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our test drives or view them all

Nissan Qashqai +2 2.0 dCi Tekna CVT

NISSAN reinvented the family hatchback when it launched the original five-seat Qashqai – now it has added 210mm to its overall length and two more seats to make a clever car cleverer still.

The Qashqai is one of those rare vehicles that makes perfect sense for all-purpose family transport – affordable, flexible, good to drive and offered in 32 model variations that will satisfy most needs from petrol or diesel and manual or CVT automatics to long or short wheelbase and front-wheel-drive or intelligent All-Mode 4x4.

I’ve rarely driven a more sensible all-round hatchback. It fulfils most needs at a stroke and the new 4.52 metre long Qashqai+2 extends the popular newcomers appeal to those with larger families who need seven seats and a bit more carrying capacity.

The 16-model standard 4.3 metre wheelbase Qashqai range starts from £14,200 for a 1.6 petrol front-driver in Visia trim and tops out with a 4x4 Tekna dripping in extra equipment with 149bhp two-litre dCi turbodiesel power and smooth CVT automatic transmission for £23,800. In between there is a third trim level called Acenta.

The same base and top models in Qashqai+2 range cost £1400 more in 1.6 Visia trim and £900 more for a fully-specified Tenka 2.0 dCi All-Mode 4x4 with CVT. It’s this latter model I had on test.

At £24,700 the Tekna 2.0 dCi is a pricey choice. It’s exceptionally well equipped with leather, climate control, rear parking sensors, cruise control and Nissan’s easy to use All-Mode electronically selectable 4x4. However, for family use, it may prove a mite steep with similar Qashqai+2 models in the middle of the 16-car range a more attractive bet with front-wheel-drive only.

But as an example of how good the Qashqai+2 really is, the Tekna is impressive.

It’s one of the most comfortable vehicles in its class. The power steering is a little light, but it makes it easy to park. The Qashqai+2’s combination of an elevated seating position and good visibility adds to its handiness in tight car parks, even though it’s a fairly large vehicle.

The ride quality is supple and controlled on the open road with just a minor disappointing thump-clunk from the rear suspension over rough sections of road.

You may never need to use it, but if 4x4 is a must because of where you live the All-Mode system is excellent. I ventured off road onto a muddy Dava Moor track to check out its ability and slipped out of standard front-wheel-drive to 4x4 simply by turning a dial on the central console to "Auto". Good ground clearance and sensible 17-inch alloys shod with 60 section tyres delivered great grip. And when things got sticky I turned the same console dial to "Lock" to maximise grip and stop wheel-spin. It’s clearly no off-roader, but from an unashamedly family holdall point of view the Qashqai+2 performed really well.

The two-litre 148bhp dCi turbodiesel is a Renault unit – and one of the best. It’s gruff under power but pulls strongly and while it was not particularly economical with an overall 35mpg, was flexible and quiet in the cruise. The CVT automatic transmission is to blame for some of the diesel consumption as it hunts for the right ratio, but so is the Qashqai+2’s kerb weight of almost 1.8 tonnes. That’s surprisingly heavy for a mainstream Nissan but is an indication of just how well built this interesting all-rounder is compared to some of its competition.

The CVT is smooth enough, but it displays that typical and annoying constant velocity transmission characteristic of making the engine sound as if it’s working too hard under acceleration. If you’re unfamiliar with CVT it’s enough to make you believe the clutch is slipping – but there isn’t one! It’s just the CVT transmission’s way of converting power into road speed in the smoothest possible way.

On the open road the CVT is not a problem. It gets on with its task efficiently and makes the Nissan MPV/hatch a relaxing and easy drive. Apart from the occasional rumble from the rear suspension over potholes on the A86/A82 to Oban and back the drive was really enjoyable – helped a lot by supportive seats and the Qashqai+2’s general feeling of solidity.

But it’s round the back that Qashqai+2 is so different.

While the first five seats are standard Qashqai, the extra 210mm in the body have been put to good use with two occasional or children’s seats that fold out of the flat rear floor. With them in place you have two reasonably comfortable seats – but not the best on long runs. There’s still space behind them for 130 litres of luggage.

With the extra pair of seats folded the luggage capacity soars to well over 400 litres and with the middle trio of seats folded the Qashqai+2 will gobble up 915 litres.

It makes the vehicle a spacious and adaptable all-round family holdall that is easy to convert from one layout to another, thanks to simple flick and fold seats.

The Tekna is packed with equipment – that’s why it’s a lot more expensive than Qashqai models further down the range.

My test car was fitted with an optional full-screen sat-nav mounted conveniently high on top of the dash – but included in the basic Tekna package are features like a huge panoramic glass roof with powered sun screen, xenon headlamps, a six-disc CD system, climate air conditioning and an excellent safety fit that includes electronic stability programme, ABS and front, side and curtain airbags. There is so much on the features list that there’s simply not enough room here to detail it all.

But finally, here’s an interesting thing. After parking the Qashqai+2 at Inverness Airport for 12 hours I returned to find its battery dead. I didn't think I'd left anything on and when Nissan’s excellent RAC recovery service turned up 15 minutes after my call, the Inverness-based technician, Martin, had the machine jump-started and running in a matter of moments.

No mechanical fault was found on the car and the alternator was delivering a good charge. But the battery, as new as the months-old Qashqai+2, was deemed as the likely culprit for the vehicle’s electrical shutdown.

"The majority of my call-outs are because of electrical problems on modern cars," Martin told me. "Modern batteries just don’t always seem to be able to cope with the high demands placed on them with power hungry systems."

He has a point and bears out my own concern about the number of electrical gadgets fitted to modern cars.

Having said that, electrical glitches can happen to the best and it does not detract from the Qashqai+2’s outstanding value and ability. It’s a real star in the family car sector.

Rating: 8.5/10

FINAL THOUGHT: If you don’t need the extra space or seven seats stick to the standard Qashqai – but if carrying capacity and flexibility is a priority there’s no better mid-range MPV/hatch than the extended-platform Qashqai +2. The £25,900 two-litre turbodiesel Tekna CVT is expensive, but there are 16 models in the +2 range starting at under £16,000 for a 1.6 petrol Visia and plenty of clever design and value throughout the +2 family.

Nissan Qashqai +2 2.0 dCi Tekna CVT

• Price: £25,900
• Capacity: 1995cc
• Power: 148bhp
• 0-62mph: 12.4 seconds
• Maximum speed: 114mph
• Economy: Combined 35.8mpg; Urban 28.2mpg
• CO2 emissions: 209g/km
• ESP: Standard
• Insurance: Group 11