Again it was known as the Dualis, the Nissan Qashqai was a trailblazer in what’s now a booming phase in Australia.
The previous-generation mannequin lived previous its used-by date, although. As rivals moved to supply turbocharged and hybrid energy, the final Qashqai was saddled with a breathless naturally-aspirated engine and a droney CVT. That’s now not the case.
Even the bottom mannequin now incorporates a turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol engine with extra energy and torque, which is an efficient begin, and its creaky inside has been overhauled with a extra trendy design, extra up-to-date know-how, and a extra spacious rear.
It even has an e-Energy hybrid choice – or it is going to, hopefully sooner or later in 2023.
We’ve already pushed high-end variations of the brand new Qashqai, however we haven’t dived deeper into what’s on supply for patrons on a price range.
Does the 2023 Nissan Qashqai ST+ strike the fitting steadiness between worth and thrilling inclusions?
How a lot does the Nissan Qashqai ST+ price?
The brand new Qashqai vary kicks off at $33,890 earlier than on-roads, and extends to $47,390 earlier than on-roads.
Our Qashqai ST+ tester sits within the center at $37,890 earlier than on-roads.
That aligns it with the Mazda CX-30 G25 Touring ($37,690), Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI Type ($37,100), and the Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD ($35,800).
2023 Nissan Qashqai pricing:
Nissan Qashqai ST: $33,890Nissan Qashqai ST+: $37,890Nissan Qashqai ST-L: $42,190Nissan Qashqai Ti: $47,390
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Nissan Qashqai ST+ like on the within?
Just like the bigger X-Path, the most recent Qashqai has been handled to a little bit of a glow up for 2023.
The wing-shaped dashboard is house to a brand new 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system working extra trendy software program than the dated previous-generation mannequin, and the motive force is confronted with a 7.0-inch TFT journey laptop. All of it seems to be flash, though the plastic steering wheel is fairly nasty.
Who at Nissan thought it was okay to trim the passenger aspect of the dashboard (as in, the bit no-one touches) in mushy fake leather-based, after which determined to not hassle with the wheel in a small SUV value greater than $40k drive-away?
The remainder of the principle contact factors are stable. The seats are trimmed in solid-feeling fabric and supply extra help than within the previous automobile, 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.
The infotainment system is significantly better than the low-res, low-tech touchscreen that served within the final Qashqai. With wi-fi Apple CarPlay, fairly enticing graphics, and sharp responses. It’s very useful.
Nissan nonetheless can’t match the Volkswagen Group with regards to the polish of the graphics and animations although, and the dearth of app connectivity is disappointing from a brand new automobile, with a steeper new value.
We’d additionally like to see Nissan roll out its full digital instrument binnacle throughout the vary. The common journey laptop is okay, but it surely’s nothing extra – and the Qashqai’s rivals, together with its company cousins at Renault, supply higher-tech choices for comparable cash.
There’s loads of storage up entrance, with deep cupholders and a slot beneath the dashboard. You additionally get a good bin underneath 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 recognize. The large opening makes it simpler to get little one 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 useful 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 Hyundai Kona.
ISOFIX factors function on the outboard rear seats, and there’s a trio of top-tether factors for little one seats.
Quoted boot area ST+ is 429 litres with the rear seats in place, increasing to 1524 litres with them folded.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
Energy throughout the Qashqai comes from a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, making 110kW of energy and 250Nm of torque.
That’s up 7kW and 50Nm on the naturally-aspirated engine within the earlier mannequin, and peak torque comes on faucet 2800rpm earlier (at simply 1600rpm) and hangs round till 3750rpm.
It’s nonetheless mated with a CVT computerized, moderately than the dual-clutch transmission paired with the identical engine within the Renault and Mercedes-Benz worlds.
Claimed gas economic system is 6.1 litres per 100km, and the gas tank maintain 55 litres. You’ll have to stump for 95 RON premium unleaded, moderately than cheaper 91 RON.
How does the Nissan Qashqai ST+ drive?
There’s extra punch and extra polish than was on supply within the final mannequin, that’s for certain.
The turbocharged engine fires quietly, and the very 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 makes it smoother round city.
