Nissan

• The Nissan Micra may not be the nicest used but it is very reliable

  The fourth-generation Nissan Micra is one of the city's little ones, which was not easy to fight in the used car market. The competition is numerous, and the market is traditionally in favor of European models. Rare are those who have decided to market this model guided by reliability statistics in which the Micra stands better than the European competition.

  The design outside the conservative framework of the classic customer also contributes to a slightly lower popularity. Still, the Micra doesn’t look bad at all. It is true that the eye of the observer needs a little time to accept the five-door puffy form with the sympathetically sad look of the front and rear, but overall the design fits quite well into European urban scenes.

  Inside, the Micra pleasantly surprises anyone who isn’t too familiar with it. Considering the dimensions under four meters, there is an unexpected lot in the rear, the trunk is decent, and the likable and practical driving environment with a lot of handy compartments in more expensive equipment packages like the one in the photos, offers a small dose of prestige.

  According to the Auto Club, you can count on comfortable seats and comfortable fabrics, but also hard, albeit flawlessly processed plastic, which is typical for small Japanese cars from ten years ago. Finishing is at a high level so there should be no prejudice towards the location of production in India.

  

  The high body on the one hand offers a lot of space, but on the other hand on the highway it creates a noticeable noise of air flow. Only two 1.2-liter three-cylinder engines are available, but the atmospheric 80 hp and 98-horsepower turbo realistically cover all the needs of using a city car. Both engines are adorned with smooth and quiet operation, they are comfortable and quiet in normal driving, but they also like revs, when the unpleasant sound of the three-cylinder breaks through the sound insulation more strongly.

  The basic engine is a bit lazy at lower revs, and a stronger engine can pull quite seriously. The Micra is also quite comfortable for such a small car, and women will appreciate the light and comfortable steering wheel, soft pedals, precise transmission and a small turning circle of only 9.3 meters.

  What do the services say, what are the pains of Micra? There are no significant recalls or omissions in the archives, and the maintained copies with normal mileage are, as a rule, flawless. At the EuroNCAP test, the then four stars were won.

   

• This is a brand new Nissan Qashqai! Now without a diesel he is shooting at the top of the class again

  The third generation no longer has diesel engines, which as an alternative come with hybrid versions of the existing turbo gasoline
  
  Three million copies sold in Europe and a total of five million worldwide. A nice number for both previous generations of Nissan Qashqai, a mega-popular SUV of the compact class, well accepted among Croatian buyers of this class. Great numbers and history, but which set a high bar of expectations from the newly introduced new model.

  
  Nissan Qashqai, photo: Nissan

  There is not much to say about design, the first step in appearing in front of customers. Qashqai retains the recognizable idea and lines of the previous model, but with cleaner lines, some details performed as a variation on the theme of Juke and Nissan's signature with a mask in the characteristic V-shape. A dose of modernism is given to it by details such as self-regulating, smart LED Matrix lights, 11 body colors, five two-tone combinations and rims that reach up to 20 inches as standard. The first photos create the impression of growing size and - that's right.

  
  Nissan Qashqai, photo: Nissan

  It is 3.5 centimeters larger (4,425 m), 3.2 centimeters wide (1,838 m), one centimeter high (1,635 m), and the larger corporate Renault-Nissan CMF-C platform, two centimeters larger axle, gives the impression of size. spacing (2666 mm). The result?

  
  Nissan Qashqai, photo: Nissan

  Round three centimeters more space for the passenger's knees in the rear seat (maximum 61 centimeters), a centimeter and a half more headroom and significantly more space in the front seats, where two-meter-tall people will also have a comfortable position. The rear pair of doors opens up to 85 degrees, which greatly facilitates access to the rear seat, and especially the placement of children in the seat.

  
  Nissan Qashqai, photo: Nissan

  On top of all that, the trunk grows, by 50 liters, in this class more suitable 480 liters. It will be easier to access because the entry threshold is lowered by two inches. Aluminum alloys are also used more in the construction of the body, so let's say four side doors, fenders and a roof bring total savings of 21 kilograms. The fifth door is now made of composite materials and is 2.6 kilograms lighter, and the platform itself on the scales shows 60 kilograms less than the previous one. Niisan engineers swear that it is almost half as strong, or 41 percent.

  The interior also boasts noticeably better materials, including nappa leather, a generally more expensive visual and sensory atmosphere, but also hedonistic elements of equipment such as massage seats or a concert Bose Premium hifi system with 10 speakers.

  
  Nissan Qashqai, photo: Nissan

  Digitization has also knocked hard on Qashqai’s doors. Large digitized 12.3-inch instruments, advanced multimedia with a 9-inch 3D screen, innovative and largest-in-class head-up 10.8-inch screen, interesting animations and wireless mobile charging are part of the new ambience accompanied by a smartphone app which will be able to control the secondary functions. Furthermore, the ProPilot safety system gets a connection to the navigation and detects real and potentially dangerous events in front of and around the car faster and more accurately. The system comes in versions with automatic transmission.

  
  Nissan Qashqai, photo: Nissan

  One of the significant innovations will be the electrification of the drive, in terms of a 12-volt mild hybrid version of the famous 1.3 turbo gasoline known designation DIG-T (Direct Injection Gasoline-Turbo), upgraded to 50 components. Mild hybridization does not affect the change in rated power, which is maintained at 140 and 158 hp with torques of 240 and 260 Nm, but will have positive effects on reducing consumption and have the function of giving additional momentum of power and torque when accelerating. The base engine has front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, more powerful as well, but it comes with four-wheel drive 4x4 and a new-generation X-tronic automatic transmission (CVT) as options. With automatic torque increases to 270 Nm.

  
  Nissan Qashqai, photo: Nissan

  The hybrid system carries 22 pounds of weight. An interesting hybrid version of the e-Power unusual operating principle has also been announced, in which the 1.5 turbo petrol engine has a secondary function in relation to the electric motor. The total power output is 190 hp, but the story is somewhat reversed compared to classic hybrids. The petrol is basically not used for propulsion, but primarily for charging a powerful battery and transmitting power to an electric motor that drives the wheels itself, so the ride is very reminiscent of driving an electric car.

  The Qashqai also gets a single-pedal e-Pedal braking and acceleration system, known from the electric Leaf. With the new platform, the basis of a more complete driving experience will be thorough refinements on more precise and flexible steering wheel operation, but also filigree polished suspension, which remains semi-rigid in the standard versions, while 4x4 and top models with standard 20-inch wheels go multilink.