Nissan Qashqai 1.5dci (2014) Review

We like:
New styling
Fuel efficient engine with good pull
New high-tech interior

We dislike:
Wind noise off the wing mirrors
No rear parking sensors

Nissan claims to have invented the compact SUV segment with the previous-generation Qashqai. It has had to give up some of that market share though as newcomers aplenty have entered the segment from all corners of the globe. A lot depends on this new model if Nissan wants to claim back its perch on top of the pile. We spent a week with the 1.5 turbodiesel and this is how it stacks up.

Lots to like

For starters the new styling is modern and whilst it may look like a lot of other cars built into one, it pulls off a nicely proportioned compact SUV. The pictures actually make it look a fair bit bigger than its compact status suggests. Our unit you see here has already clocked up over 11 000km in less than six months and doesn’t show any ill effects inside or out from its stint as a media mule. There are no rattles yet, all the buttons still feel new and the cloth seats still feel firm and supportive. While 11 000km doesn’t sound like much, in the life of a media car it’s probably worth twice that in the hands of an owner.

Diesel Go

The turbodiesel engine powering this Qashqai is the same unit from the Juke 1.5dci. That means it has 81 kW combined with 260 Nm of torque. It’s a decent engine to drive, it doesn’t feel laggy at the bottom end and mid-range acceleration is impressive. It doesn’t like to be revved though and has quite substantial drop off once you get over mid-way through the rev range. If you keep it revving low and in the torque band it’s a really impressive engine considering the small capacity. The six-speed manual shifter has a light throw action and can just about be moved around the ratios with a single finger flick.

Interior Spec

This particular model has the optional ‘Techno Pack’ that adds cool gadgetry like built-in Sat Nav, heated door mirrors, an around view camera system that gives you a full birds eye view of your car when parking and the Nissan Connect system. The Nissan Connect system is useful for Smartphone connectivity and has cool built in apps like text-to-speech, Facebook and Google search abilities.

The around view camera is handy too when parking, but for some reason isn’t specced with actual parking sensors that would make it the full package. Bluetooth and USB are sorted as well as an Aux port. Space is good for a compact SUV with rear occupants not lacking legroom. The rear seats fold flat with the flick of a lever and the loading space is wide enough for those of us who like to toss bikes in the back.

A neat trick with the new instrument cluster is a readout every time the start/stop system is activated that lets you know how much CO2 you’ve saved with the system. There’s also a comparison readout when you turn off the vehicle that lets you know how efficient your current journey was compared to your best ever fuel consumption. Geeky stuff yes, but still fun to try and beat your best.

Ride and Drive

The new Qashqai has a firm ride that helps it stay upright in the corners, it also makes the SUV feel more sporty than it actually is. The steering mode can be adjusted between ‘normal’ and ‘sport’ although the difference isn’t that great and the weighting on normal mode is good as is. The firm ride is still comfortable around town and over the numerous bumps and jerks we have to deal with on a daily basis. Out on the freeway the Qashqai is a pretty good cruiser but the excessive wind noise off the wing mirrors at speed is annoying and detracts from what’s a pleasant driving experience.

Verdict

The new Qashqai improves upon the previous model in all ways and rises to the very top of the compact SUV hierarchy. It’s filled with great features and style, drives well and even in the smallest diesel variant, doesn’t feel laboured. The rest of the Qashqai lineup features high-tech, low emission turbocharged motors so they are all extremely fuel efficient as well. For these reasons alone it’s probably the first compact SUV I’d recommend to someone looking in this segment.

Second Opinion

The Nissan Qashqai ticks so many boxes and it’s just a fantastic all-round vehicle. Combined with a solid performing engine and a generous helping of tech and gadgets, the second generation Nissan Qashqai is sure to continue the success story. Brilliant both inside and out. -David Taylor

Also consider:

Ford Kuga
Volkswagen Tiguan
Kia Sportage

You can see the head-to-head comparison between the Nissan, Ford and VW here.

Nissan Qashqai 1.5dci Acenta quick specs

Price  R330 500 (base price)
Engine  1.5-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power  81 kW
Torque  260 Nm
Transmission  6-speed manual
Wheels  17-inch alloys
0-100km/h  11.9 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy  4.2L/100 km (claimed)

Audi A3 Convertible (2014) Review

The Audi A3 convertible arrived just as the season has shifted to summer. How does it rank as a top-down cruiser?

