The big talk from Nissan in 2023 is the e-Power electrification of the new generations of compact and mid-sized SUVs, namely the X-Trail and Qashqai.

While electrification is the ‘in’ thing, we should not readily dismiss the regular models – especially when it comes to the Qashqai (pronounced Cash Kai, for all those still falling over the spelling).

Qashqai has been a long-standing success for Nissan both overseas and here, ticking all the right boxes, but keeping something of a low profile in terms of its local sales successes.

All models for 2023 now start from a higher price point, but then the current Qashqai crop offers significantly more safety kit, better performance, and more technology, along with a greater level of standard equipment.

We hope to bring a review of e-Powered Nissans soon, but for the Qashqai in particular, the conventionally powered models are likely to carry on the tradition the original Qashqai set – that of being a superstar in sales.   

For this review, we drove the Ti spec’ – which anyone who follows Nissan will know – is at the top end of the tree in terms of equipment levels.

As such, it sports a 10.8-inch Head Up Display integrated with the navigation and infotainment systems, a quilted leather interior with massage function on the heated front seats, 12.3-inch full TFT instrument cluster, hands-free power tailgate, 10-speaker BOSE audio system, heated steering wheel, sunroof, and memory seat function all in a well put together package which delivers a very impressive ride.  

We could leave it there, but that would be doing the Qashqai a disservice because although this is the smallest of Nissan’s new SUVs, it is perhaps the one with the most immediate appeal by virtue of its price/equipment package.

It is fair to say the Ti specced Qashqai is a clever package of surprise and delight features which have been thoughtfully included. Case in point, the wireless smartphone charger, supplemented by front and rear type A and type C USB ports, as well as 12-volt sockets in the dashboard and luggage space.  

But bells and whistles are not the be all and end all of a successful SUV. Nissan has imbued the Qashqai with a multi-link rear suspension right across the range, a consideration which results in greater ride comfort and the ability to handle a diverse selection of road surfaces.

Of course, the Qashqai is still only 2WD, though its ground clearance might make you think otherwise, but it can cope well with gravel and it’s here, that the rear multi-link suspension really comes into its own.   

And the 19-inch alloys – up from the 17s of the ST and 18s of the ST-L – further enhance the ride quality as well as the appearance of the vehicle.

Nissan’s engineers have been beavering away at the drivetrain too. Yes, the Qashqai still has an X-TRONIC transmission, but this has been peaked and tweaked to assist with fuel economy improvement and reducing emissions through its efficiency.
 
Safety levels have also come in for some improvements with centre far side airbags so that occupants don’t butt heads in the worst-case incident scenarios, blind spot intervention is now part of the safety package and intelligent cruise control goes a long way to bringing the Qashqai closer to autonomous driving ability.

The further up the Qashqai ladder you go, the more equipment you get. All models carry a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating, however.

One thing which really stands out in the new Qashqai is the ergonomics. Oh, we’re not suggesting for one moment that the driving dynamics of the compact SUV aren’t up to snuff, but there was a sense of completeness in every aspect of the Qashqai’s interior.

It seemed Nissan’s engineers put the outside of the SUV together, patted each other on the back for a job well done and went home. The interior engineers however, seemed to have put in some overtime.

As a result, there was nothing that didn’t fit well or fall easily to hand inside the SUV. We even went looking in the back seat to see if anything was amiss back there because everything up front was so well put together. We didn’t find anything, and we were looking hard!

It’s not often in a contemporary vehicle where you find something which so dramatically stands out. In fact, and with some hefty reflection, the closest thing I can point to is the remarkable – and it IS remarkable – acceleration of a Tesla EV.

The quality of the Qashqai’s interior, however, is a close second, and perhaps that’s the secret to the success of Nissan’s standout SUV.