Nissan Qashqai is stylish, refined

QUICK TEST:

Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi Acenta AT

It's hard to predict what Nissan's next creation is going to look like, what with wild and polarizing designs such as the Juke and GT-R and the ever-so-conservative Almera and Sentra all coming out of one stable.

Yet the pendulum seems to have found a comparatively sane middle ground with the second-generation Qashqai, launched last year. It's inoffensive, yet sporty. Those angular headlights and prominent 'V' grille are easy on the eye and things get better as you move towards the rear with its muscular shoulder-line, sloping tailgate and bold wraparound tail lights.

If a European car company designed something like this, they'd probably call it a 'coupé crossover' and then slap on a R100 000 price premium, while also offering a blander and cheaper vehicle off the same platform to punish those that don't want to be taken for a 'ride'.

So the Qashqai makes a rather decent first impression and there's little to challenge that perception as you step inside. The dashboard is a collection of neatly chiselled lines and the surfaces impart a high-quality vibe.

There's also a bit more space than before and though you don't exactly get acres of legroom as you do in a Ford Kuga or Toyota RAV4, the Qashqai still offers decent stretching space and it's certainly family-friendly. The boot is reasonable too, offering 430 litres of stashing space.

The 1.6 dCi Acenta CVT on test here is hardly skimpy on standard kit, packing cruise control, a six-speaker audio system linked to a multi-function steering wheel, dual zone climate control and push-button start. Raid the options list and you can have leather seats as well as a 'Techno Pack' that gives you a touch-screen interface, complete with satnav, internet access and the Around View Monitor system for almost-foolproof parking.

LAGGY DIESEL

Perched at the top of the pecking order, the 1.6-litre dCi turbodiesel models assert themselves with 19-inch alloys and LED headlights.

The 50ppm-only 1.6-litre oil burner puts out 96kW and a meaty 320Nm of twist. It's the biggest diesel engine in the range; buyers can choose between two drivetrain formats: a front-wheel drive with CVT or an all-wheel drive model mated to a six-speed manual.

If you can handle the art of cog swopping then rather go for the latter option as the CVT model is very laggy on pull-off, to the point where it's even a bit scary if you're turning across a busy avenue. The other downer in this version was the fairly intrusive diesel clatter at idle.

In every other respect, the Qashqai dCi provided happy times with its agreeable ride, meaty steering sensation and neat road-holding. Even the continuously variable transmission is inoffensive enough once you're off the mark, with its carefully formulated 'stepped changes' making it feel more like a conventional auto than a monotonous CVT.

Performance proved more than decent, as did economy and, if you keep your pedal movements relatively civilised, it’s easy enough to keep in in the early 6 litres per 100km band.

VERDICT

The latest Qashqai is stylish and technologically polished, but doesn't appear to be at its best in 1.6 dCi CVT form. In fact, the 1.2-litre turbopetrol models, which start at R100 000 less, look a lot more tempting, as does the new 120kW 1.6-litre turbopetrol model, which costs R357 700.

FACTS

Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi Acenta AT

Engine: 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel (50ppm only)

Gearbox: CVT

Power: 96kW @ 4000rpm

Torque: 320Nm @ 1750rpm

0-100km/h (claimed): 11.1 seconds

Top speed (claimed): 183km/h

Consumption (claimed): 4.9 litres per 100km

Price: R384 400

Warranty: Six-year/150 000km

Service/Maintenance plan: Five-year/90 000km