The lately redesigned Nissan Qashqai occupies a candy spot within the Japanese model’s vary.
It’s bigger and extra refined than the Juke, with out being fairly as giant because the X-Path. It’s technically a small SUV, but it surely’s on the bigger finish of the section and but it’s fairly economical.
Its attributes clearly resonate with Australian consumers, and it’s aided by robust identify recognition – even when not everyone is aware of the best way to spell or pronounce stated identify – on account of its widespread predecessor.
That recognition does imply, nonetheless, it’s not as available as some rivals.
Our information says you might be a 3-6 month anticipate a brand new Qashqai.
It’s small crossover, however for those who’re eager to get into a brand new automotive sooner listed below are another choices.
Anthony Crawford: Honda HR-V
Should you examine pricing for the top-spec petrol Nissan Qashqai ($47,390 earlier than on-roads) towards the top-spec Honda HR-V hybrid ($47,000 drive-away), the selection to go together with the extra premium Honda is a no brainer, for my part.
Whereas I’m a fan of Nissan’s most up-to-date designs throughout the board, I nonetheless discover the HR-V and ZR-V to be extra resolved and total extra premium when it comes to consolation, practicality and dynamics. These is perhaps household SUVs however the Honda is definitely enjoyable to drive, and has glorious trip consolation on poor surfaces.
Thoughts, the inexpensive finish of the small SUV section has by no means had so many worthy decisions for brand new automotive consumers however I fee the HR-V forward of the sport on a holistic stage.
MORE: Purchase a Honda HR-V
Scott Collie: Cupra Formentor
Why not have a little bit of enjoyable along with your compact SUV? The Cupra Formentor isn’t appreciably smaller than a Qashqai inside, but it surely’s sportier to have a look at and extra enjoyable to drive.
Should you’re pinching pennies, the most affordable Qashqai comfortably undercuts the Cupra… however on the high finish of the vary, the Qashqai is knocking on the door of the Formentor V’s price ticket.
MORE: Purchase a Cupra Formentor
Jade Credentino: Honda ZR-V
This new child within the playground is nice worth for cash, notably the VTi L and VTi LX at $43,200 and $48,500 drive-away, respectively.
The security tech within the Honda is nice. As customary, you might have all of the bells and whistles together with entrance and rear parking sensors, lane-keep help, adaptive cruise management, and AEB.
You possibly can match three youngster seats within the second row and it has sufficient area for a stroller and day-to-day household actions.
Additionally price mentioning, the servicing prices are a lot decrease for the ZR-V than its rivals.
Should you’re like me and have a raging worry of getting the automotive soiled with children or shifting issues out and in, the VTi-LX has leather-based upholstery.
There are some things you’d must compromise on with ZR-V. It has barely much less torque than a Qashqai (240Nm vs 250Nm), and it’s much less fuel-efficient with mixed cycle consumption of seven.0L/100km (versus 6.1L/100km). That stated, it’s a bigger car.
Lastly, the boot area is compromised because of the ZR-V’s raked tailgate. You lose round 50L compared to the Qashqai.
Nonetheless, I benefit from the ZR-V and it’s an ideal measurement for singles, {couples} and rising households.
MORE: Purchase a Honda ZR-V
Jack Fast: Volkswagen T-Roc
Should you’re not keen to attend between three to 6 months for a Nissan Qashqai there is no such thing as a scarcity of different choices within the small SUV section in Australia.
Some notable mentions for me embody the Mazda CX-30 and Subaru Crosstrek, nonetheless I’d argue your greatest decide can be the Volkswagen T-Roc.
I’m an enormous fan of the entry-level T-Roc’s 110TSI 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that has seemingly been round eternally, but continues to outperform a lot of its rivals. This does come somewhat underdone nonetheless with how the Aisin-sourced eight-speed torque-converter automated transmission shuffles between gears.
If you’d like extra energy the T-Roc additionally has the choice of the 140TSI 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine on the Model which provides all-wheel drive. Not one of the native Nissan Qashqai vary affords all-wheel drive.
One thing to notice nonetheless is the T-Roc doesn’t include the choice of a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain just like the Qashqai e-Energy. Regardless of this I’ve all the time been fairly shocked with how environment friendly the core T-Roc’s engines are.
MORE: Purchase a Volkswagen T-Roc
William Stopford: Hyundai Kona 1.6T
You’re completely spoilt for alternative for those who’re in search of a brand new SUV between $33,000 and $52,000 earlier than on-roads, which is the value vary of the Qashqai.
Should you’re after a Qashqai, you most likely discover the concept of a large-ish small or small-ish medium SUV with a lovely inside and a versatile turbocharged or hybrid powertrain interesting.
My intuition was to say the Volkswagen T-Roc, now that they’ve largely fastened up its horrible inside, however Jack beat me to that. Significantly in 140TSI guise it’s a genuinely pleasurable small SUV to drive because it doesn’t actually really feel like an SUV, however somewhat a heat hatch.
The Hyundai Kona has additionally been improved of late, although as a substitute of a mid-life replace just like the T-Roc it has been handled to an entire redesign.
I used to be by no means actually a Kona fan, seeing it as being a somewhat awkward-looking factor that was much less sensible than an i30 hatch, however the brand new mannequin is a way more interesting affair – that unbearable overspeed chime apart.
The brand new automotive is healthier packaged, and the dreadful dual-clutch automated has been faraway from the Kona 1.6T. There’s additionally a hybrid to rival the Qashqai e-Energy.
I’ll admit the Kia Seltos is extra my fashion, however having to pony up for the top-spec mannequin simply to get LED headlights is patently absurd.
For a extra left-field alternative, Ford has some leftover Escape inventory. It’s one of many extra nimble SUVs in its class and one of the crucial highly effective, and also you may be capable to get deal on one.
MORE: Purchase a Hyundai Kona
James Wong: Skoda Karoq
The oft-forgotten Czech crossover from the VW Group strains up properly towards Nissan’s Qashqai, straddling small and medium segments with nice inside packaging and city-friendly exterior dimensions.
For me, the Qashqai ST-L and Ti are the primary ones price , that means a $40,000-$50,000 value bracket that permits you to get a properly optioned Karoq Model for comparable cash.
Tick the Tech Pack ($5700) on the bottom Karoq Model (from $45,590 drive-away) and also you’re a smidgen over $50,000 in your driveway which is about the identical cash as a Qashqai Ti.
This pack provides niceties like Matrix LED headlights, a bigger touchscreen with navigation on high of the usual wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, in addition to surround-view cameras.
Whereas the bottom 1.4 TSI appears somewhat meek on paper, its 110kW/250Nm outputs are an actual match for the Qashqai’s 1.3L turbo and the Skoda’s engine could be very environment friendly in real-world driving.
Merely, intelligent!
MORE: Purchase a Skoda Karoq