We like:
Superb build quality
Solid on the road
Refined engine
Smooth gearbox

We dislike:
Lacking in standard specification
Price

There’s just something about owning a convertible. The image of driving around with the top down and impressing onlookers is a very lovely proposition. Audi recently launched an updated version of its A3 convertible to the South African market and we were very keen to get behind the wheel, especially as summer was kicking into full swing.

Looks wise, this 2014 Audi A3 convertible is a very pretty thing. The previous version was based on the hatchback, which gave it a bit of a stumpy rear end. This new Audi A3 convertible looks more like the A3 sedan, which means it has slightly more space. Don’t be too impressed though, the rear legroom will only suit smaller folk, while the boot can’t swallow more than two medium suitcases. For interests sake, I timed the roof operation from closed to open which took approximately 20 seconds. The roof can be closed and opened while moving at up to 50kph.

Engine and gearbox

There are three engines to choose from. I had the 1.4 turbocharged petrol unit, but there’s a 1.8 turbo and a fast S3 convertible to choose from. With 92 kW and 200 Nm from its pint-sized motor, performance is adequate and there’s no lack in grunt. Power is driven to the front wheels through the flawless 7-speed S tronic twin-clutch gearbox. You can leave the gearbox to its own devices and it does a great job of effortlessly shifting cogs in an efficient manner.

When you’re in a hurry, you can tap the gear lever down, which engages sport mode and sharpens things up. I preferred to change gears manually. It would have been nice to have steering wheel-mounted shift paddles, but these are reserved for higher-spec models. The 1.4-litre turbo engine has a nice sound to it too, and every now and then there’s a little backfire out the exhausts. The 7-speed gearbox and engine is a great combination in terms of fuel consumption and the Audi A3 convertible will happily consume under 7L/100km.

How does it drive?

The short answer is: very well. Most convertibles suffer in terms of ride quality and handling due to the lack of stiffness a roof panel provides. From a structural point of view, the roof is a vital piece of a car’s chassis as it holds everything together and provides rigidity. Convertibles, despite some added structural reinforcement, can often rattle on bumpy tarmac and the chassis can flex resulting in shudders and strange vibrations.

The Audi A3 convertible on the other hand, feels immune to such phenomenon and you get a sense that the car is very well assembled and the build quality is of the highest order. It’s supremely smooth and I’d advise not speccing anything bigger than the 17-inch alloy wheels as these will impact on ride quality.

Specification and features

Audi is guilty of supplying cars with minimal features and then charging for options. This Audi A3 convertible is no different, and I was disappointed to note this vehicle doesn’t come with climate control, USB connectivity or cruise control. There’s a basic air-conditioner which works really well, but when you’re paying almost R500 000 you’d expect to see at least some creature comforts. This Audi A3 convertible was fitted with a few optional extras like self-parking and satellite navigation, which emerges from the dashboard in a very slick motion. Be careful when choosing your options as you can inflate the price quite easily.

Summary and Conclusion

As far as top-down cars go, this Audi A3 convertible is an excellent car. Not only does it drive exceptionally well, it also happens to be light on fuel and is superbly well built. If you’re after something that’s easy on the eye that offers commendable performance, you can’t go wrong with it. Personally I’d stick with the 1.4-litre turbo and using the price difference on the 1.8-litre turbo to kit it out with some extras, like a USB port. Also, make sure you pack your sunscreen…

Second Opinion

The Audi A3 convertible makes great sense for your average convertible buyer. It’s good looking, doesn’t shake or rattle while the top is down and with the 1.4 TSI engine it makes coastal road cruisng a relaxing and chilled event. Perfect convertible for summer, just a bit pricey.- Ashley Oldfield

Also consider:
Volkswagen Golf cabriolet
BMW 2-Series cabriolet (arriving in early 2015)
Mini Cooper convertible
Mazda Mx-5

You can see the head-to-head comparison between the Volkswagen Golf cabriolet, Audi A3 convertible and Mini Cooper convertible here.

2014 Audi A3 convertible quick specs

Price  R453 000 (Test unit price estimation R530 000)
Engine  1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power  92 kW
Torque  200 Nm
Transmission  7-speed twin-clutch transmission
Wheels  17-inch alloys
0-100km/h  10.2 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy  5.1L/100 km (claimed)

Volvo Celebrates 20 Years of Polestar

Volvo has celebrated 20 years of its performance Polestar brand by reuniting its current Volvo V60 Polestar model with its Granddad – the Volvo 855 T5-R. Both cars are on display side-by-side at Huntington Beach in California.

