED tail-lights.
Modifications to the interior include a new instrument panel layout for the vehicle's
drive computer, better soundproofing and minor storage additions. ESP is now standard across
the range and two new exterior colours have been added. The launch of an eco-friendly
Pure Drive variant has also been announced. 2011 engine update
A new 1.6 dCi engine replaces the previous 2.0 dCi. Peak power is down from 110 kW to
95 kW, but there’s the same 320 N·m of torque, available at 1750 rpm, rather than
2000 rpm. Nissan hasn’t released full performance figures, but says the 1.6 dCi has a quicker
50–80 km/h acceleration figure than the 2.0 dCi.
Nissan has also added its Around View Monitor as standard equipment for 360 versions of
the Qashqai and Qashqai +2. The system uses a set of external cameras to create a 360-degree
view of the car to help with parking manoeuvres. The driver can focus on any camera to look
out for a particular obstacle. Marketing
Japan The Japanese Domestic Market Dualis is offered
in 2.0 G, 2.0 S, 2.0 G Four, and 2.0 S Four trim levels. All models are powered by 2.0-litre
MR20DE engine matched to 6-speed Xtronic CVT. Middle East
In most Middle East markets, the Nissan Qashqai is offered in S, SE and LE, Standard on all
trims is the 2.0L 106 kW MR20DE engine with CVT.
North America The Qashqai is not offered in North American
markets. Instead, Nissan offers the Nissan Rogue. Although larger and appearing to be
a completely different model it is based on the same basic platform as the Qashqai / Xtrail
with some visual similarities. In Mexico, the X-Trail and Rogue are both sold and the
Qashqai is about to be offered in the Mexican market.
New Zealand Nissan New Zealand also uses the Qashqai name
to distinguish the model from Dualis grey imports that were shipped from Japan before
the official release. The New Zealand spec Qashqai is sourced from Sunderland having
initially been sourced from Japan. The range consists of two specification levels: St and
Ti both with 2WD 2.0L MR20DE CVT. The Qashqai+2 was added to the range in July 2010.
Singapore In Singapore, the local distributor offered
the Qashqai in the standard variant and also in Qashqai+2 seven-seater variant. Parallel
importers also offered the model but bears the Dualis name which is directly sourced
from Japan. United Kingdom
The Qashqai has been made at the Sunderland, Tyne and Wear plant since December 2006, occupying
the production line previously occupied by the Almera. Its launch also coincided with
the withdrawal of the Primera from the UK market due to low sales.
This left the company with no direct successor to the Almera or Primera on the UK market,
with the "supermini MPV" Note being sold as an indirect successor to the Almera, and the
Qashqai as a successor to the Primera. This move was seen as controversial, but in
time appears to have paid off as the Qashqai has proved a major sales success in the United
Kingdom, with more than 39,000 sales in 2010 making it the tenth best selling new car in
Britain - the first Nissan to make the top 10 in Britain since the Sunny in 1983. However,
the sales success was dampened by stories of unreliability. The lack of a conventional
alternative on the United Kingdom market could soon be solved, according to an Autocar article
in September 2012, by the launch of the Nissan Tiida in the near future, although it has
yet to be confirmed whether this will happen. In 2012, its sixth year on sale in the United
Kingdom, sales exceeded 45,000 to make it the sixth best selling car there that year.
Russia The Qashqai and Qashqai+2 are available in
Russia with the following gasoline-powered 4-cylinder engines:
For Qashqai 1.6 L — 85 kW 2WD; 5MT and CVT
2.0 L — 105 kW 2WD and 4WD; 6MT and CVT For Qashqai+2
1.6 L — 85 kW 2WD; 5MT 2.0 L — 105 kW 2WD with 6MT only; 4WD with
6MT or CVT Second generation
The Qashqai CC was introduced in London on November 7, 2013, at a worldwide streamed
launch known at the #nextgen. It was subsequently presented as a premiere at the Brussels International
Motor Show in January 2014. It went on sale in the UK in February 2014. The new Qashqai
CC was awarded WhatCar? Car of the Year 2014. From a starting position the Nissan Qashqai
can reach 0-62 mph in 11.3 seconds and has a top speed of 114 mph.
The Dualis nameplate has been discontinued in Japan and the second generation Qashqai
is not sold there. Nissan Japan instead offers the smaller Juke and the new larger X-Trail
which is now based on the Rogue. Instead of the Dualis nameplate, Australia and New Zealand
get the Qashqai.
The first generation model with the Dualis nameplate is currently sold alongside the
newer model which now bears the Qashqai name in Australia since July 2014. It is available
in both 1.6L and 2.0 variants. Marketing
Middle East The 2014 Qashqai is not available in the Middle
East yet, but some markets such as the Saudi Arabian still offer the first generation Qashqai
instead. Africa
The South African market offers the 2014 Qashqai in a 1.2T, 1.5dci and 1.6dci varients. Nissan
South Africa is aiming for sales of close to 4000 units a year in South Africa, but
will be sending stocks into Africa which, one of its senior executives explained, was
rapidly becoming urbanised with hip young people rapidly moving into business positions
as the continent's rapid development accelerates. Other markets such as the Ghanian market offer
the first generation Qashqai.
References
External links Official websites for Australia, UK
Press release announcing the car UK based Qashqai Owners Forum
Hellenic Nissan QASHQAI & CROSSOVER Fun Club