2014 Nissan Qashqai Review

          The first Qashqai has been quite a success for Nissan as it generates a healthy sales volume over in the UK which can be attributed to its clever design all package within a frame that manages to stand out in the crowd but not overly offensive. The Qashqai's predecessor was motivated by a 2.0 normally aspirated heart but the current gen receives a turbo charged unit for the Petrol variant. Can Nissan continue to maintain the success of the Qashqai well into its second generation? Our fellow journalist shares their opinion on the Qashqai :

Autoexpress says :

 The new Nissan Qashqai might not quite be the groundbreaker its predecessor was, but it’s gone straight to the top of the class. Its combination of comfort, usable space, quality and tech is unbeatable, while it has solid, secure driving characteristics. We like this CVT auto, too – an example of the clever thinking that makes the Qashqai such a great car.

Autocar says :

The new Qashqai’s styling is indisputably more modern than the old, and you can’t miss the family resemblance, but the latest model strucks some critics as somewhat blander than the outgoing car, universally regarded as uncommonly handsome.
Yet from the minute you first step into the new edition, with its new seats designed on NASA principles to spread bodily loading evenly and deliver long distance comfort, and its impressive fascia and instrument pack revised in almost every detail you can’t help being impressed by the care taken with new car’s details.
The boot is a particular tour-de-force of versatility, with deep hidey-holes, grocery compartments, vertical dividers all available according to the owner’s wish. It is clear Nissan’s designers have seen the size of the challenge in replacing a winner, and invested all the time and money it took.
On the road, it is refined and enjoyable to drive. The slightly quicker, improved electric power steering allows the car to be placed with accuracy, the low road noise shows the benefit of its twin-tube dampers that have a special facility for damping high frequency surface noise, and the Nissan stays composed and very stable over the weirdest road surfaces.

 












         Over in the United States the Nissan Rogue which is essentially Qashqai's bigger engined twin is powered by a Nissan's QR25DE 2.5 liter engine.

 Autoblog says :

        Nissan says the Rogue's four-cylinder is an "evolution" of its QR25DE powerplant, and while it's basically the same engine found in the Altima sedan, it's slightly less powerful in this application. I wish it weren't. At times, the Rogue feels sluggish, especially off the line and on hills. An additional 15 or 20 horsepower would be great, as would a small boost in torque – especially when fully laden. But for the vast majority of my drive in the Rogue, it wasn't a problem. The transmission is a smooth operator, and since it keeps the revs super low during cruising, that not-so-great engine noise isn't really a problem

      Driving the Rogue is – you guessed it – fine. The steering is nicely weighted, with decent on-center feel, albeit not quite as direct and precise as the steering in the Mazda CX-5, the segment's undisputed dynamic champ. In terms of overall driving enjoyment, the Rogue falls somewhere in the middle-high range of the segment – not as engaging as the aforementioned CX-5 or even a Subaru Forester, but it's a more entertaining steer than other competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Chevrolet Equinox and Honda CR-V.

Nissan has employed a whole host of technologies to keep things cool on the road, including Active Trace Control that will automatically lightly drag the inner or outer brakes to keep things stable in turns, Active Engine Braking to enhance slowing on grades and improve stopping feel, Hill Start Assist, and optional all-wheel drive with Hill Descent Control. There's also an Active Ride Control system, which Nissan says will apply the brakes and adjust engine torque to reduce body roll and vehicle vibration.

Peugeot RCZ 200 THP review

Peugeot RCZ 200 THP

Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V Review

One of the biggest complaints with our long-term 2007 Nissan Sentra SE-R, which we sent home about 18 months ago, was its fun-sucking CVT. The gearless gearbox did not endear itself to our staffers, who were perplexed by its inclusion in what was supposed to be a sporty sedan. This gearbox conundrum does not exist in the SE-R Spec V, however, as it gets a proper three-pedal six-speed manual. So, with the gearbox issue solved, does the Sentra become a legitimate sport-compact player?

Here are the details in parts:

Infiniti EX30d review

What is it?

According to Infiniti the EX is ‘the world’s first coupe crossover’. BMW might want to quibble about that definition. In 30d form it’s also one of the first Infinitis (along with the larger FX SUV) to be offered with a diesel engine. Thus equipped, prices start at £35,975 – 300 quid cheaper than the petrol EX.

Technical highlights?

The engine is the one most likely to grab your attention. It’s a turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel V6, and while it may be down on power compared to the 3.7-litre petrol engine, 235bhp playing 316bhp, it packs plenty of torque – 406lb ft to be exact, 141lb ft more than the petrol. It’s more economical too, of course, with 33.2mpg claimed (versus 25.0 for the petrol).

The £41,220 GT Premium-spec EX30d comes equipped with something called ‘Around View Monitor’. It combines images from cameras around the car to create a bird’s eye view on the centre-console display to help you when parking. You can’t help but be fascinated by it.

2011 Honda CR-Z Review

Honda CR-Z

Okay, so the 2011 Honda CR-Z isn't exactly the modern-day CRX redux that we were all hoping for. Mildly upsetting, yes, but perhaps this disappointment tarnished our initial impression of this newest hybrid offering from Honda. We still have many questions about its form and function, but need to accept the fact that times have changed, Honda's product strategies have been realigned to the times and the CRX shall remain a modern classic – especially the Si. Besides, this little two-seat hybrid isn't really all that bad. Really.

What we have here is an inherently good vehicle that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It only has two seats and its EPA fuel economy numbers are underwhelming. A Ford Fiesta, for example, is more functional, less expensive and gets nearly the same combined fuel economy – at least compared to a manual-equipped CR-Z like our tester.

But don't write off the CR-Z completely. It may be a tough sell when looked at from a big picture perspective, but on its own, it's a pretty good little whip.