Review - Nissan QASHQAI

The problem, however, is that with so much competition, buyers are spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping around for family SUVs, so the Qashqai needs to perform well to impress. 

To make things more complicated, with a completely new generation Nissan Qashqai on the way sometime in 2022, we’re going to take a look at the question of whether or not the current generation remains a smart option, or if you should wait for the replacement next year. 

Starting Price: $28,590

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Nissan QASHQAI (Ti) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Nissan QASHQAI car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Nissan Qashqai lineup kicks off in the form of the ST manual, which is priced from $28,590. The range then moves to the ST and ST+ variants, which are priced from $30,590 and $32,590 respectively. From here, the Qashqai ST-L is priced at $34,600, while the Qashqai Midnight Edition is priced at $36,200. 

Finally, the Qashqai lineup tops out in the form of the Qashqai Ti, which is priced at $39,090. Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

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What Features Does the Nissan Qashqai ST Have?

Nissan’s entry-level Qashqai ST variant comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and receives LED tail lights and daytime running lamps, keyless entry and start, cruise control, cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, a reversing camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors and a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and DAB+ radio, paired with a six-speaker sound system. 

Qashqai ST+ Features

Moving to the Qashqai ST+ variant adds a set of fog lights, as well as a surround-view camera, satellite navigation upgrade for the infotainment system, heated power-folding side mirrors, automatic wipers and headlights and rear privacy glass. 

Qashqai ST-L Features

Opting for the Qashqai ST-L variant adds a set of two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, fog lights, heated front seats, six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a mix of cloth and faux leather upholstery finishes. Nissan’s Midnight Edition adds a set of LED headlights and indicators, 19-inch black alloy wheels, a gloss black grille, side skirts and bumpers, as well as alcantara and leather accents throughout the interior. 

Qashqai Ti Features

Finally, Nissan’s range-topping Qashqai Ti variant receives 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic glass sunroof, Nappa leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous parking assistant and an ambient lighting package. 

Range Features: 

• 17-inch alloy wheels 

• LED tail lights and daytime running lamps 

• Keyless entry & start 

• Cloth upholstery 

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever 

• Cruise control 

• Reversing camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors 

• 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB+ radio 

• Six-speaker sound system 

• Surround view camera (ST+) 

• Satellite navigation (ST+) 

• Fog lights (ST+) 

• 18-inch alloy wheels (ST-L) 

• Roof rails (ST-L) 

• Cloth & faux leather upholstery (ST-L) 

• Heated front seats (ST-L) 

• 19-inch alloy wheels (Ti) 

• Adaptive LED headlights (Ti) 

• Panoramic glass sunroof (Ti) 

• Nappa leather upholstery (Ti) 

• Adaptive cruise control (Ti)

• Semi-autonomous parking assistant (Ti)

• Ambient lighting (Ti) 

Nissan Qashqai Colours 

The Qashqai comes in a choice of vivid blue, ivory pearl white, gun metallic grey, pearl black and magnetic red as standard colour options. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

The Nissan Qashqai has been designed to accommodate families in comfort and style, and in the real world, it behaves exactly as you’d expect from a family-friendly SUV. Buyers will be happy to know that all Qashqai variants receive the same engine, which comes in the form of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit that pushes out 106kW/200Nm. 

Translated into English, this means that the Qashqai doesn’t offer a huge amount of power, but in the real world, there is more than enough push available to get you up to speed in a smooth, straight-forward manner, thanks to the CVT automatic transmission. This unit acts and feels like the Qashqai has one long gear, rather than switching between gears, which makes it smooth to drive in daily driving and commuting situations. 

The Qashqai receives a relatively lightweight steering rack which makes it easy to drive at low speeds and while parking, and thanks to its relatively compact proportions, it’s easy to squeeze into tight car parks and navigate through traffic. This user-friendly design applies to the seating position, too, which gives the driver a great view out of the front windshield for added confidence. 

