It seems that the third-generation Nissan Qashqai crossover appeared not so long ago, but now the updated version of the Nissan Qashqai 2024 has arrived. And what has it brought? New design, new interior, new technologies? I’ll tell you all about it in the format of the main questions and answers about the car.
Already updated? Is it noticeable?
If you look at the front, it’s really noticeable! The scale of the changes is not an update of the model, but even a completely new generation: a wide grille with comma-shaped elements, integrated triangle headlights with similar features, a modified front bumper and air intakes in its corners. Thanks to this design, the 2024 Nissan Qashqai crossover looks very modern, clearly distinguished from the already familiar third Qashqai and with subtle hints somewhat reminiscent of Nissan electric vehicles.
However, a glance at the side surfaces or the rear brings us back to reality: this is an updated Nissan Qashqai of the current generation and nothing more. After all, a standard restyling or facelift program is simply carried out here, including new wheel options, a minimally modified rear bumper, and new headlamp content (although their overall shape remains unchanged). One of the features of the 2024 Nissan Qashqai is the appearance of new body colors and N-Design equipment, but not in this case: the test car is presented in the TEKNA+ configuration with the maximum list of equipment.
The updated Nissan Qashqai crossover 2024 is instantly recognizable thanks to radical changes to the front end: it looks modern, dynamic, original. I would like to note a personal impression: in the first photos of the updated car, its new triangular headlights seemed too small and deeply set; however, in reality, everything looks and feels great! And one more important nuance: starting with the TEKNA configuration , the Nissan Qashqai is equipped with matrix adaptive headlights that can flexibly control the light beam to avoid blinding oncoming drivers. The rest of the changes are at the level of details: new wheels and body colors, new headlamp content and rear bumper design, etc. Overall dimensions also remained within the usual limits: length – 4.425 meters; width – 1.85 meters; height – 1.625 meters; wheelbase – 2.665 meters; ground clearance is 175 mm.
Okay, the external changes are clear. But what’s inside?
Inside is the kingdom of Alcantara. The updated Nissan Qashqai crossover in the maximum configuration received Alcantara trim not only on the seats, but also on the front panel, door cards, and center armrest. It looks very impressive and feels even better to the touch. However, the issue of practicality is still acute. How do you wipe the dust off the front panel? And when does the center armrest get dirty? Thankfully, the Nissan Qashqai has many other interior options (depending on the configuration) and you can choose another one.
The rest of the changes are just details. For example, the digital instrument cluster has an additional third mode of displaying information with a minimum number of numbers and data, which is less strenuous for the eyes during a long night trip. Also, when selecting a certain driving mode, the background rings on the digital instrument cluster are now highlighted in green (eco mode) or red (sport mode). In addition, the center console decor has changed: now the pattern resembles hexagons.
Or maybe such a minimal number of changes is because there is no need to change anything? There is enough space in front and behind, a fairly large range of seat adjustment and the seats themselves are well shaped, climate control is a separate unit, there is a surround view system (even in the basic version), wireless charging and a panoramic glass roof (in higher trims). The rear seats seem to be just seats, perhaps I would like a more reclined backrest, there are a couple of ventilation deflectors, an armrest with cup holders – it looks like a “minimum program” for cars of this class. Suddenly, the doors that can open at a 90-degree angle are surprising: very convenient for boarding or installing a child seat. The trunk in the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER TEKNA+ test car offers 455 liters of useful space, several hooks and a side niche, but has an unpleasant side hump (a 12-volt car battery is hidden there). However, other trim levels of the Nissan Qashqai are ready to offer larger trunks, with good organization thanks to sliding shelves; I’ll show you an example below.
The main change in the interior of the updated Nissan Qashqai for 2024 is not a change in shapes or displays, but the addition of Alcantara. Although the displays are still worth mentioning: the digital instrument cluster has received an additional display option, and the central 12.3-inch display and surround view are now included in the list of equipment even in the starting package Acenta (previously there was an 8-inch display and a rearview camera). Otherwise, the interior remains unchanged and can be described in one word – convenience.
Are there any changes under the hood? And in general, how does it drive?
The carrier body, the underlying platform, the independent suspension of all wheels, and the front engine location – all of this remained unchanged. The test car was presented with an electrified e-POWER powertrain, which has already been analyzed in detail in a separate article about the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER (I highly recommend reading it). In short, everything is described as follows: here you have an electric car, it is driven by an electric motor with a capacity of 140 kW or 190 hp with a torque of 330 Nm, it rotates the front wheels through its own gearbox, there is an additional B-mode for more intensive recovery and a one-pedal e-Pedal mode. What is missing from the description of this almost electric car? That’s right – only a rechargeable battery. So, instead of a large traction battery, the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER uses a generator based on the 1.5-liter VC-TURBO gasoline turbo engine, which generates electricity to power the electric motor and replenish a small intermediate battery.
