Nissan Qashqai: Beauty Treatment For The Top Spot

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 05:39

Above all, Nissan has given the Qashqai a new look. Technical innovations for the company's own bestseller are in the pipeline, but not yet in the crossover.

By Thomas Flehmer

Even bestsellers have to be updated again and again. Ten years ago, the Nissan Qashqai was the first crossover ever to move on its own, but the competition, which has grown significantly over the last decade, is driving the bestseller, sold 2.3 million times across Europe, to plastic surgeons in order to defend the top position it once had in the future.

While the embellishments are mostly very discreet, Nissan has put the big knife on, even if not everything seems new at first glance. The Japanese have implemented the term faceflift pretty much literally, as the innovations are limited to the visuals of the crossover.

New front for the Nissan Qashqai

The bonnet of the crossover, which has grown by 1.7 millimeters to 4.39 meters, has been made just as dynamic as the radiator grille. The typical "V", which encases the Nissan logo in the middle of the grill, has been made slightly wider and, in conjunction with the new LED light signature and the newly designed fog lights, now looks beefy than before.

The interior is embellished by the new steering wheel, which premiered in the Micra and will soon be used in the X-Trail, which has also been lifted. Even if the multifunction steering wheel is now littered with more buttons, the overview remains when you have familiarized yourself with the system, which happens very quickly.

From the third equipment variant, N-Connecta, the new front seats in the so-called monoform design adapt to the driver and front passenger and provide sufficient support, although the Qashqai will rarely reach situations in which strong support is required.

Propilot from spring 2018 in the Nissan Qashqai

The touchscreen layout of the Nissan Connect system has been redesigned and is now easy to use thanks to app-like icons. Apple Car Play and Android Auto are not yet on board, but should follow soon. As a consolation there is digital radio reception. In addition to the nappa leather seats, a Bose sound system with eight loudspeakers is available for the new top-of-the-range Tekna Plus equipment. Reinforced windows are supposed to keep the noise of the engine away so that the occupants can enjoy the sounds of the sound system.

Up to five people can also enjoy the drive because Nissan has added more to the safety assistants. In addition to the well-known electronic helpers for the widely praised 360 degree camera, there is now also a cross-traffic warning system on board, which warns of crossing traffic when reversing out of a parking space. Another new feature is the so-called auto-hold function, which supports the hill start aid and holds the car on inclines for up to three minutes without it rolling. The emergency braking assistant has also been expanded.

The Propilot system, which is already in use in Japan, will not find its way into the Qashqai until next spring. Then the crossover can drive autonomously through traffic thanks to adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning systems.

Well-known engines used in the Nissan Qashqai

In contrast, the existing range of engines is retained, which is not unusual for facelifts. Two diesels and two petrol engines with a range between 110 and 163 hp are on offer. The two large motors should be selected in each case. The 96 kW / 130 PS diesel engine with a displacement of 1.6 liters draws on a torque of 320 Newton meters at 1750 rpm, which takes the 1.5 tonne Qashqai to 100 km / h in 11.1 seconds and then to a total of 190 km / h brings. Those who drive with foresight can come close to the average consumption of 4.4 liters.

The gasoline engine of the same size has 120 kW / 163 hp and a torque of 240 Newton meters, which are applied between 2000 and 4000 revolutions. This means that the 100 km / h mark falls after just 8.9 seconds and the journey is up to 200 km / h in total. Those who do not constantly drive high-speed could be rewarded with 5.6 liters of fuel consumption.

Nissan Qashqai from 20,450 euros

Optimizations to the chassis increase the already smooth running of the crossover. Bumps are dampened even more by the Active Ride Control, the steering should be more precise, but this is not noticeable because the steering was already acting well. The six gears require longer distances through the gearshift tunnel, so that extremely sporty driving is not guaranteed, but also does not correspond to the character of the Qashqai, which, however, covers its journeys very confidently. Nissan's

pricing continues to be sovereign, even if it starts around 500 euros higher than before. The Qashqai comes in the Visia variant for 20,490 euros, which only five percent of customers choose. Around 45 percent shell out at least 26,890 euros for the third line, N-Connecta, the two highest equipment variants Tekna and Tekna Plus require a further 2300 and 5300 euros, respectively, so that a best-equipped bestseller is offered for at least 32,190 euros and, thanks to the pricing, its top spot in the Segment is retained.