Compact crossover

Borrowing its name from a desert-dwelling nomadic tribe in Iran, Nissan QASHQAI delivers the strength and practicality of an SUV without actually being one

Nissan Qashqai 1.5dCi
ENGINE:    1.5-litre, 4 cyl
TOP SPEED:    108 mph
0-62mph:        12.2 secs
MPG (combined):    54.3
CO2:    139/km

I thought crossovers had something to do with audio systems and the way my loudspeakers work. However, it is also the marketing term for a vehicle that blends the agility and comfort of a hatchback with the strength and practicality of an SUV. The result is a creation that is basically a car with high ground-clearance and an off-road look about it.
    
Nissan QASHQAI, launched in 2007, certainly looks like a lot of fun, like it’s bursting with energy. Commanding yet compact, muscular yet elegantly sleek, it is sure to make heads turn.
    
The sleek silhouette of the cambering roof suggests sporting agility. Dynamically angled A-pillars meet the roof at its highest point at the top of the windscreen, from where it falls away, coupé-like, towards the rear.
    
In contrast, the high waistline suggests an inner strength, which is accentuated by strong shoulders and pronounced wheel arches. Typical SUV features include the bluff, almost vertical, nose and the contrasting colour of the sturdy bumpers and side protection panels. Higher ground clearance than conventional hatchbacks also hints at SUV capability.
    
The energetic look does, however, not mean that driving a QASHQAI feels like you’re racing around in a sporty car with attitude. The steering is unresponsive, lacking bite, and the engine is more of a work horse rather than a race horse.
    
With dark winter evenings upon us, QASHQAI provides an exellent light solution. Wraparound head and tail lamp assemblies provide a physical link between the side profile and the front and rear. Aerodynamically shaped taillights follow the curve of the rear haunches where they provide a distinctive slash of colour. The lamp assemblies are split to maximise the loading width of the trunk and a high level brake light is incorporated into the rear spoiler at the top of the tailgate.

Taking it inside
The energetic and sporty exterior is also reflected on the inside of the vehicle. All major and minor controls have been wrapped around the driver, who is separated from the front seat passenger by an unusually high centre console. My arms are of ‘standard’ length but I get the sense of the handbrake being too far back while third and fifth gears are a slight stretch.
    
Motorway journeys are pretty loud, with noise both from the tyres on the road and the wind. Good thing then that the audio system is of top class; just crank the stereo up. Also, every QASHQAI has standard Bluetooth integration for hands-free use of a mobile.
    
Despite the seats being short, I still feel comfortable in the driver’s seat. This is due to the height of the seat, giving me excellent view of the road and fellow drivers but without the sensation of sitting on top of the vehicle as is experienced in some SUVs.
    
Adult passengers in the backseat won’t find the most comfortable seats either, they’re just too short, people with long legs beware, however, this is the case in most cars’ backseats.
    
So, if you think an SUV is just too big and ‘uneco-friendly’, and are bored of the thought of yet another hatchback, a crossover might just do the trick. Although taller than a typical hatch, QASHQAI takes up no more space than a Ford Focus but feels a lot bigger when you’re on the road giving you an SUV-feel but lower CO2 emissions and better fuel consumption.