Category Archives: Family hatchback

Crossover, Family hatchback, Nissan

Qashqai still has with it takes

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Nissan Qashqai

By Bill McCarthy

When you have been Europe’s best selling crossover it’s inevitable it will be challenging to hang on to that crown.

The Qashqai came from left field and became a best seller in the crossover market, with many brands subsequently following.

In the UK in the first quarter of 2022 it was the third best selling car, rising to top spot in the month of April.

The latest model will have plenty to do with that, featuring upgrades including to engine, suspension and a number of technological changes, as well as being available in both two and four-wheel drive.

Designed in the UK, the latest Qashqai has developed a bolder, more muscular and modern look, although still instantly recognisable as a Qashqai.

It is longer and slightly taller, it still sits high off the ground to give a commanding driving position. It now features a bigger V-design grille which is flanked by slim full headlights, glass roof, privacy glass and roof bar and the option of 19 or 20-inch diamond-cut alloy.

The new 1.3 DIG-T petrol engine Is available with 138 bhp and 156bhp driven here and combined with mild hybrid technology, delivers more power, better economy and lower emissions.

The system extends torque, idle stop, quick restart and coasting stop with the auto or Xdrive version driven here, with improvements to both fuel economy and CO2 output (-4g/km).

It offers lively performance, hitting 60mph, in 9.2 seconds.

Not startlingly rapid, but quick enough for  most needs, and delivering good economy of a claimed, but pretty accurate 43.8mpg. Such is the efficiency of petrol engines these days, that they are delivering near diesel like economy.

The interior of the car, certainly on this model has a real premium model feel, and will set you back over £36k.

But for that money it is packed with high-end kit, including patterned leather seats, comforting ambient lighting and high-end, soft touch finish.

Nissan says attention has been paid to the ergonomic and aesthetic quality of the switchgear and buttons with high quality, tactile feel giving users a sense of confidence and refinement. Well they certainly feel robust and logically placed.

The central nine-inch screen houses the now familiar NissanConnect set services, the app which monitors how the vehicle is performing.

It allows connectivity for smartphones and WiFi and connected services, together with navigation and infotainment. In addition there are USB A and C ports. 

In addition it features 12.3 inch TFT multi-information screen offers a choice of configurable layouts to display navigation, entertainment, traffic or vehicle information, all controlled from a dial switch on the steering wheel.

The interior is roomier than its predecessor with extra legroom in the rear and better head and leg room in the front seats.

It really goes without saying that the Qashqai is a practical beast, pretty much having built its reputation on that premise. This model offers powered hands-free tailgate which opens up to capacity which has increased by 50-litres. The split-folding rear seats offer 16 combinations to accommodate loads of all different shapes and sizes with a capacity of 436 to a maximum of 1,379 litres.

There are also various other cubby holes, side pockets and cupholders for extra practicality.

On the road, the car is a very able performer and while not blisteringly quick offers a good driving experience with uprated suspension offering decent handling, sitting tight on twisty roads and offering a firm, but still comfortable drive, so important in a family car. It only seems unsettled on the very worst roads

All Nissans are packed with safety kit including stability control and full complement of airbags, including the latest central airbag, which deploys from between the two front seats, to prevent the front row occupants from making contact in the event of a side-impact.

Plus, the ProPILOT driver assistance on this model delivers important driver assistance, like monitoring fatigue, adjusting speed in heavy traffic using radar to automatically move the car forward or hammer on the brakes in an emergency situation.

Factfile

Nissan Qashqai  1.3 DIG-T Tekna + auto

Price: £36,125

Mechanical: 156bhp, 1,332cc, four cylinder turbo petrol  engine driving front wheels via Xdrive auto gearbox

Max speed: 124mph

0-60mph: 9.2 seconds

Combined mpg: 43.8

Insurance group: 16E

CO2 emissions: 146g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles

Citroen, Family hatchback

C4 quality shines through on epic drive

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Citroen C4

By Bill McCarthy

HAVING been lucky enough to drive the newest Citroen C4 at the UK launch, it was good to be able to give the French newcomer a more extended run.

That was over several hundreds of miles and if I was impressed originally, that extended run further emphasised the qualities of the this compact family car.

Already impressed by the stunning looks, the question was, is it good enough to take on the market leaders in one of the most competitive segments?

Going up against formidable rivals such as the Golf, Focus and Astra, not to mention its own stablemate the Peugeot 308 is a tough call, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the C4 is a classy alternative. It is simply one of the best looking cars of its type on the road, and with a choice of petrol, diesel and pure electric versions, it has plenty to offer.

The 1.2 litre, three cylinder engine powering this model proved itself with flying colours. Delivering 130bhp, it offers pace, flexibility and diesel-like economy, with an average of around 48mpg, unheard of in petrol cars not so very long ago.

For a smallish engine there is bags of grunt and low-down torque making it an excellent motorway cruiser with great overtaking potential while it was just a doddle to potter around town. The raspy roar from the twin exhausts also delivers a pleasing sound under acceleration. which is not too shabby either, the car hitting 60mph in a shade under nine seconds.



The styling is bold and ambitious and designers have combined hatchback practicality with the muscular styling of a crossover/SUV and swooping, coupe-like sleekness. 

The near range topping Shine model driven here, like the rest of the range, puts the emphasis on comfort with the firm’s specially padded seats with hydraulic cushions, a softish, but comfortable ride and high quality fixtures and fittings.

 Despite its sporty profile, comfort is very much a key factor from the comfortable seats, wide wraparound effect dash and soft touch finish to doors and dash and ambient lighting giving it an upmarket feel. 

There are 20 driver assistance features, including Highway Driving Assist and a level-two semi-autonomous system that incorporates adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.

 Inside, the centre point is a 10-inch touchscreen which controls the major functions of the car like infotainment, connectivity and navigation.

 Connectivity is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while a full HD camera, which can take photos or video stored on a 16GB memory card, is built into the rear-view mirror.

As a hatchback it is practical with a 380 litre boot, where capacity can be increased to 1,250 litres by folding the rear seats. It is also packed with equipment from creature comforts to comprehensive safety kit and neat touches like the head-up display on this model.

Factfile

Citroen C4 Shine

Price: 24,010

Mechanical: 307bhp, 1199cc, 3-cylinder, petrol engine driving front wheels via six speed manual gearbox

Max Speed: 130mph

0-62mph: 8.9 seconds

Combined MPG: 47.3 – 54.7

Insurance Group: TBC

C02 emissions: 120-135g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles