Nissan’s compact Qashqai SUV rolls into 2024 with no modifications, save for the addition of a brand new hybrid hero mannequin.

Having touched down domestically properly after its European debut, the Qashqai is a gentle vendor in a really aggressive nook of the brand new automotive market… though Nissan would little doubt like stronger provide to assist it combat the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona on the VFACTS gross sales charts.

On paper, the Qashqai has all of the makings of a fan favorite. It’s sharp to have a look at, has a robust turbocharged engine beneath the bonnet, and packs loads of area into its cabin regardless of a city-sized exterior. It’s even enjoyable to drive.

Are we lacking one thing, or does the Qashqai deserve extra love from Australian new automotive consumers in 2024?

How does the Nissan Qashqai fare vs its rivals?

View an in depth breakdown of the Nissan Qashqai towards equally sized automobiles.

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Qashqai

How a lot does the Nissan Qashqai value?

2024 Nissan Qashqai pricing:

• 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST: $33,890
• 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST+: $37,890
• 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L: $42,190
• 2024 Nissan Qashqai Ti: $47,390
• 2024 Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Energy: $51,590

All costs exclude on-road prices

Wish to see how the Qashqai shapes up with its rivals? Put it side-by-side utilizing our comparability device.

What’s the Nissan Qashqai like on the within?

With a wing-shaped dashboard, fascinating blue-and-black trim finishes, and a stunning flat-bottom steering wheel, the Qashqai appears and feels fairly particular for its worth.

The horrible plastic steering wheel within the ST+ (sitting under this ST-L within the vary) has been turfed in favour of a leather-trimmed unit, which can be a giant step in the precise path.

The remainder of the primary contact factors are stable. The seats are trimmed in quality-feeling suede (with leather-based bolsters) and supply extra help than within the outdated automotive the place it all the time felt such as you had been perched on crates, whereas the view out is extra SUV than high-riding hatch.

Nissan’s choice to suit a heated steering wheel and heated seats pays dividends on chilly Melbourne mornings, and heated fabric seats are a uncommon (however profitable) mixture.

The infotainment system is significantly better than the low-res, low-tech touchscreen that served within the final Qashqai. It now has wi-fi Apple CarPlay, fairly engaging graphics, and sharp responses.

It’s very useful; though, it’s nonetheless not on a par with the uber-modern Hyundai Kona’s setup.

We’d additionally like to see Nissan roll out its full digital instrument binnacle throughout the vary. The common journey pc is okay, nevertheless it’s nothing extra – and the Qashqai’s rivals, together with its company cousins at Renault – supply higher-tech choices for related cash.

There’s loads of storage up entrance, with deep cupholders and a slot beneath the dashboard. You additionally get an honest bin beneath the central armrest, and spacious door pockets.

Entry to the rear comes courtesy of doorways that open to 90 levels, which anybody loading a baby will admire.

The large opening makes it simpler to get youngster seats in with out painful contortion, and greater adults are extra simply capable of clamber in if required.

As soon as in, there’s above-average ranges of legroom and headroom. Additionally helpful are the twin USB ports and air vents, together with the central fold-down armrest. It’s a really usable area, extra consistent with a Kia Seltos than the outgoing Kona.

We carried a carload of fully-grown adults with out an excessive amount of bother, and also you’ll be capable to get children within the again seat with out many complaints. The center seat remains to be for emergencies although.

ISOFIX factors characteristic on the outboard rear seats, and there’s a trio of top-tether factors for youngster seats.

Quoted boot area ST-L is 429 litres with the rear seats in place, increasing to 1524 litres with them folded.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

Energy within the Qashqai ST-L comes from a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, making 110kW of energy and 250Nm of torque.

It’s hooked as much as the entrance wheels, moderately than all-wheel drive, and the one transmission on supply is a CVT.

Claimed gasoline financial system is 6.1 litres per 100km, however we noticed 8.0L/100km over per week skewed to metropolis driving. The Qashqai has a 55-litre gasoline tank, and drinks 95 RON premium unleaded.

How does the Nissan Qashqai drive?

The newest Qashqai is a much more polished performer than its breathless predecessor.

The turbocharged engine fires quietly, and the actual fact Nissan has opted for a CVT as an alternative of the dual-clutch that options in Renault and Mercedes-Benz automobiles with the identical engine, which makes it smoother round city.

Moderately than hesitating or jerking off the road it feels typical, slurring round city inoffensively and making pretend gearshifts to do a convincing torque converter impression.

