Nissan Qashqai+2

The advertising campaign for this Nissan was so successful that the queue of office ladies from the capital stretched out for a whole year. Surprisingly, they were already happy just to be on the waiting list, without even taking a test drive or assessing how good the car is in practice or whether the interior is comfortable. It would seem that they could have stopped there. Awards were collected, buyers were ready to line up to part with their money as soon as possible. But the alliance, which united French, Japanese, and, by the way, already Russian interests, decided not to rest on its laurels. They turned their attention to families with several children and outdoor enthusiasts. The Qashqai was expanded from the inside, dimensions were again brought up to the level of the X-Trail, a third row of seats was added, and the suspension regained its former smoothness. Thus, the Qashqai+2 was born. Now, if you call Nissan and claim they don't have a suitable model for you, you'll simply be wrong.


SAME LOOKS, DIFFERENT CHARACTER
I was convinced that I was just looking at a seven-seat version of the Qashqai, and I was greatly mistaken. I got behind the wheel, drove off, and immediately realized – this is a completely different car in terms of feel. The project manager of the previous Qashqai once mentioned in an interview: we installed a stiff suspension and made the steering heavier – as they like in Europe. Familiar, I've driven one like that. It bounces on every speed bump. But the Qashqai+2 is a completely different story. A soft, comfortable car, although you can't tell from the outside. I understand that tastes differ; some people love a stiff chassis. Jolts to the spine – what could be more invigorating? But if extreme sensations are not to your liking, the Qashqai+2 will give you driving pleasure in the sense that an ordinary person puts into this concept. The steering wheel of the new model is light, comfortable, pleasant to use, and forgiving of driver errors. If you lose your temper, which will inevitably happen, and sharply jerk the wheel from side to side, the +2 won't even flinch. Need to turn? No problem. But it will ignore provocations. On large bumps of our broken and tram-track-riddled asphalt, the suspension doesn't jolt your rear end, for which I give it a special thanks. The body rolls, but the center of gravity is low, so rolls in corners aren't scary; you can even hooligan around on bends – the drift is predictable and easily corrected. I drove around Moscow streets and enjoyed myself, occasionally perking up with the sound of the CVT. It reminds me of a motorcycle and instantly dispels boredom. I've never had such a pleasant time behind the wheel of a Nissan. The only flaw is the somewhat narrow seats. In summer, it's not a problem, but in a down jacket, it's already a bit cramped.

WHERE DID THEY GET CHILDREN?
I also went off-road, because the ground clearance of the new model is greater than that of the five-seat Qashqai – a full 200 mm. I plowed through a field with shallow but wet and treacherous snow perfectly. If you keep the steering wheel straight, you can go quite far. Owner, I envy you; you've acquired a wonderful car. But who are you? And what kind of company is gathered in your cabin? Impoverished managers chipped in for gas to get to the office? And why are there two more children with them? Did they take them along to drop them off at school and kindergarten on the way? Fairy tales! If it weren't for the third row, the car would be lighter and the trunk more spacious. But as it is, every weekend you'll hear a sleepy voice on the phone: "Buddy, are you heading to the dacha? Take mine too, come on, it's just a small detour, about a hundred kilometers..." Or maybe I'm wrong; the Qashqai is a woman's car. It'll be your son whining to his mom: "Let's take five punks from school. I promised them a fire party. Mom, please!!!"