Displaying items by tag: Family car

The second generation of the Japanese crossover is a common sight on our streets, and what adorns this car are low costs, comfort, and build quality. As such, it is a frequent choice on the second-hand market, and on this occasion we bring the advantages and disadvantages of the second-generation Nissan Qashqai model.

The second generation Nissan Qashqai was introduced in 2014, and used examples from the beginning of production can be found on the domestic market for around 11,500 euros. The redesigned version debuted in 2018 with new technology and several new units on offer.

Originally, 1.5-liter and 1.6-liter diesel engines were offered, as well as 1.2-liter and 1.6-liter turbo gasoline engines. In both cases, the smaller units were actually preferable in terms of cost and sleekness. A CVT automatic transmission called Xtronic was available as an option, but the slightly noisier operation of the engine with this transmission turned many away, so they opted for a six-speed manual transmission. The redesign from 2018 brought some changes, but also a new range of engines, so a 1.3-liter gasoline unit with 140 hp or 158 hp was available.

As for the diesel, the 1.5-liter engine remains the same as before, but a 1.7-liter diesel with 150 hp was introduced in 2019. Some of the most important positive features of the Qashqai model are a high level of comfort and a feeling of spaciousness, primarily due to the comfort of the seats and suspension.

It should be said that the finish of the material is much better compared to the first generation, such as soft handles and feet, as well as much better sound insulation. The second generation Qashqai offers a sense of balance when driving, which is rarely found in any crossover, especially in corners where it inspires confidence when you step on the gas pedal.

When talking about engines, the best choice is economical diesels: 1.5 dCi (110 HP) and 1.6 dCi (130 HP). Turbo petrols are quieter, and also don't consume much, and have similar dynamics to diesels. The trunk has a volume of 430 liters, which is certainly not a record in the class, but it is quite enough for most needs.

As for the flaws, the Nissan Qashqai received the most criticism during its first years of production, and most of them were related to some "childhood diseases", such as the early failure of the factory battery, oil leaks on the valve cover, and the halogen lights were able to weaken quickly. .

Among second-hand examples, diesels make up the overwhelming majority, and the most important thing is to find a well-maintained example because you won't have any problems with it. The durability and quality of the Nissan Qashqai model is both a virtue and a disadvantage when buying a used model. Because this crossover is very solidly built, which makes it somewhat resistant to use, you may have trouble determining the true condition and mileage of the car. That is why it is important to pay attention to determining the correct mileage, because its use could be well concealed.

As Auto Klub writes, the owners' experiences are excellent, and the second generation still looks modern, offering comfort, spaciousness, reliability and economy. It is a quality and versatile car with an excellent choice of engines and a very good chassis. Prices for the oldest models with the highest mileage start at 11,500 euros, while a well-equipped redesigned version will cost you more than 20,000 euros. With a little searching, you can find a decent copy with a price of around 15 thousand euros.

Published in Blog/News

 

The SKODA OCTAVIA won the “Women's World Car of the Year 2020” award in the “Family Car” category.

 This is the first success for the Czech car manufacturer within this international award, which is being awarded for the tenth time this year, and which is awarded exclusively by professional car journalists. As one of a total of nine winners in individual categories, the ŠKODA bestseller is now competing for the main prize: the winner of the main award "Women's World Car of the Year 2020" will be announced on March 8 on the occasion of International Women's Day. The jury consists of 48 journalists from 38 countries from Argentina to New Zealand.

The "Women's World Car of the Year" award has been given since 2011, and the jury consists exclusively of professional car journalists. This year, 48 members of the jury from 38 countries evaluated all nine models that were presented between January and December 2020, and first nominated three finalists in each of the nine categories at the beginning. In the "Family Car" category, the OCTAVIA model won and thus qualified as a candidate for the main prize.

The evaluation criteria are, for example, safety, quality, price, design, driving comfort and environmental friendliness.

Published in Blog/News
Wednesday, 10 February 2021 06:01

Peugeot 2008 video review: the stylish sophisticate

 

Peugeot’s all-new 2008 is reborn with more space, improved quality and some novel technology, to re-enter a small-SUV market more crowded than Hamleys toy store on Black Friday. The big news is a pure electric version with 193 miles of range, sold alongside the sole 101bhp diesel (expected to contribute just 5 per cent of sales) and a 1.2-litre petrol engine with three power outputs.

 

Set the scene – what’s new about this 2008?
It’s still a compact family five-door which rides higher than the similarly all-new Peugeot 208 supermini. But compared with its predecessor, this 2008 is much bigger. Overall length grows by 141mm to 4300mm, and the steel between the wheels now measures 2605, which means significantly more space in the cabin and there’s a bigger boot which can stow 434 litres of luggage.

