Nissan’s Europe-produced models rarely lit too much of a flame under the market apart from the B-segment Micra supermini. Tino, Almera and Primera were all workmanlike, well made, reliable but didn’t sell in the numbers hoped.
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All that changed with the Qashqai, which Dave Leggett and I both independently reckoned was the pick of the affordably-priced new models on offer at last May’s SMMT annual journalists’ test drive day.
This crossover, according to a favourable Australian review of a Dualis-badged model this week, was designed – in France – at a time when the Paris government was considering banning SUVs so the designers made it look more like a C-segment hatchback (think Focus, Golf) on steroids. So it appeals to both those looking for a hatchback and those wanting a small SUV without running the risk of having the thing plastered with fake ‘parking tickets’ from some ill-informed green group.
It doesn’t shout ‘SUV’ but has some of the attributes – higher seating position, all-wheel drive ability – and comes with a useful choice of petrol or diesel engines and manual or automatic transmissions, and all without sending CO2 emissions into the red (225g is now the high tax/congestion charge trigger point here in the UK).
The initial five-seat models have been a sell-out success for Nissan and its Sunderland plant in north-east England, to the extent that production of the Dualis-badged version for Japan has been shifted there while China is also building its own. Getting on for a year after launch, I could not find a single used one listed for sale at my local Nissan dealer this week; he’s not even willing to part with his demonstrator.
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By GlobalDataAlso this week, Ford told us that Britain is a seven-seater market; hence it uniquely offers the S-Max only with seven chairs, unlike Europe and China. Now Nissan’s also getting into the act, adding a stretched, seven-seat version of the Qashqai that’s restyled from the A-pillars back. Wonder if that’ll sell out, too?
General Motors has stuck with the Vauxhall brand name here in the UK despite using Opel everywhere else in Europe and, sometimes, Chevrolet (and now Saturn) abroad. Keeping a brand dating back to 1903 just for us must be a pain with all those special badges and cam covers to keep track of in the factories across Europe, but they do. Having grown up in an Antipodean family where Vauxhall Veloxes were in favour in the ’50s and ’60s, I’ve been familiar with the Griffin for a long time and it’s interesting to see how much it’s been changed over the years. Look for the new incarnation on the Vectra-replacing Insignia due out later this year.
Ford has redesigned exterior mirrors for its US range to include a new blind spot insert. It’s also come up with a clever cross traffic radar alert system to help when reversing that will be optional. Yet more useful technology dreamed up by clever auto industry boffins.
Enjoy your weekend.
Graeme Roberts
Deputy/News Editor
just-auto.com