“Fast Volvo estates as the 855 T5-R is something special for many performance car enthusiasts around the world and we are proud to continue that heritage to a new level with the V60 Polestar,” said Christian Dahl, CEO of Polestar.

Volvo performance heritage

The original Volvo 855 T5-R was built back in 1994 and featured a 2.3-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged engine that was capable of 179 kW and 330 Nm of torque. That meant the boxy estate would shunt to 100kph in just seven-seconds and hit a crazy top speed (at the time) of 245kph. “I still remember the overwhelming reception we got when we showed the T5-R for the first time, especially combined with the current BTCC program we had with the 850 estate. I am very glad to see Polestar together with Volvo continuing this unique heritage today in the form of the V60 Polestar,” said Thomas Lindskog, Vice President 800 series at Volvo Cars in 1994.

Technology though has moved on and in comparison the current Polestar V60 uses a 3-Litre V6 turbo that pumps out 257 kW and 500 Nm. 0-100kph takes just 4.9 seconds and tops out at a limited 250kph. The current car loses out in one department as it weighs 234kg more than the original – 1834kg vs 1600kg.

Most Expensive Range Rover Unveiled

Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) has revealed its most expensive Range Rover which it worked on with British gun-maker Holland & Holland.

Features specifically designed for Holland & Holland customers

Based on the Range Rover Autobiography Black the Holland & Holland Range Rover is available with either the 4.4 litre SDV8 or 5.0 litre Supercharged Petrol, and comes in a unique Holland & Holland Green hue complete with H&H badges. The grille is painted in the same deep green and has chrome highlights.

Most changes appear on the inside where the “most expensive Range Rover” benefits from an Executive Class seating package with two individually adjustable rear seats and an extended redesigned centre console, and electric walnut tables, USB sockets, extra stowage and bespoke lights.

The seats are further trimmed in premium soft tan and espresso leather upholstery, embroidered with Holland & Holland detailing. Additional special Holland & Holland touches include wood veneers that match Holland’s oil-finished gunstocks, and door handle detailing with exquisite engraving.

The most notable feature can be found in the trunk, where a specially designed removable leather-trimmed aluminium loadspace features an Alcantara interior and enough room for a pair of Holland & Holland guns. The loadspace floor has been engineered from aluminium and carbon fibre with a leather & wood veneer finish.

Land Rover plans to build just 120 examples of these expensive Range Rover Holland & Holland models over the next three years with an estimated sale price of R3.1 Million per car.

2015 Audi Q3 Facelift Revealed

The 2015 Audi Q3 and RS Q3 facelift has been revealed ahead of a scheduled February 2015 public debut.

Updated design

Visual changes to the 2015 Q3 consist of a new grille, revised bumpers and new alloy wheel designs. The revised headlights are equipped with xenon bulbs as standard, as well as LED daytime running lights and reworked LED taillights.

The interior remains unchanged but benefits from additional features such as a luggage compartment package, a pass-through and the power tailgate, and an extensible luggage compartment cover.

S-Line spec adds a powered tailgate as standard, while SE-spec Q3s feature new sports seats and a new steering wheel. In addition, S-Line plus models now get tinted windows and metallic paint, larger 19-inch alloy wheels, a new sat-nav system, perforated leather, cruise control, and a parking guidance system.

The equipment list includes the MMI Plus, Audi Drive Select, blind spot alert, power adjustable front seats, LED ambient lighting, secondary collision brake assist, lane departure warning, etc.

Engine upgrades

The 2015 Audi Q3 will be available with three TFSI and three TDI four-cylinder engines. All of these engines are said to be turbocharged and will emit up to 17 percent less CO2 than before. These Euro 6-compliant units will range from 1.4 to 2.0 litres producing between 88 kW and 162 kW.

The Audi RS Q3 will also receive a range of updates to make it even more performance oriented. The model’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder unit now produces 250 kW which is 30 PS more and 450 Nm of torque guided to a quattro AWD system through a seven-speed S tronic transmission.

This setup enables the high-performance crossover to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds (0.7s quicker) before hitting a top speed of 250 kph.

Aside from the power increase, the crossover will also be equipped with an RS exhaust system featuring switchable flaps to provide even more volume to the unmistakable sound of the five-cylinder engine.

