Not your average road test

Not your average road test

SINGING superstar Mariah Carey might not know it, but she plays a crucial role in the development of every Nissan crossover – cars that mix the practicality of a hatchback with the go-anywhere ride height and improved visibility of an SUV.

That said, so does a brown bear, Japanese volcano dust and a wide selection of cups and bottles from all over the world.

Crossover pioneer Nissan has revealed some of the extreme (and sometimes unusual) lengths it goes to when developing its new cars – including the X-Trail, Juke and the record-breaking Qashqai.

This rigorous approach to testing and engineering aims to replicate the arduous usage we all put our vehicles through on a daily basis. This ensures that customers can be confident of first-class build quality, durability and reliability, while knowing that Nissan has considered both their evolving needs and wider market trends.

The Qashqai was Europe’s first crossover and was launched in 2007. Since then, Nissan has conducted more than 150,000 development tests on its crossover range. These include:

  • Importing volcanic dust from Japan to test vehicle glass for scratch-resistance and ensure durable functioning of the electric window mechanism
  • Activating the windscreen wipers for 480 hours straight at different speeds and settings, in a multitude of simulated weather conditions – rain, sleet, or snow! Deploying the indicators right and left 2.25 million times on every model
  • Playing the audio system at high volume using musical playlists providing the widest range of pitch and beat. From Mariah Carey for the high notes to German techno music for thumping bass, it’s a comprehensive sound test of the music system
  • Dropping weights onto the panoramic glass roof to ensure that it is strong enough. The weight is equivalent to that of a brown bear climbing onto the car… something our Russian customers might find reassuring!
  • Using a host of different-sized cups, bottles and drinks containers from around the world to check the usefulness of cup holders and door pockets

Such is the dedication to perfection that Nissan is happy to make changes to new cars as they’re being developed if it’s going to benefit the customer. For example, engineers decided to redesign the front door pocket of the Qashqai when it emerged that the new bottle shape of a popular Japanese green tea brand would not fit easily. Rather than risk customer dissatisfaction, the design was modified at a cost of more than €50,000.

Emma Deutsch, vehicle test manager at Nissan Technical Centre Europe, said: “With over 80 years of vehicle development, our Nissan test standards are always evolving. Behind every test, every number, there are unique stories from around the world. These remind us of the incredibly perse needs of our customers, motivating us to continue testing to the highest standards.”

It’s a strategy which is clearly working. Ten years after creating the segment, in 2017, Nissan crossover sales exceeded 450,000 in Europe, highlighting Nissan’s place as the sector-leader with its unique styling, on-the-road efficiency and advanced technologies. Ultimately, this commitment to quality means Nissan customers can have full confidence in their vehicles, which are truly fit for any road.