2015 Nissan Qashqai 1.6 DIG-T 163 N-tec first drive

Just over a year ago Nissan launched the second-generation Nissan Qashqai, in the process dropping the previous version’s 2.0-litre petrol engine from the range.

To plug the gap, the firm has introduced a new 1.6-litre DIG-T 163 engine, which, it is claimed, makes big strides in terms of both performance and efficiency.

You might question the logic of petrol power in a crossover, bearing in mind the perception that diesel is king in this segment, but it seems that many of Nissan’s private buyers still prefer petrol to diesel.

By the time the new engine is fully established in the line-up, it’s anticipated that around 45% of Qashqais will be petrol - albeit with the smaller DIG-T 1.2 115 making up the bulk of those sales.

So, with a solid market to aim for, how does the new engine perform and is it worth considering over the excellent 1.5 110 dCi?

It’s tempting to use the term ‘squeezing more from less’ with almost every new engine these days, as they all seem to be chasing the same goal.

Nissan’s own downsizing effort certainly makes some formidable statements when compared with the old 2.0-litre unit: a 15% improvement in power, which now peaks at 161bhp and 22% more torque, which rises to 177lb ft.

Opting for the new petrol model will put you at the helm of the quickest and fastest model in the current Qashqai range, too, with 0-62mph taking 9.1sec and a top speed of 124mph.

What Car?, our sister publication, made the Qashqai its 2014 Car of the Year, and one of the many qualities that won over the judges was refinement. Thankfully, this new engine does nothing to diminish that asset, being both smooth and quiet no matter what the revs.

This is a good thing because there’s something of a Jekyll and Hyde character to this motor. Work it hard from 3000rpm and above and you’ll find it's quite the jackal, spiriting the Qashqai around with a peppiness that’s seemingly out of sorts for a crossover, even a small one.

Drop below 3000rpm, however, and you're outside the turbo’s optimum operating range. This renders the engine lethargic and laggy, and you can easily find yourself hurriedly hunting through the six-speed manual gearbox for a more suitable ratio.

Once you’re up to speed this becomes less of an issue, and the extra refinement of the petrol certainly makes the DIG-T 163 a restful place in which to rack up motorway miles. There’s barely any tyre noise and only a hint of wind noise from around the mirrors at 70mph.

At speed it rides well, too, which may be a result of the Active Ride Control that Nissan fits to all Qashqais. The system works by gently dabbing the brakes in order to control excessive body movement. However, at slow speeds, even this trickery can’t stop the car becoming jittery over broken road surfaces, although the 18in alloys fitted to our N-tec-spec test car won’t have helped.

With the Qashqai’s bias towards comfort, it isn’t as fun to drive as the Mazda CX-5, but it handles perfectly well for a small crossover. The steering is good, though, being lightly weighted around town while loading up nicely at speed.