It also changes the vehicle’s proportions, pushing the wheels closer to the extremities and the windscreen slightly backwards. Peugeot’s design department opted for a proud, horizontal bonnet rather than the original 2008’s snub, droopy nose, which gives the new model the classical SUV look of Land Rover’s Defender or Jeep’s Wrangler. But there are heaps of modern design details too: a big grille with a patchwork of chrome or body-coloured inserts, triangular patterns in the bodysides and a swept-up shoulder line meeting a rear pillar accentuated with silkscreen stripes.

Inside the dashboard is adorned with high-quality carbon-effect concave trim, and Peugeot’s i-Cockpit cabin philosophy is evolved. That means a dinky steering wheel you have to drop into your lap so as not to obscure another big innovation, a stylish, digital 3D instrument binnacle (from the Allure second trim level up, starting at £22,350). Thankfully you can adjust the driver’s seat through a pronounced arc and move the wheel in-and-out, to get a decent position. Annoyingly, my bony backside found the GT Line seat’s faux-leather central strip a tad uncomfortable (akin to tight pants giving you a wedgie), though less ornate upholstery on another seat eliminated the lump.

Too much information! What’s it like to drive?
The ride feels taut, with pronounced anti-roll measures keeping lean in check during cornering and a chassis that hugs the topography like a lycra catsuit. Body control is good, recovering its composure rapidly after a sharp deflection.

We tried the 1.2-litre petrol engine with both 17- and 18-inch wheels, and there’s a noticeable difference. The bigger diameter rims amplify every crest and dip in the road, and bumpy sections can be quite jarring as your hips shake and head tosses. Accelerating over sharp ridges can cause the front wheels to skip rather than remaining keyed into the surface.

This is also true of the 17-inch wheels, but less often. The ride remains tight but that underlying jagged edge melts away, leaving a set-up that keen drivers will appreciate. The steering adheres to the electric assisted norm: featherlight at manoeuvring speeds, deserving of more heft and urgency off the dead-ahead around town, then summoning a nice blend of weight and responsiveness for A-road carving and motorway cruises. The 2008 is one of the class’s more satisfying cars to drive.

Want to know about the all-electric e-2008? Check out our review here. If not, keep reading our test of the combustion-engined 2008.

Does that chassis set-up compromise refinement?
Not at all, the 2008 is generally very civilised. The Michelin Primacy 4s, a bespoke blend for this Peugeot designed to suppress rolling resistance but prioritise wet braking, generate little road noise.

Expansion-joint-thumps sound so muted they appear to be coming from other cars, and the three-cylinder petrol engine’s charismatic fluttering is equally down in the mix. Only some wind whistle around the chunky side mirrors penetrates the 2008’s air of mature sophistication. At 80mph it’s so pronounced I wind back to 70mph and relish the improvement: that’s good for fuel economy and will reduce carbon emissions too.

Peugeot quotes a range of 43.7–50.6mpg for the 129bhp, mid-ranking petrol engine (depending on spec and wheel size), and CO2 emissions between 102 and 109g/km. The threepot offers enough punch to occasionally fluster the front wheels, and a standstill to 62mph sprint in 8.9secs with the six-speed manual gearbox. That’s a negligible 0.2secs quicker than the eight-speed auto’s acceleration time, and you’ll be sacrificing smooth computer-controlled shifts for a less polished manual action: the oversized gearknob is baulky and the throw a bit long and indistinct.

 

Prices start at £21,150 for the base 99bhp 1.2-litre Active with analogue instruments, a 7-inch touchscreen, standard DAB radio, Mirror Screen smartphone connectivity and the handsome, concave carbon effect interior trim.

Find another £2200 for an Allure with the 3D dials and fang-like LED lights. The most popular trim will be GT Line (accounting for 40 per cent of sales), which costs from £26,100 and adds a black roof and rear spoiler, reversing camera, 10-inch touchscreen and navigation. An unusual detail is lime green stitching on upholstery and dash sections.

The flagship trim, GT, comes in at £31,575 and adds top tech such as L2 cruise control, lane positioning and active blind spot monitoring.

Verdict
The 2008 offers a great package, with its hugely spacious cabin, 434-litre boot before any rear seat origami and lovely design details: from outboard air vent pods to 3D speakers bursting out of the windscreen pillars. With an appealing engine range and decent dynamics, the polished 2008 is among the best B-SUVs. Peugeot’s renaissance continues.

Source: carmagazine.co.uk

Published in Peugeot

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