Deliveries of the 2015 Audi Q3 facelift are said to start in February 2015. South African availability is yet to be confirmed.

2014 BMW 2-Series Video Review

As any driving instructor will be at pains to tell you, looking in the rearview mirror is important. Car companies like to do this too; although perhaps it’s to inspire a sense of nostalgia more than anything in the engineering department.

This becomes immediately evident when driving the new BMW 2-Series and the BMW 2002, a classic that the blue and white propeller brand is keen to entrench as the newcomer’s progenitor. There is certainly a shared spirit: a small, compact sports coupe with decent power and tidy rear wheel drive handling. But my goodness, how things have moved on.

Firstly, I wouldn’t want to crash into a beach ball in the 2002. There’s barely a seatbelt to speak of and the entire frame looks and feels paper thin. In terms of passenger protection, I’m quite happy to be a car journalist in the modern era.

However, there’s a directness, a sense of immediacy in the vintage car that most modern cars lack. We’ve become very detached from the driving experience. This is bittersweet; for a long journey, detachment is a good thing. Modern cars are almost relaxing. But for a blast up a windy road, the charm of the old school is undeniable and missed.

The BMW 2-Series reviewed

However, progress we must, and it’s the new 2 that you will be buying, so let’s have that chat. BMW’s smallest coupe replaces the 1-Series coupe which was a real hoot to drive, but was perhaps less practical, especially the rear seating.

While the new series shares engines with the entire range, it is based on a cut down version of the 3-Series chassis, making this noticeably bigger than the car it replaces. In fact, a quick glance and you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a 4-Series.

There are 3 engines available, two petrol in various states of tune, a diesel and the mildly insane M235i. See the table below for a full overview of the range and power outputs.

BMW 2 Series Summary

It’s not that I don’t like the 2-Series, but I struggle to see the point. You could spend less money and have a 1-Series, which in 5-door guise is more practical. You could spend a little bit more money and have a 3 Series, which is infinitely more practical but understandably less exciting.

Or you could spend about R80 000 more and pick up a 4-Series, which I think might just be the best BMW available right now, besides the X5.

Or you could spend about R380 000 and pick up a 220i. It’s a well-sorted little package; comfortable, powerful enough, not terribly thirsty and in M Sport trim, quite good looking. It will probably make you smile every time you drive it, especially when you flick it into Sport mode.

And maybe that is the point.

BMW 2-Series prices and specs for South Africa

  220i 220d 228i M235i
Price R406 757 R436 500 R445 988 R558 079
Engine 2.0 i-4 turbo 2.0 i-4 turbo 2.0 i-4 turbo 3.0 i-6 turbo
Power 135kW 135kW 180kW 240kW
Torque 270Nm 380Nm 350Nm 450Nm
Acceleration 7.0s 7.2s 5.8s 5.0s
Fuel economy 6.1l/100km 4.5l/100km 6.6l/100km 8.1l/100km

Bentley SUV Closer to Production (Video)

Bentley has released a short teaser video of its long anticipated SUV. The initial concept, called the EXP 9 F SUV was originally shown at the Geneva motor show in 2012.

This latest clip show the Bentley SUV doing some desert testing and clearly incorporates the familiar front grille and Continental’s headlight cluster. The video also shows the painstaking work that Bentley puts into its hand-stitched leather interiors, seemingly some of the textures and colours have been picked up from their time in spent in the desert.

There are still very few features confirmed on the Bentley SUV but it’s likely to be powered by both the 4-litre twin-turbo V8 and the 6-Litre W12 that Bentley keeps in the stable.

*Bentley EXP 9 F Pictured 

Bentley SUV Teaser Video

2015 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Introduced With More Power and New Tech (Video)

The 2015 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport have been updated with a number of upgrades including changes to the six-cylinder diesel engine.

“Range Rover and Range Rover Sport offer an unrivalled combination of performance, efficiency, design leadership and off-road capability,” says Phil Popham, Group Marketing Director for Jaguar Land Rover.

“Our latest updates capitalise on these strengths, with our ground-breaking new All Terrain Progress Control, along with extra-efficient six-cylinder engines, which underline Land Rover’s commitment to sustainability.”

Increased performance

Although output remains the same at 190 kW and 600 Nm, Land Rover’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder TDV6 engine has been enhanced with a ball-bearing single turbocharger that replaces the twin-turbocharging technology.

