With all the renovations we have on the go at the moment, we were well overdue for some time away. Where better than Queenstown to spend the weekend away!?Cockram Nissan mentioned that they had a new Nissan Qashqai N-TEC on their yard and we were lucky enough to take it for a spin on our weekend away. We both have hatchbacks and have traveled the central road many times with my parents living in Te Anau, so driving an SUV on this road was well received.

A QUICK RUN DOWN ON THE NISSAN QASHQAI

It's an SUV that isn't trying to be anything it's not. It's the ideal commuter for people that need convenience and space, but still want to look the part so basically Georgia and I.. Sleek LED daytime running lights that pack a punch in the dark with an aerodynamic very easy on the eye body and 19" Alloy wheels. The panoramic roof makes traveling more exciting and creates a spacious atmosphere.Competitively priced, you'll be safe in the Qashqai with Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Driver Alert and 360-degree around-view cameras. Load up in a flash with an interior that adapts to any situation, which we all know is just what renovators and people on the go need! Wherever you’re going, you can get there safely knowing Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies have got your back.

HOW'D WE FIND IT?

Driving from Canterbury to Central Otago in winter is always interesting. This time the temperature was -4 degrees and we saw more than 8 crashed vehicles across the Lindis Pass. We felt extremely safe in the Qashqai with its blind spot warnings and driver alerts. I especially enjoyed the roof, traveling for 4-5 hours in a car soon feels like you're in a box, however, the Qashqai's panoramic glass roof made a huge difference and I didn't feel that fatigue you usually get from long distance driving.Georgia is often bribed out of the car for a hot coffee in Tekapo (hates the cold) so the heated car seats meant we could have more photography stops along the way - happy husband! When in Queenstown, we had to find our accommodation, generally this would involve an argument, a U-turn, and a phone dieing. We used the inbuilt nav that displays via the centre display and also on the driver's dash it prompts the lanes coming up and directions - extremely handy!The Nissan is the perfect size vehicle for us, we had Frankie in the back the previous night with the boot liner that Cockram Nissan put in for us and then neatly packed our luggage in the back on the way down to Queenstown. The boot can even be customised if you have groceries so you only have half the floor compartments to use to avoid the rogue pasta sauce and eggs playing corners from slipping out of the bag.Another feature we made full use off was the 360 cameras when parking, and the assisted park. Now I'm off a farm so can back and park like a pro using my mirrors however I'm not going to turn down the precision parking that the Qashqai can do itself.The one feature that we missed was Apple Car Play, having an Apple watch and an iPhone it would have been nice to sync them up, but it still has Bluetooth that you can control from the steering wheel so no biggy!The Qashqai well and truly impressed us both. Georgia was impressed most with its comfort and leather finishings and I enjoyed the additional features like stationary braking instead of having to put your foot on the brake, the panoramic roof and the aesthetic of the exterior.See the Nissan Qashqai in action on our Vlog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15DD-tAlplICockram Nissan is donating $100 to The SPCA Canterbury with every purchase in June 2018. If you're like us and have a pooch, take them in when you pick up your car and get a free boot liner!www.cockramnissan.co.nz

Road tripping in the Nissan Qashqai

A QUICK RUN DOWN ON THE NISSAN QASHQAI

HOW'D WE FIND IT?