The Nissan Qashqai, a trendsetter in the small SUV market, has a unique charm that sets it apart from traditional family hatchbacks, writes Tim Barnes-Clay.
Since its launch, it has consistently been among the UK’s best-selling cars – and now the latest 2024 model has had an update.
The entry-level Visia trim has been replaced by the Acenta Premium, which offers a range of features, including 17-inch alloys, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with SatNav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a seven-inch instrument display, digital radio, dual-zone climate control, and automatic headlights.
N-Connecta trim gets 18-inch alloys, Google-derived infotainment, a wireless phone charger, a 12.3-inch instrument display and rain-sensing wipers.
N-Design trim boasts 20-inch alloys, a black roof, LED sequential turn signals, an Alcantara interior, and body-coloured lower bumpers.
The Tekna trim has 19-inch alloys, a 10.8-inch head-up display, a powered tailgate, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat with a memory function.
Tekna+ returns to 20-inch alloys and vaunts a Bose premium sound system, plus quilted premium leather front seats with massage function.
Power comes in varying forms. The 1.3-litre petrol mild hybrids, called DIG-T, offer 140PS and 158PS. The 140PS variant has a six-speed manual or a CVT transmission. Then there’s the 158PS model, which gets the option of four-wheel drive except on Acenta Premium and N-Design models and is only offered with the CVT.
The other option is the e-POWER – a full-hybrid with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine acting as a generator, powering a 190PS electric motor that drives the front wheels.
When the third-generation Qashqai was introduced in 2021, its front end was redesigned to match the Ariya Nissan’s electric SUV. Now, Nissan has decided to take the Qashqai in its own direction.
It is more imposing and angular at the front and extends the grille’s new stylish pattern out wider, filling the blank panels underneath the headlights, which are now thinner.
The bodywork has indentations around the sides, and a lengthy crease runs around the entire car, adding definition to the rear and linking the taillights together.
The Qashqai has always had divisive looks, and although the new styling won’t win universal approval, it’s the most fashionable model yet in our view.
The interior is similar to before but looks refreshed and updated with modest tweaks, including a more rounded dashboard on the passenger side.
The most significant difference is the infotainment system, which is larger, angled towards the driver, and has a sharper picture. It is also far more responsive than before.
All but the entry-level Acenta Premium trim have a Google-native system, which means the car can now run on Google Maps and use Google Assistant for voice control without needing to pair a phone with it.
You can still do so, although the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wired-only on the entry-level model, requiring N-Connecta trim or above to use it wirelessly.
The Google Assistant works well, and unlike traditional smartphone mirroring, it controls far more features because it’s built into the car itself.
It is a big step forward – yet notably, Nissan has retained physical controls for the air conditioning, making it easy to operate on the move.
All but the entry-level model gets a wireless phone charger, too.
The mild hybrids offer reasonable if unspectacular performance, with 0-62mph taking 9.2 seconds in the DIG-T 158 and 10.2 seconds in the DIG-T 140 (the former is a little slower if you opt for the manual transmission or four-wheel drive).
The e-POWER is the one to go for, though. With 190PS, it doesn’t need to be worked hard to make progress, and it can go from zero to 62mph in 7.9 seconds, which is reasonably pacey.
The e-POWER is capable of engineless driving and will suffice if you’re driving through town centres and want to minimise emissions.
As for handling, the Qashqai is at the soft, comfort-focused end of the scale. The Tekna+ model we tested also has Nissan’s largest alloys, at 20 inches.
All models have electrically adjustable driver lumbar support, which helps with contentment, and the Tekna+ model has the same for the other front seat. It also has electric seats, which make it easier to find a suitable driving position, which can be saved using the memory function.
We are grateful for the surround-view camera, which is standard on all trims (except for Acenta Premium, which gets a rear-view camera). Up front, there is a bountiful amount of headroom and legroom, and the cabin feels wide. Rear-seat passengers also have a good helping of space.
Headroom shouldn’t be an issue, even with the sunroof in place, despite it costing an inch or two. It comes standard on the flagship trim we’re testing.
Boot space measures 479 litres (504 litres on the entry-level Acenta Premium) and expands to 910 litres (935 litres on the entry-level trim) with the seats folded in a 60:40 split. The boot floor can be adjusted to reduce the boot lip.
The DIG-T 140 and 158 mild-hybrids manage 44mpg and emit 142g/km of CO2, while the 158’s figures marginally improve with the CVT transmission. The 190 e-POWER returns 54mpg and 117g/km of CO2.
Nissan’s Qashqai continues to be popular – and it’s easy to see why.
It is practical, comfortable, and has excellent interior and fashionable exterior looks – even more so following these latest facelifted revisions.
The Google-derived infotainment is excellent, and the Qashqai boasts a level of safety equipment which dwarfs many others.
The Tekna+ trim is more expensive than the next one down, Tekna – even then, you could argue the latter is still overkill. The second-from-bottom N-Connecta trim has smaller wheels for increased ride comfort – it’ll likely suffice and save you money, too. But we would recommend the pricier 190 e-POWER when it comes to powertrains.
While some of its rivals outsmart the Nissan Qashqai, it remains a good all-rounder worth shortlisting.
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