Western News: July 04, 2024

12
Thursday July 4 2024
Incorporating
best motorbuys
www.drivesouth.co.nz
Hybrid the jewel in the Qashqai crown
IT’S FASCINATING to look back
at new models launched here 18
months ago that were touted as
having the ability to shake and stir
our market, to see if they delivered
on those expectations.
One of these vehicles is the
latest dapper looking new Qashqai
compact urban SUV, with a
creative fuel saving low emission
hybrid power train and host of
safety connectivity technology.
You do get more Qashqai
for your dollar with this latest
iteration bigger across the board.
It’s 4425mm long (+31mm),
1625mm tall (+30mm), and
1835mm wide (+29mm), while the
wheelbase has grown to 2665mm
(+19mm).
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
There’s are some interesting
variations that add more variety in
the powertrain department, with
a pint sized but punchy 1.3-litre
turbo petrol, and the option of
Nissan’s innovative e-POWER
hybrid system. The latter carries a
hefty $7k price premium over the
turbo petrol motor.
Petrol not e-Power dominates
the six strong model range
comprising four petrol variants
starting with the price leading
$46,120 ST and tracking through
to $57,120. The more exclusive
e-Power hybrid club is limited to
the upmarket Ti and Ti-L priced at
$60,120 and $65,120 respectively.
The Ti-L e-Power was chosen for
this road test.
Ratings out of 10: Performance 8; Handling 7; Build Quality
7; Comfort 7; Passenger and Load Space 6; Styling 8; Value
for money 5; Safety – Five Star ANCAP crash rating.
Overall points out of 10: 7
Most hybrid systems use an
electric motor and a petrol engine
to drive their wheels. Nissan’s
e-Power turns that notion on its
head with its wheels powered
exclusively by an electric motor.
The second-generation e-Power
technology in the Qashqai is the
same as the Nissan X-Trail, and
turns up to work and play with
effortless acceleration and refined
performance.
It’s a strong high-energy
performer with 140kW of power
and 330Nm of torque taking
charge and doing everything so
effortlessly. Thanks to the pure
electric motor, there’s none of
the power-delivery hesitancy
associated with an internal
combustion engine or traditional
hybrid systems – just seamless and
seemingly endless get up and go.
In the lighter Qashqai, the
power-to-weight ratio is more
favourable than the heftier X-Trail
giving it a noticeable performance
edge. A CVT (Constant Variable
Transmission) offers improved
fuel economy thanks to better
ratio coverage that reduces both
friction, and the vehicle’s appetite
for fuel.
For a compact urban SUV it is
roomier than most with plenty
of passenger and load space. The
Ti-L supplied for this road test is
the jewel in the Qashqai crown
that dazzles and seduces with a
bevy of luxury features. There’s a
Panoramic Glass Roof and electric
sunshade, a black headliner and
ambient interior lighting. Cabin
technology features a 10.8-inch
colour head-up display, and a
premium 10-speaker Bose audio
system. The seats are made of
3D quilted premium leather that
would look more at home on the
luxury furniture in gentrified
country manor.
The Qashqai has the
handling jump on several of its
competitors with Nissan opting
for an advanced multi-link rear
suspension.
I saw the benefits of this
suspension arrangement when the
test car was navigating badly worn
and uneven road surfaces. The
upside with this suspension set-up
is a stronger connection between
driver, vehicle and road – what
more could you possible want?
Well-controlled body-roll, and
the effective ousting of road noise
and vibrations from the passenger
compartment are impressive.
If you had to be picky, the
steering, even with it revised ratios
offering quicker corner turn-in
response, still doesn’t feel as well
resolved as rest of the vehicle.
Finance
available
(conditions apply)
CARS WANTED
– CASH PAID
We buy small
Japanese vehicles
- Must be tidy
3 TO CHOOSE fROM
5 SPEED
2018 TOyOTA cOROLLA gx
$12,995
1.8, auto, low 114,000kms, back camera.
2012 NiSSAN TiiDA HATcHbAck
FROm $5995 TO $6995
1.5 auto, 126,000 - 153,000kms, drives fine, just arrived.
2009 NiSSAN TiiDA LATiO
$5995
1500cc, 5 speed!!!, 146,000kms.
2010 TOyOTA viTZ 5/HATcH
$7,995
1300cc, auto, 119,000kms, alloys.
REDUCED
2 TO CHOOSE fROM
REDUCED
2011 mAZDA AxeLA
WAS $7,995 NOW $6,995
1500cc, auto, 184,500kms.
2013 NiSSAN TiiDA LATiO 4 DOOR
$5995
1.5 Auto, 120,000 - 146,000kms.
2007 HONDA JAZZ SPORT
$6,995
1.5 auto, 114,000kms.
2012 HyuNDAi i30 S/W
WAS $8,995 NOW $7,995
NZ new, 1600cc, auto, 133,000kms, alloys.
2007 SuZuki Sx4
$7,995
Auto, 84,000kms, 2000cc, 4WD.
LOW KMS
REDUCED
4 TO CHOOSE fROM
LOW KMS
SOLD
2013 NiSSAN LATiO 4 DOOR
$8,995
New shape, 1200cc, auto, 86,000kms, economical.
2015 TOyOTA yARiS 5/HATcH
WAS $10,995 NOW $9,995
1.3L, auto, NZ new, low 56,000kms.
2012 NiSSAN TiiDA LATiO 4 DOOR
FROm $4995 TO $5995
Auto, 1500cc, k’s between 120,000 - 146,000kms.
2009 TOyOTA iPSum 7 SeATeR
$8,995
2.4, auto, alloys, 81,000kms.
2013 NiSSAN AD vAN
$3,995
1500cc, auto, 217,000kms, drives well.
- 281 Ferry Road - 03 389 1121 - dougdrake@xtra.co.nz www.dougdrake.co.nz