by David Finlay (05 Feb 09)

This is not our first experience of the Qashqai+2, the long-wheelbase, seven-seat version of Nissan's popular compact MPV. The last one we looked at was roughly a mid-range version in that it had the two-litre petrol engine, a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive (see road test). This time we've gone right to the top of the Qashqai food chain to try out the most expensive model of all.

That last test tells you what you need to know about the practicality of the Qashqai, so this one will concentrate on the differences in running gear and trim level. Part of the extra money you have to pay (a total of just over £23,000) goes on the two-litre turbo diesel engine, which in this case is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox and part-time four-wheel drive.

Note that the gearbox is a conventional automatic - there's a CVT (continuously variable transmission) in the range, but it's only fitted to the petrol engine. As automatics go, this one is pretty good, though it does have the odd habit of not wanting to shift into sixth gear if you're doing 60mph. Cruising at that speed in fifth struck me as being a noisy and fuel-consuming way of going about things, so I tended to use the manual controls to knock the box up into top. That worked better, I felt, though the car's electronics clearly didn't agree, since they would prompt a change back down to fifth if I reselected automatic mode.

The power-sapping nature of automatic transmission (which adds 1.1 seconds to the +2 diesel's 0-62mph time and knocks 4.6mpg off the combined fuel economy figure) and the complexity of the 4x4 system add a layer of plasticine to the driving experience; this car is substantially less responsive to commands than the front-wheel drive manual equivalent, but to me that's a good thing because it makes the Qashqai less likely to buck and weave when you try to apply power over a bumpy or steeply-cambered road surface.

The resulting extra level of calm is very welcome, but even in this form the Qashqai seems more nervous than it should. You are still much more likely to see the traction control warning light appear on the instrument panel than you are in the mechanically very similar (but differently set-up) Renault Koleos, which both rides and handles far better than the Nissan does.

The other reason this is the most expensive Qashqai+2 is that, on top of everything already mentioned, it's in the range-topping Tekna trim level, which puts it one step above the 2WD petrol Acenta previously tested (the one below that is the Visia, and good luck to you if you can work out what these strange words actually mean).

Tekna and Acenta models are much better-equipped than the Visias, though in fact you can't get a Visia with the two-litre diesel engine. The test car has a list price £1026 higher than that of a mechanically identical Acenta, and for the extra money you get an automatic dimming interior mirror, "mood" front interior lighting, leather upholstery (in Graphite or Chocolate colours with contrasting stitching), heated front seats, xenon headlights with washers and an "intelligent" key.

Price: £23,099
Capacity: 1995cc
Power: 148bhp
0-62mph: 12.4 seconds
Maximum speed: 114mph
Economy: 42.8mpg extra urban, 35.8mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 209g/km
Towing capacity: 1400kg braked
Insurance: Group 11
Nissan figures.

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