Surprisingly, Nissan has given the Qashqai a relatively sporty suspension setup which is great for minimising body roll through the corners, but can become noticeable when you leave the smooth city streets and hit the open road. While the Qashqai’s suspension is not uncomfortable, it is slightly firmer than what you might expect from a family SUV, and while this isn’t noticeable in the majority of driving situations, some larger bumps on the road are transmitted through the cabin more than some of its competitors. 

Overall, though, the Qashqai offers an easy to drive, relatively comfortable ride quality on smooth surfaces and offers a user-friendly platform with lightweight steering and enough power for the majority of Australian families. It’s so competent, in fact, that we believe the Qashqai remains one of the best options within Nissan’s range of SUVs. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

Designed primarily for families in mind, the Qashqai has more than a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes to interior comfort and family-friendly practical touches. Stepping into the first row of the cabin, the driver and front passenger are treated to a straightforward cabin design that offers more than a few storage options for growing families. The base model receives a largely black interior design, while higher variants receive special interior touches to liven things up. 

The front of the cabin offers the driver and front passenger a comfortable set of seats, with a heap of headroom and shoulder room to stretch out and get comfortable. The driving position can be adjusted to find your perfect position, while the seat can be raised to give you a better view out. The front cabin features storage in the door bins either side, two-tiers of storage underneath the folding armrest, a set of cup holders, a smartphone holder and a small tray in front of the gear lever for any loose items.

Moving to the rear of the cabin, you’ll find a comfortable bench seat with ISOFIX anchors mounted in an easily-accessible spot to accommodate child seats. The rear of the Qashqai’s cabin is spacious enough for kids and growing teenagers, and depending on the size of the driver, even adults. While full-sized adults might struggle to get comfortable on lounger journeys, the rear of the Qashqai’s cabin is perfectly suited to families with growing kids who will be perfectly comfortable in the second row of the cabin. 

Moving to the Qashqai’s real-world practicality, it offers boot space rated at 430L, which translates to a large supermarket run with a few backpacks and sports equipment squeezed in for good measure. Space in the rear of the cabin can be extended to 1,598L with the rear seats folded down, meaning that the Qashqai can accommodate some pretty bulky goods in the boot with the seats folded. 

All up, then, while the Qashqai might not lead the pack when it comes to family-friendly practicality, it offers a welcoming platform for growing families that can be relied upon for school runs and holiday trips alike.  

Is it Safe? 

The Nissan Qashqai has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five star safety rating, scoring 15.56 out of 16 for front impacts, 16 out of 16 for side impacts and achieving an overall ANCAP safety score of 36.56 out of a possible 37 points. 

As standard, all Qashqai variants come fitted with autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warnings, a reversing camera and front and rear-mounted parking sensors. Stepping to the ST+ variant and above adds rear cross-traffic alerts and blind-spot monitoring, while the range-topping Ti variant receives adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane keep assistance. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The Nissan Qashqai with a manual transmission returns a fuel economy score of 7.7L per 100km on a combined cycle, while the CVT variant is rated at 6.9L per 100km. This makes the automatic variant significantly more fuel efficient than the manual variant, and puts the Qashqai in a more competitive position compared to its rivals in the area of fuel economy. 

Our Verdict: Is the Nissan Qashqai Worth it?

The Nissan Qashqai ticks all the important boxes that Australians will be looking for, and makes for a user-friendly and relaxing car to drive around town. While there could be more space in the rear seats for adults, for the majority of rear passengers, this won’t be a problem, and with a large amount of boot space available, the Qashqai is ready for whatever Australian families can throw at it. 

If you haven’t already, ensure the Nissan Qashqai is in your shortlist for family-friendly SUVs. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited KM warranty 

2. First six services receive capped price servicing packages 

3. 12-month/10,000km service intervals 

4. Five star ANCAP safety rating

5. 430L of boot space 

Pros 

• Stylish SUV styling 

• Surprisingly practical for a compact SUV

• User-friendly driving experience 

Cons

• Dated infotainment system 

• New-generation replacement incoming in 2022 

• Entry-level variants miss out on active safety technologies 

OnlineAuto Rating: 8/10

Nissan Qashqai Competitors