Back
Nissan - Qashqai Price: from £27,135
Last Updated On: 09/04/2024
With over three million now sold in Europe, although unmistakably Qashqai in its styling, the latest, third generation model is more muscular, sharp and modern. Importantly, the wheelbase of the car has increased by 20mm with the overall length increasing by 35mm, there’s a marginal increase in height (25mm) and width has increased by 32mm.
The forward lighting on new Qashqai has been enhanced from the previous model to feature a slimmer, sharper design thanks to the use of LED technology. Also, the new Qashqai will be available for the first time with 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels (the previous generation offered up to 19-inch wheels). The new Qashqai also will be available in 11 body colours with five two-tone combinations, creating 16 variations to choose from.
Inside, new white ambient lighting is used throughout the cabin and extensive attention has been paid to the ergonomic and aesthetic quality of the seating, trim, switch gear and buttons with a high quality, tactile feel. It offers an advanced infotainment system with a broad portfolio of connected services including effortless integration of smartphones, in-car WiFi for up to seven devices and NissanConnect Services, a dedicated app with which to interact with and monitor the vehicle. The larger, higher resolution 9 inch NissanConnect display screen is a digital gateway to navigation, entertainment and vehicle settings, and is compatible with both Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay®. An innovative new 10.8-inch Head-Up Display (HUD) provides the biggest-in-segment image size. Key navigation, driver assistance and road information are projected onto the windscreen within the driver’s line of vision.
A powered hands-free tailgate makes accessing the boot effortless when hands are anything but free. Overall luggage capacity has increased by over 50-litres from the previous generation model thanks in part to the cargo floor being lowered by 20mm as a consequence of the improved packaging of the rear suspension.
The new Qashqai will be available with a choice of two electrified petrol powertrains, the more conventional of which pairs a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 12V mild hybrid system for boosts to performance and efficiency. Chosen to offer greater affordability over a 48V system, the 12V set-up recovers energy under deceleration to power on-board systems when the engine is stopped and provide a small torque boost when accelerating. The petrol unit can be specified with 136bhp or 154bhp and paired to either a six-speed manual gearbox or, on the more powerful car, a new Xtronic CVT. The 154bhp engine makes 199lb ft and is optionally available with four-wheel drive, which offers Standard, Eco, Sport, Snow and Off-road drive modes.
New to Nissan’s European line-up and making its debut on the Qashqai is the unconventional ePower powertrain, which is described as “a unique approach to electrification” that can make “everyday driving exciting”. Like a traditional full hybrid, the 188bhp ePower drivetrain mates a 1.5-litre petrol engine to a 145kW electric motor for ‘self-charging’ functionality, but differs in that the petrol engine is unconnected to the driven wheels and is instead used exclusively to power the electric motor. Nissan says this innovative set-up offers enhanced fuel economy and lower emissions while allowing the characteristic instant torque and quick acceleration of a pure electric car. The Qashqai ePower follows the EV LEAF in gaining an ‘e-Pedal’ which can be used for both acceleration and deceleration, and can drive for limited distances (less than two miles) with the engine off.
The third generation Qashqai will be available in six model configurations: entry-level Visia, Acenta Premium, N-Connecta, Premiere Edition, Tekna and Tekna +.