Along with Low Pressure Exhaust Gas Recirculation (LPEGR), a two-stage oil pump that reduces parasitic engine losses and a revised design of fuel-injector nozzle, the TDV6 has improved fuel efficiency to 8.5 percent in the Range Rover and 5.7 percent in the Range Rover Sport.

The Range Rover Sport SDV6 gets the same enhancements but maintains its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel. Power rises 10kW to 225kW and torque 100Nm to 700Nm, yet fuel consumption falls 7.0 per cent to seven-litres/100km.

The supercharged 3.0-litre V6 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport SCV6 make no more power than before, but fuel efficiency has improved by 1.9 percent. This is made possible by a new thermostat, laser-drilled injectors, revised camshaft chain guides, a two-stage oil pump, diamond-like coating for the piston and gudgeon pin, and the use of lower viscosity oil.

New and improved technology

Land Rover is also introducing a head-up display system which will offer information like speed, gear position & shift indicator, sat-nav instructions, cruise control info and traffic sign recognition.

Furthermore, both the 2015 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport can be fitted with an All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) system which allows the driver to select a desired speed and it will continuously monitor and adjust the vehicle settings in order to provide the best traction regardless of conditions.

The models are additionally available with an updated colour palette featuring the striking Yulong White, while the Range Rover Sport is also offered in eye-catching Kaikoura Stone.

2015 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport with All-Terrain Progress Control system

Datsun GO Zero Star Crash Rating (Video)

As part of the Global NCAP initiative, the new Datsun Go and Maruti Suzuki Swift were subjected to frontal crash tests under the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP) which they failed dismally.

A disappointing zero result for the Datsun GO

The Bharat NCAP represents the tenth New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) to be formed around the world, and was established for the Indian market – the fifth biggest passenger car market in the world.

Nissan’s recently launched sub-brand budget car, the Datsun GO,  failed the test because its structure collapsed during the frontal crash test done at 64 kph and because it lacked a front airbag, resulting the driver’s head hitting the steering wheel. The dummy readings further indicated a high probability of life-threatening injuries.

This of course raises alarms, as Global NCAP Secretary-General, David Ward explained the body structure of the vehicle is so fragile that even fitting airbags would do absolutely nothing for occupant’s safety.

The Go was commended locally for its astonishing price tag that sits below R100 000. Despite its failure to get even one star in the crash test, the little car has some quirks that buyers would be interested in such as its tiny 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, rated at 50 kW.

For more details on the Datsun GO here.

Coming to the Maruti Suzuki Swift, this models structure showed signs of collapsing in the frontal crash test and just like the GO, its lack of standard-fit airbags meant that the driver’s head made direct contact with the steering wheel. In the same manner, the dummy readings indicated a high probability of life-threatening injuries. However, unlike the GO, the organisation maintains the Swift would improve occupant protection when fitted with airbags. South Africans are lucky though, as Swift models are fitted with standard airbags across the range.

Datsun GO fails crash test – zero star safety rating

Maruti Suzuki Swift crash test – zero star safety rating

New Ford Everest Teased Ahead of Beijing Reveal (Video)

The new Ford Everest has been teased in a video ahead of debut in Beijing next week.

New Ford Everest minor details revealed

The Everest is scheduled to be unveiled at a special media event in Beijing on November 13. While the images and video provided don’t reveal much about the car, they do show parts of the grille and headlight design.

The new Ford Everest was first unveiled in concept form in August last year, with Ford is keen to underline the high level of involvement from its local design and engineering teams.

“We can’t wait to show the world the latest example of our One Ford global product strategy in action,” said Trevor Worthington, vice president, Product Development, Ford Asia Pacific. “After five years and 4500 man-years of design and development work, we’re going to redefine what customers can expect from an SUV.”

Although Ford is being secretive on all the specifications of the model, they did confirm that it will be “rugged, refined and amazingly capable.”

Echoing the words of Worthington, the director of the Ford Design Centre in Melbourne, Todd Willing, said the Everest was the culmination of several years’ work aligning Ford’s global design language with customer insight from each of the key markets where Everest will be sold.

“This is our vision of a large, seven-seat off-road vehicle that exemplifies how Ford’s “One Ford” vehicle philosophy can apply for a vehicle created for Asia Pacific,” Willing said.

“The Everest is also further proof of the world-class design expertise here in Melbourne. Many of the talented team who worked on Everest – and continue to work on other Ford vehicles – have been educated right here in Victoria.”

New Ford Everest Teaser video