Category: Nissan

The User Friendly Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai is a compact crossover SUV that has been rated as Britain’s safest car. This was after it scored the highest rank in the Euro NCAP crash tests. This vehicle earned a record-breaking and got nearly 100 percent, in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash test assessments.

The Nissan Qashqai garnered five-star scores in the front, side and pole impact assessments. It also boasts of having four stars for child occupant protection and two stars in the pedestrian test. This was first to be styled by the Nissan Design Europe in London, England, UK, with engineering development led by the Nissan Europe and was released in Europe and Japan early this year. This will also be exported to the Middle East and other overseas markets.

Some of the top half of Qashqai features the very striking Nissan headlight, a sleek dynamic shape with a prominent shoulder line and rises at the rear portion that is very much comparable to that of the Murano. The lower portion of the vehicle is a good resemblance of SUV due to its gigantic wheel arches and an elevated ground clearance. If you are going to acquire and get yourself familiarize with the Nissan Qashqai, you will be given four engine choices. Gasoline engines will be a 115 horsepower 1.6 L and a 140 horsepower 2.0 L. Diesel engines include the 106 horsepower 1.5 L and 150 horsepower 2.0 L.

To strengthen the Qashqai’s appeal, Nissan is going to make additions of a long-wheelbase seven-seater version. The larger version and model will be designed to rival the compact of MPV class with huge seven-seater competitors.
This vehicle would also be sharing the P32L automobile platform with the forthcoming of the Nissan crossover SUVs. The Qashqai, was launched at 2006 in Paris Motor Show and is manufactured and produced at Nissan’s NMUK Sunderland plant. Nissan intends to roll out 500 Qashqais off its wear side production line every day and is also planning to 15,000 examples of new model versions in the UK in the coming years. There are also additional cars that will be exported to countries like Japan.

The Nissan Qashqai history has said for itself that the name was derived from the nomadic Qashqai tribe. This will cater those car buyers who want a more dynamic design but are not very much in particular to the large, aggressive nature of a sport utility vehicle. The car slots below the X-Trail in the automaker’s range. It partially substitutes the conventional Almera and Primera. Now if you’re into for the vehicle’s size, it has a 4310 mm length and 1610 mm that makes it fall between compact MPVs, such as the SEAT Altea and Renault Scénic, and other compact SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and the Mitsubishi Outlander to name a few.

The Nissan Qashqai is not the only model version that the Japanese automaker is preparing to launch. For they will be launching previous-generation flat-bed Navara that is going to be re-introduced next year as some car consumers hardly recognize the current machine’s ruggedness. However, with the more luxurious Pathfinder-style Navara comparable and now using the familiar badge, the Nissan will need a new name. But this forecast has still needed to be proved in the coming years and has yet to surface.

Designing a crossover vehicle presents a big challenge for those chassis engineers. Despite all of this, the Qashqai is surprisingly skillful especially in corners and with a few combinations of the six-speed gearbox and light and well built pedals. Most importantly the Nissan Qashqai is a very user-friendly vehicle.

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Written on behalf of Total Fleet Services by John Eva Nissan LeasingNissan Qashqai Leasing

2009 Nissan Murano – Safety Incarnate

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts tests on new vehicles so as to be able to find out which among the lot come with the best safety features which could really protect passengers. Results of crash tests would be announced by the IIHS so that consumers would be guided on their purchase of vehicles.

As per the recent tests done by the IIHS, the 2009 Nissan Murano took the top spot among nine other midsized SUVs with four doors. And with that performance, it was awarded the Top Safety Pick award. The vehicles had to go through front tests, side tests, and rear tests and they were aptly graded.

The worst 2008 models did show just what they could not do. For side tests, three 2008 models reflected how poor they could get during side crashes. The three were comprised of the Jeep Liberty, the Kia Sorento, and the four-door Jeep Wrangler. Among the three, the lowest grades went to the Kia Sorento.

They were not exceptional but good ratings are good ratings, especially if you have poor performers with you. For side tests and front crashes, the IIHS was able to find out that good ratings were what the Mazda CX7 and the Mazda CX9 deserved. The Mitsubishi Endeavor also earned good ratings. These three vehicles may have joined the 2009 Nissan Murano in the spotlight however they had low ratings during rear tests. The three were unable to protect passengers well against neck injury which often happens during crashes from the rear. For that, the Mazda CX7 and CX9 only earned marginal ratings while the Mitsubishi Endeavor took home a poor rating.

Joe Nolan is the IIHS’ senior vice president on the results he disclosed, “Combined with test results released last year, consumers now have 9 midsize, moderately priced SUV models that earn our Top Safety Pick designation. More good news is that manufacturers have been moving quickly to add safety features like stability control and side airbags to their SUV models. All of the SUVs in this group have ESC, and all but the Wrangler have standard side airbags. Increasingly, consumers are getting the latest safety equipment without having to hunt through a list of options.”

What took the 2009 Nissan Murano to the top? Well, Nissan sure did spruce up the vehicle so that it does not only look and perform well but so much so that it also protects well. This new version comes with the electronic stability control as a standard feature. It can be upgraded with nifty products cargo-logic series cargo liner to protect the floor but what is important are the seat belts and the air bags which protect the passengers best.

About the Author

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop. Source: ArticleTrader.com