2017 Nissan Quashquai – Test Drive, Review, Ratings, Specs

The Nissan Quashqai is a New Kid on the Block

A few is just not enough. With the addition of the all new Quashqai, Nissan now has five cross-over SUV’s in its lineup. With that said, there’s practically no need to shop elsewhere if you’re in the market for a cross-over – that is, whatever you’re looking for, it’s likely Nissan’s got you covered.

According to Nissan, the Quasqai aims to appeal to singles and couples who want more space; yet, small and convenient enough for the daily city “go around, get around” chores. But despite the fact that Nissan claims the Rogue is better fit for young families, looks on the Quasqai still resembles closely together with minor differences in geometry namely a shorter overall length and lower height to enhance maneuverability. There’s also sharper contours engraved in its body design to create a more younger and sportier visual appearance compared to the Rogue. On that note, I would say the overall design is slightly daring, but subtle enough to grow into.

Quality of the interior is above standard in our SL tester model. Plenty of space is enjoyed in the front driver’s space and all center console and media controls are conveniently accessible through its 7″ infotainment display or its steering wheel mounted buttons. The dual tone black and cream white color helps add a sense of luxury and brightens the interior. That is also helped by exposing natural light into the cabin space through its power moon roof standard across all models.  The leather seats included in our top SL model were also plenty adjustable even for the long haul o the road.

Obedient Road Behavior

Under the hood of the Quashqai gets you a standard 2.0-litre DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder rated at 141 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 147 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. With these numbers, the Quashqai may not seem very capable on the road, but this was indeed surprisingly not true. Acceleration felt smooth and continuous on demand and that is especially thanked by not requiring a turbo that would otherwise, disrupt power consistency for the benefit of added horsepower. Shifts between gears are also performed seamlessly with a 6-speed automatic transmission with XTronic sequential shift mode accessible via its gear lever. Eco mode is also included to tone down engine use to save on fuel economy.

The Quashqai was designed to offer a nimble and responsive driving experience. To achieve its feat, the Quashqai employs an a four-wheel independent suspension system as opposed to the more conventional torsional beam suspension offered by its competitors. Coupled with its electronic brake force distribution system to automatically apply braking force on its inner wheels when cornering results in a more dynamic driving experience. Power steering also felt smooth and offered a good amount of precision. With all that said, on actual road practice, the dynamic behavior around cornering can be experienced, but is not something that blows its competitors out of the water. And that is mostly due to the limitation of its ride height common to all cross-over SUV designs. Still, the Quasqai offers a well balanced and overall comfortable ride that responds obediently even upon quick driving demands that out-competes some of its rivals with a more basic suspension setup.

Final Thoughts

Our highest Quasqai SL trim tester model comes all in at $32,333. That is actually not bad considering the amount of amenities you get, including plush leather seats, voice navigation, phone and bluetooth connectivity, rear view camera, and all the safety tech features including blind spot monitoring. And while the safety tech features come with lane departure warning, I often found the system to be a bit over-sensitive and inconsistent at times. Basic SL and SV models are available in FWD and AWD is available across all three models including the top SL model.

All in all, the Quashqai lives up to its price point that offers swift driving, a quality interior, and sharp looks. But what’s ultimately rewarding is its small size engine without compromising too much on acceleration. And a small engine especially benefits from lower fuel use. EPA ratings scores a respectable overall 8.4L/100Km for its AWD model that rivals a lot of its competitors including the Mazda CX5, Ford Escape, and Honda CR-V.

The sub $30,000 price tag does indeed dig a bit deep into most pockets, but with the extra cargo space in the rear, with foldable 60/40 rear split seats, there is certainly room to grow even for couples making the transition to a small family.

Specifications

• Vehicle : 2017 Nissan Quasqai
• Model : Quasqai SL (AWD)
• Vehicle Type : Cross-over SuV
• Seating Capacity : 2+3
• Powertrain Configuration : AWD
• Engine : SKYACTIV 2.0L V4
• Transmission : 6 Speed automatic

Pros

• Sharp and modern styling
• Well laid out interior with decent quality
• Smooth and capable acceleration
• Capable power despite low horsepower rating

Cons

• Dynamic driving behavior is overemphasized on actual road testing
• Quality of interior can be slightly improved with better grade plastic and more responsive infotainment system
• Lane departure system is over-sensitive