There’s a touch of turbo lag off the mark nevertheless it’s straightforward to drive round, and when you’re up and working the additional torque relative to the naturally aspirated mannequin earlier than it’s welcome once you put your foot down.

We’ve praised the ST+ with its smaller wheels for its journey consolation, and the ST-L on its 19-inch wheels isn’t fairly as refined on pockmarked metropolis streets.

Nonetheless, it does a great job smoothing out the sharpest lumps and bumps within the metropolis, and doesn’t really feel too terse or sporty.

The trade-off is eager dealing with. Mixed with fast steering off-centre, the suspension tune means you’ll be able to actually throw the Qashqai round and it’ll go along with you.

Outdoors town, there’s little or no wind noise within the cabin to damage the serenity. You do get a touch of highway roar from the tyres on typical Australian nation highways; nonetheless, which isn’t unusual in small automobiles aimed predominately on the European market.

Though it’s barely noisier than is right, the Qashqai is properly settled at greater speeds. It has a giant automotive feeling, settling down in a manner that conjures up confidence.

Like its rivals (assume Hyundai Kona) it’s grown up for this technology, and is now extra snug than ever away from the confines of town.

Nissan’s suite of ProPilot driver assists, which incorporates lively lane-centring and adaptive cruise on the freeway, is neatly calibrated. It easily maintains a spot to the automotive in entrance, and the lane-keeping feels assured sufficient to intervene when required, however intelligent sufficient to remain hands-off when not required.

What do you get?

Qashqai ST highlights:

• Automated LED headlights
• Automated high-beam
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Momentary spare wheel
• One-touch energy home windows with distant operation
• Proximity entry and push-button begin
• Energy-folding, heated aspect mirrors with LED indicators
• Urethane steering wheel with rake and attain adjustment
• Digital park brake with auto maintain
• 7.0-inch TFT journey pc
• Guide air-con controls with rear vents
• 8.0-inch touchscreen show
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• AM/FM and DAB+
• Inbuilt voice controls
• Entrance and rear USB-A and USB-C ports
• Six-speaker sound system
• Driver’s seat lumbar regulate
• Charcoal fabric seats

Qashqai ST+ provides:

• Rain-sensing wipers
• LED entrance fog lights
• 18-inch wheels
• 12.3-inch touchscreen show
• Satellite tv for pc navigation with dwell visitors
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay

Qashqai ST-L provides:

• 19-inch wheels
• Rear privateness glass
• Roof rails
• Adaptive, auto-levelling headlights (12 particular person segments per mild)
• Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Fold-down rear-centre armrest with cupholders
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Material/PVC leather-based upholstery
• Eight-way energy driver’s seat
• Heated entrance seats
• Ambient lighting (centre console)

Is the Nissan Qashqai protected?

The Nissan Qashqai has a five-star ANCAP ranking, primarily based on testing carried out in 2021.

It scored 91 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 93 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 74 per cent for weak highway consumer safety, and 97 per cent for security help.

Normal tools on all grades consists of:

• 7 airbags: entrance, front-side, curtain, and front-centre
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Junction help
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Bike owner detection
• Reverse AEB with rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-keep help
• Blind-spot help
• Visitors signal recognition
• Adaptive cruise management with velocity limiter
• Tyre-pressure monitoring
• Reversing digital camera
• Rear parking sensors

The ST+ provides a surround-view digital camera, whereas the ST-L provides:

• Entrance parking sensors
• ProPILOT lane-centring help
• Alarm system

How a lot does the Nissan Qashqai value to run?

The Nissan Qashqai is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

Servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres. The primary six companies will set you again $375, $694, $398, $1027, $422 and $1108 respectively utilizing Nissan’s capped-price service plan.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Nissan Qashqai

The brand new Qashqai has grown up… however we already knew that.

The brand new inside feels correctly fashionable, the brand new engine packs sufficient of a punch, and the outside is sharp sufficient to face out in a rising crowd.

It doesn’t have the ultra-modern really feel of a Kona inside, nor the choice of an inexpensive mid-range hybrid just like the Corolla Cross, nevertheless it does have practicality on its aspect.

Nissan deserves factors for providing a helpful again seat and boot in what’s nonetheless a comparatively compact package deal. In truth bonus factors are due, as regardless that Nissan is charging $4k extra the ST-L ditches the horrid plastic steering wheel discovered within the ST+.

So sure, this Nissan does deserve some extra love from the Australian public.

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