2024 Nissan Qashqai – More Than Just a Pretty Face

The popular family car has sold over 4 million times, and 350,000 of those sales are accounted for by the third generation model since 2021. It's little wonder that Australians would often call it the 'Cash cow.' Clearly, the Qashqai is an important car for Nissan.

Despite its Japanese roots, the Qashqai is truly a European car. It was designed in London by Nissan Design Europe and developed at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe in Cranfield with some help from the Nissan Technical Centre in Barcelona. Nissan Manufacturing in Sunderland is tasked with producing the car.

Since its first generation, the Qashqai has been about bold exterior design, upgraded technology, and an innovative powertrain. Nissan excelled at that last point with its e-POWER system, which has been brought over from the pre-facelift Qashqai. It uses an electric motor, powered by a petrol engine and some batteries, to drive the wheels. This means the Qashqai gives the feeling of driving an electric vehicle without having to wait for charging. As of April 2024, Nissan has sold over 100,000 e-POWER Qashqai and X-Trail vehicles since the technology was implemented in September 2022.

The e-POWER Qashqai has a three-cylinder turbocharged engine and a 1.8 kWh battery to power the 140kW (190 hp) electric motor. A couple of mild-hybrid versions with lower outputs are also available. Unfortunately, there's no e-POWER version that comes in front-wheel-drive only due to packaging at the rear of the vehicle, but the mild hybrid is available in four-wheel-drive form.

The biggest changes have taken place in exterior design and technology. Nissan says, 'The philosophy behind the changes to Qashqai is to keep the essence of what consumers love about Qashqai, enhance its strengths and to add even more intuitive and convenient technology.' This latest iteration should, in theory, be the best Qashqai yet.

Design Evaluation
It's hard to ignore the new Qashqai's exterior changes. When Nissan said, 'bold exterior design,' they meant it. The front grille has been designed to create a striking first impression. The new interpretation of the 'V-motion' grille has been inspired by ancient Japanese armor scales, consisting of loads of small gloss-black comma shapes. The design elements of the grille extend towards the outer edges, where they appear in 'satin chrome' and seamlessly integrate with the newly designed headlights. There have been comparisons with the Hyundai Tuscon, but even still, the Qashqai looks rather pleasing.

The headlights have been redesigned but still follow the signature Qashqai boomerang theme. Instead, they are sharper and include daylight running lights in the same comma shape as the grille elements. Because of the adaptive high beam module and a smaller unit, the new headlights are ideal for low-light conditions and don't require dedicated fog lights. The turn signals are now sequential for the first time in a Qashqai, depending on what spec you are going for.

It's a similar story at the back. While the rear taillights haven't been redesigned, they have the same 'comma' shape design from the front of the car. The housing is now clear to give a better sense of the new distinct 'super-red' color from the lights, a feature of the car where Nissan has listened to their customers. The rear turn signals are also dynamic like the front.

Nissan introduced a new N-Design trim level for the facelift, which sits laterally to the Tekna trim level. The N-Design spec is designed to offer greater visual appeal with body-colored exterior trim features, a set of newly designed 20-inch alloy wheels, and more Alcantara inside.

Depending on the trim level, there is a new range of wheel designs in 17-inch, 18-inch, 19-inch, and 20-inch sizes. The latest designs feature conveniently placed covers to optimize airflow but not compromise brake cooling. The overall dimensions of the vehicle remain the same.

The new Qashqai is now available in three new colors: Pearl White, designed to shine in certain lighting conditions; Pearl Black, which replaces the previous black color option; and Deep Ocean, which switches between metallic green and blue depending on the lighting conditions. Undoubtedly, the Deep Ocean color will be popular as it looks great in the sun. Depending on which color you go for, you can also specify your Qashqai with a black roof.

Interior Assessment
Like the exterior, the interior has been changed to enhance its visual appeal. Matthew Weaver, Vice President of Nissan Design Europe, says, 'Inside, the new materials and ambient lighting elevate the on-board experience even further.'

First, higher trim levels like the Tekna+ and the N-Design feature more Alcantara to create a comfortable ambiance. The material can be seen on the dashboard, door inserts, door armrests, and center storage console lid. Depending on the trim level, there's now black partially quilted premium leather or quilted synthetic leather, and the N-Design trim has the word 'Qashqai' embossed on the seats.

Some interior features, like the center console and the upper parts of the dashboard, feature a patterned material. Nissan says it, 'underpins Japanese craftsmanship.' Either way, it looks good.

Ambient lighting is now available for the interior of the new Qashqai from the N-Connecta trim level and above, featuring advanced red/green/blue (RBG) LED lights. These LED lights can be changed to match the occupants' mood, and there are over 60 colors and tones to choose from. In the higher-spec vehicles, the LED lights extend to the rear cabin as well.

Driving Take
Since the powertrain has not been changed, the Qashqai should feel like the previous version, and it does. We drove the 190 hp e-POWER version in the Tekna trim level. Because this car has 20-inch wheels, Nissan upgraded the suspension to a multi-link setup to ease discomfort from the larger wheel size. Wheel sizes 19 inches and below use a Macpherson strut setup.