Quite than hesitating or jerking off the road it feels standard, 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 but it surely’s not exhausting to drive round it, 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.
Trip consolation in variants with greater wheels has been broadly praised, so it needs to be no shock the ST+ feels comfortable on its 18-inch alloys. It floats properly over pimpled metropolis streets, and settles down at freeway speeds like a much bigger automobile.
There’s additionally a little bit of enjoyable dialled into the drive. The sunshine steering doesn’t essentially scream sports activities automobile, but it surely’s fairly fast off-centre, making it simple to dart round tight metropolis streets.
Not solely does that make the Qashqai simple to park, it combines with a suspension tune that calls to thoughts the Ford Puma. Throw it right into a nook and it feels mild on its ft, with sufficient physique roll to be vigorous and sufficient grip to be sporty.
Enjoyable isn’t a phrase you possibly can have actually used to explain the final Qashqai, but it surely does really feel related with the brand new one.
Exterior town, there’s little or no highway or wind noise within the cabin to spoil the serenity.
Nissan’s suite of ProPilot driver assists, which incorporates lively lane-centring and adaptive cruise on the freeway, is well calibrated.
It easily maintains a niche to the automobile in entrance, and the lane-keeping feels assured sufficient to intervene when required, however intelligent sufficient to remain hands-off when not required.
No matter which assists are lively, you’ll want to maintain your fingers on that plastic steering wheel…
What do you get?
Qashqai ST highlights:
Auto LED headlights, tail lightsLED daytime working lights17-inch alloy wheelsTemporary spare wheelOne-touch energy home windows with distant operationProximity key accessAuto-folding, heated aspect mirrors with LED indicatorsReversing sensors and rear cameraUrethane steering wheel with rake and attain adjustment7.0-inch TFT journey computerManual air-con controls with rear vents8.0-inch touchscreen displayWired Apple CarPlay, Android AutoAM/FM and DAB+Inbuilt voice controlsFront and rear USB-A and USB-C ports6-speaker sound systemDriver’s seat lumbar adjustCharcoal fabric seats
Qashqai ST+ provides:
Rain-sensing wipersLED entrance fog lights18-inch wheels360-degree cameras12.3-inch touchscreen displaySatellite navigation with stay trafficWireless Apple CarPlay
Is the Nissan Qashqai ST+ protected?
The Nissan Qashqai has a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on testing carried out in 2021.
The Qashqai managed 91 per cent for each grownup and little one occupant safety, 70 per cent for susceptible road-user safety, and a really robust 95 per cent for security help options.
Commonplace security options embody:
7 airbags incl. front-centreAutonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detectionJunction assistReverse AEB incl. Pedestrian detectionActive pace limiterAdaptive cruise controlBlind-spot monitoringRear cross-traffic alertForward collision warningLane departure warningLane maintain assistRear parking sensorsReversing cameraTraffic signal recognitionTyre strain monitoring
Qashqai ST+ provides:
Clever Round View Monitor (360 cameras)Shifting Object Detection
How a lot does the Nissan Qashqai ST+ price to run?
The Qashqai is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in Australia, together with 5 years of roadside help.
Nissan is charging a fairly penny for servicing. Upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, and the primary six providers will set you again a mean of $670.66 every time.
The fourth ($1027) and sixth providers ($1108) are notably nasty, and even the most cost effective service ($375, service one) is costlier than you’ll pay for any go to to the supplier within the first 5 years of Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, or Mazda CX-30 possession.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Nissan Qashqai ST+
The brand new Qashqai is significantly better than the automobile it replaces in basically each means – however then once more, it wanted to be.
The brand new inside feels correctly trendy, the brand new engine packs sufficient of a punch, and the outside is sharp sufficient to face out in a rising crowd.
Nissan deserves factors for providing a useful again seat and boot in what’s nonetheless a comparatively compact bundle, and for together with tech like a surround-view digital camera on even the one-from-base Qashqai ST+.
It’s typically a well-specced, well-priced bundle with one key exception.
The urethane steering wheel could be nearly sufficient to prise the circa-$4000 extra you’ll want to pay for a ST-L from my pocket… however in the end, the ST+ nonetheless represents a candy spot within the Qashqai vary.
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