Nissan to offer Qashqai subcompact SUV in USA

[haven]

To the ever-growing field of subcompact SUVs offered in USA, add the Nissan Qashqai. It's a model built on the same platform as the Rogue SUV. The Qashqai is 10 inches shorter than the Rogue, with 2 inches subtracted from the wheelbase. AWD will be available.

The Qashqai will be positioned between the tiny Juke and compact Rogue in Nissan's SUV offerings. Pricing also is expected to fall in between, so I'd expect a starting price around $21-$22,000.

"Qashqai" is the name of an ethnic group that lives in northern Iran. I presume the name will be changed for the USA market.

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...gue-production-by-100k-units-add-two-variants

Today, the Qashqai is manufactured in England and Japan, and sold in Europe, the Middle East, Japan and New Zealand. The models coming to USA will initially be built in England. Nissan sells the Qashqai in Mexico already, so over time I'd expect production of the Qashqai to be moved to Nissan's Smyrna Tennessee plant, where the Rogue is built today.

The subcompact SUV market is hot right now. Models already for sale include the Mini Cooper S Countryman, Nissan Juke, Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500X, Honda HR-V, and Mazda CX-3. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and Subaru XV Crosstrek are just slightly longer than my idea of what "subcompact" means, but most people include them in this group, as well.

In addition to the Qashqai, future models in this class will include the BMW X1, Audi Q1, Smart ForFour, and an AWD version of the class leader in sales, the hamster-approved Kia Soul.

 

[haven]

Exactly what engine will be used in the Qashqai when it it imported to USA is unknown. The version sold in Mexico has a 2.0L four cylinder gas motor. In Europe, Nissan just introduced a 1.6L gas engine, designed for fuel efficiency.

 

[freshlikesushi]

Drove one for a while in Saudi Arabia. Wasnt very impressed at all with them

 

[haven]

You can probably say the same for all vehicles in this class. (Given your user name, you might promote the Crosstrek XV.).

 

[freshlikesushi]

Eh. I see the XV in the Juke class. This to me is more forester class

 

[docwatson]

From what I gather this is a redesigned Qashqai, so it maybe different than the one you drove in SA.

I have seen a few Qs here in Honduras and own a 2015 Rogue. To me, the Q is pretty squarely in the subcompact class with the Rogue being slightly larger in the compact class. Its largely splitting hairs in my book anyway.

The Qs here are sold with the 2.0L as well. I would venture to guess this subcompact Rogue will get either this 2.0L or something already in the US, like the 1.8L from the Sentra.

I will say I have been rather impressed by my Rogue. Its no sports car, and I certainly would appreciate a traditional automatic, but the CVT has returned excellent MPG and I haven't found myself begging for more power during acceleration. It also comes with hill start assist, hill descent control and a center locking differential but is a little low on ground clearance (7ish"). Its the wife's though, so not much offroading will be done in it, but I think it is a rather potent "get to the trailhead" vehicle.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Does Nissan still make the X-Trail? I could never figure out why they didn't import that to the US. Looks very much like a Forester and would likely compete in the same space. Is there some aspect of the X-trail that makes it undesirable in the US market?
.
Also regarding the Qashqai - dat name! Sounds like something I'd order at a trendy restaurant. "I'll have the qashqai with mango salsa please."

 

[docwatson]

The X-Trail and the Rogue are now the same vehicle. Well minus the diesel option for the X-Trail

 

[freshlikesushi]

From what I gather this is a redesigned Qashqai, so it maybe different than the one you drove in SA.

I have seen a few Qs here in Honduras and own a 2015 Rogue. To me, the Q is pretty squarely in the subcompact class with the Rogue being slightly larger in the compact class. Its largely splitting hairs in my book anyway.

The Qs here are sold with the 2.0L as well. I would venture to guess this subcompact Rogue will get either this 2.0L or something already in the US, like the 1.8L from the Sentra.

I will say I have been rather impressed by my Rogue. Its no sports car, and I certainly would appreciate a traditional automatic, but the CVT has returned excellent MPG and I haven't found myself begging for more power during acceleration. It also comes with hill start assist, hill descent control and a center locking differential but is a little low on ground clearance (7ish"). Its the wife's though, so not much offroading will be done in it, but I think it is a rather potent "get to the trailhead" vehicle.

price point it is in almost bare bones is a well equipped sportage, or bare sorento, same with the hyundai variants. Just dont see it doing well here

Does Nissan still make the X-Trail? I could never figure out why they didn't import that to the US. Looks very much like a Forester and would likely compete in the same space. Is there some aspect of the X-trail that makes it undesirable in the US market?
.
Also regarding the Qashqai - dat name! Sounds like something I'd order at a trendy restaurant. "I'll have the qashqai with mango salsa please."

or laquisha's sister

 

[docwatson]

At 21k the Q could be very competitive. Most vehicles in this segment are starting at the 20ish mark.

Also I don't really see this as competing with the Juke. Sure they are a similar size, but the Juke is just weird. This is more inline with buyers of the CX-3, HR-V, Renegade etc are looking for I think.

They will definitely have to get rid of that name if they want any to sell.

 

[Dake21]

I really don't understand the philosophy of use of this segment? A sedan would do better at anything the mini-cuv do. It looks good for some and I imagine that it's all it takes for the average customer to buy a vehicle over another.

 

[summerprophet]

I really don't understand the philosophy of use of this segment? A sedan would do better at anything the mini-cuv do.

As far as I can tell, the mini suv's are for those that would like a sedan, but have dogs.

 

[freshlikesushi]

or a small business, or more than one kid and strollers and such.

 

[haven]

"A sedan would do better at anything the mini-cuv do."

The sedans that share a platform with the subcompact SUVs generally are less expensive and get better fuel economy. In many cases, they offer superior handling.

The SUV variants have more interior space. Hiking the body up an extra inch or two makes the SUVs easier to get into and out of. And the SUVs offer AWD, often not available on the sedan equivalents.

 

[Dake21]

My point is the CUVs are becoming what essentially a car is but at a much higher price tag. AWD could as well bo offered in the sedan counterpart but I bet automaker won't do it because they would rather make a higher profit with CUVs. In my opinion it leaves something to be desire for.