As for the ride quality, there's still the same smooth feeling when setting off from a standstill, and the suspension does well to hide any imperfections in the road surface. The steering feels light and easy to operate, which is particularly handy when maneuvering into and out of tight parking spaces.

There's plenty of visibility out of the front, sides, and rear. Meanwhile, thanks to the electronically adjustable driver's seat, finding a good driving position isn't difficult.

As the speed increases, the car remains comfortable, with active noise cancellation built into the cabin. The three-cylinder engine may not drive the wheels directly, but it has been set up to increase its sound as the speed increases, like that of an ICE vehicle. This means passengers are less likely to feel motion sickness, which is sometimes associated with EVs.

The Qashqai isn't a particularly sporty car; it's designed to excel more in everyday urban life, quietly wafting along the city center. So, when it encounters a corner, it shows; the Qashqai leans into corners because it's a tall car, but when sports mode is engaged, it all becomes a little more tidier. It's never going to show up some of the more performance-oriented cars out there, but it certainly can handle a bit of extra enthusiasm out on a twisty road.

It doesn't feel like it weighs a lot neither, and Nissan has done well to keep it under 1,700kg, but that isn't surprising when considering the small 1.8kWh battery. Generally, the ride is light and easy to place during spirited driving, but it could be slightly better at giving feedback through the steering wheel.

The car's overall quality is great, with refinement levels that minimize wind and tire noise. There is some noise, but generally, the experience feels calm and enjoyable. When pushed, the Qashqai does a convincing job of keeping up with your inputs, thanks to the electrical assistance of the 140kW motor.

Overall, the driving experience is pleasant and capable of meeting the needs of the everyday motorist. It should appeal to most people who want a car that's ideal around town but can sufficiently push on when the going gets tough, and it can do all this without compromising practicality.

Everyday Living
Thanks to upgraded technology, the new Qashqai is better to live with. The introduction of Google's built-in means that the driver is connected to the car in a way that is familiar to us in everyday life.

Google built-in means you get Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store all at your fingertips (or voice). If Google isn't your thing, you can also use Waze or Amazon Alexa. Over time, more apps should become available and designed specifically for automotive use. You might often forget about your phone because the Qashqai's infotainment system is intuitive and rather responsive.

The cameras have also been upgraded, and the 'Around View Monitor' (AVM) system has been improved. This system allows the driver to see a 3D version of their car using eight different perspectives. A nice touch is that the AVM automatically shows you around the car when you start, allowing you to move off safely without any issues. This is a clever touch from Nissan, who aim to consider the needs of the driver.

Another great feature of the cameras is the 'invisible hood view,' which allows you to see the position of the front wheels through the front of the vehicle. It is great for avoiding obstacles that could potentially damage your new design alloy wheels.

The new Qashqai also has updated driver assistance systems, including Autonomous Emergency Braking, an Emergency Lane Keep System, and Intelligent Speed Assistance. According to safety regulations, these systems must be 'on' by default when you start the car, but the Qashqai allows you to create a custom profile and choose the level of assistance you prefer. The driver can then summon this preference with two button clicks every time they enter the car. Once again, Nissan is thinking of how this would directly affect drivers.

The previous entry-level Visia trim has been axed, so the most affordable Qashqai is now the UK's Acenta Premium at £30,135 ($38,450). You can expect to get 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a rear-view camera, and several driver assistance features for that sort of money.

The N-Connecta trim starts at £32,305 ($41,200) and includes 18-inch alloy wheels, an Around View Monitor, and Google built-in. The Tekna and N-Design models cost £34,845 ($44,450). The Tekna has 19-inch alloy wheels and quilted synthetic leather, while the N-Design has 20-inch alloy wheels and body-colored design features.

The top trim level, Tekna+, comes with all of the above alongside massaging seats with premium leather. That'll cost you £38,875 ($49,500).

Please note that the price of the new Nissan Qashqai may vary from market to market.

Test Drive Roundup
It isn't easy to improve a car that has been so successful in the past. You know what they say: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Nissan understands that the Qashqai's core values are what make it so popular. By simply improving those values, they've managed to improve the car.

Since 2006, Nissan has updated the styling of the Qashqai several times, with each iteration becoming more striking. It's as though the Qashqai has been on a strict gym diet. Gone are the amorphous body features and in come these sharper lines. It will certainly look attractive to buyers.

As for the driving experience, with Google's built-in services and driver assistance systems, the Qashqai is now even better than ever before, and it does not have to compromise on the price, either. It's still as competitive as ever, and that's why this will remain such a popular product.

As we look towards the future, the Qashqai will soon become fully electric as part of Nissan's ARC business plan. That means this version of the crossover might be the last one to utilize a petrol engine. If that is important to you, now is the best time to buy a Qashqai.

Pros

• Stylish exterior
• Responsive infotainment system
• Attractive price
• Good comfort and refinement levels

Cons

• Not as economical as competitors
• Low electric-only range
• No improvement on performance