FINISH LINE FRENCH CONNECTION SPECS APPEAL
Nissan Qashqai Ti
$34,490
Good-looking body straddling
small and medium SUV classes
underpinned by sweet-handling
jacked-up hatchback platform
to deliver value and appeal, but
2.0-litre wants for turbo torque.Suzuki Vitara S-Turbo
AWD $32,990
More herbs than the Qashqai but
not the GS, wrapped in a smaller
but well-packaged body that’s less
roomy than either rival. Decent
steering and handling; perceived
cabin quality not a strong suit.ORTRY
THESE...Sizing up
In metal-for-the-money terms, the base $24K Vivid offers all the cabin space of a body
just 50mm shorter than the Mazda CX-5, for about the price of the CX-3 Maxx. The MG is
225mm longer, with an 80mm-longer wheelbase, than Mazda’s baby SUV. There’s a bit less
rear legroom than in the CX-5, but significantly more than in the CX-3, with a wider body
and, at 483 litres, a bigger boot than either.01
01 02 03
Dash design neat and the
instruments are clear, but the
information screen between the
dials is lo-fi, and some trim, font
and colour choices show little
cohesion. Rear occupants get
reclining backrest, and their own
air-conditioning vents from Core
version up.Front-drive manual Core gets rear
park sensors and auto headlights;
the dual-clutch auto Vivid adds a
reversing camera, climate control
and Arkamys brand audio. The
Soul scores 18s, leather, an 8-inch
touchscreen and nav, while the
AWD dual-clutch Essence X gets
a sunroof and xenon headlights.02
Direct-injected Netblue
petrol engines are SAIC
Motor-developed CUBE-TEC
units, the 1.5-litre turbo is a
co-development with GM that’s
found in 1.4 turbo form in the
Holden Astra, and the 2.0-litre
tuned by the now French-owned
Opel in Germany.03
@wheelsaustralia 43