It is thanks to this design that the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER crossover resembles an electric car in terms of dynamics and deceleration. All accelerations are very smooth, linear and continuous. The electric motor’s response to pressing the accelerator pedal is almost instantaneous, because there are no pauses or delays due to economy or gear changes. Yes, the gasoline engine often starts – its voice can be heard in the car. However, the operation of a gasoline engine has no effect on acceleration, and it usually operates at a certain steady-state speed. Deceleration is also interesting to control. You can decelerate gently and smoothly (as if downshifting) in a special B-mode and, thanks to recuperation, collect excess energy in the battery. Or you can turn on the e-Pedal mode for very intense deceleration: as soon as the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER crossover begins to brake quite actively until it comes to a complete stop. It feels as if the brake pedal is actually being pressed (but without actually pressing it), so you can control acceleration or deceleration by moving the accelerator pedal alone. But at the same time, it requires that you keep your foot on the accelerator pedal all the time, press it very precisely and hold it in a certain position for steady driving, which leads to tension in your right leg. I frankly admit that this is not my option. But someone may like this kind of driving – and here’s the thing: the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER crossover gives you this choice.
While the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER crossover resembles an electric car in acceleration and braking, it resembles a regular Nissan Qashqai in terms of chassis setup. It is quite comfortable and soft on the move, even on 20 wheels, with a light steering wheel of medium sharpness (2.5 turns from stop to stop) and timely responses to its turn, and the rolls in turns are quite moderate. I must admit that the competitor in the form of the Honda ZR-V drives more emotionally and is more exciting for the driver, and the competitor in the form of the Volkswagen T-Roc moves more academically correct in each of its maneuvers. However, the Nissan Qashqai is definitely in the group of leaders – it drives so carefully and gently, it is so polite in its relations with the driver, and it is so caring to passengers on bad roads. It is a very pleasant car to drive.
The Nissan Qashqai e–POWER crossover promises us 0-100 km/h acceleration in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 170 km/h; I actually managed 0-100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds – against 8.2-8.3 seconds before. What has changed? Pay attention to the wheels: previously, 19-inch wheels were the maximum, and now the test car was presented in the maximum configuration with 20 wheels. However, if we move away from absolute figures, then in normal daily accelerations Nissan Qashqai e–POWER is always lively. Driving modes affect the behavior of the powertrain, making it react more calmly or more actively; however, even in ECO mode, you can feel quite comfortable. Does this help to reduce fuel consumption? Well, how can I say: in the city, I got an average of 6 liters per 100 km, and in general it ranged from a minimum of 3.8-4.2 liters to a maximum of 7.5-8 liters – fuel consumption is more affected by the driver’s driving style than the selected mode. On the highway at a speed of 100 km/h, the same 6 liters.
How much does the Nissan Qashqai cost now? And what versions are offered?
The Nissan Qashqai crossover is offered in Ukraine with a gasoline MHEV-hybrid engine (140-158 hp) or an electrified e-POWER powertrain (190 hp), a manual transmission or XTRONIC automatic variant, with front or all-wheel drive, in five configurations to choose from – a total of 15 options for customers to choose from!
Below you will find a plate with the exact list of versions and prices of the car, and here I will give a couple of examples for understanding. The starting price will be UAH 1.17-1.3 million ($28-31 thousand) – this will be a Nissan Qashqai crossover in the Acenta configuration with a gasoline MHEV-hybrid engine, with a manual or automatic transmission, and with no alternative front-wheel drive. For 1.4-1.6 million UAH ($34-38.5 thousand), you can already get a better package (N-Connecta or Tekna), choose the e-POWER version or an all-wheel drive option – there is plenty to choose from. Finally, for the price of 1.8-2 million UAH ($43-48 thousand), the most maximal versions of the car are available: with a leather interior, a panoramic glass roof, and massage seats. Now for the details of the equipment.
Nissan Qashqai Acenta offers the following: Forward collision warning system, emergency braking system while moving forward or backward, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, intelligent cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, seven airbags, 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry system, dual-zone climate control, FULL LED headlights, 7-inch color instrument cluster display, 12.3-inch center touchscreen display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, six-speaker audio, built-in navigation, heated seats and steering wheel, AVM surround view, and much more.
The Nissan Qashqai N–Connecta version adds to the above: silver roof rails, tinted rear windows, combined seat trim (fabric and eco-leather), interior background lighting, second-row seat ventilation deflectors, electric trunk lid and sliding shelves, full-size 12.3-inch instrument panel, windshield projection display, wireless charging, and more.
One step up is the Nissan Qashqai Tekna, which adds the following: 19-inch alloy wheels, black eco-leather seats with brown inserts, extended interior illumination, electric driver’s seat adjustment with memory function, adaptive matrix headlights and much more.
The Nissan QashqaiN-Design is almost a top-of-the-line variant, which additionally offers 20-inch alloy wheels, black glossy decor, two-tone body paint, a panoramic glass roof, leather/alcantara seats, etc.
Finally, the maximum variant is the Nissan Qashqai Tekna+ with the following added equipment: seats with a back massage function and premium perforated leather trim, Alcantara door trim on the front of the cabin, electric driver and passenger seat settings with memory, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, and more.
To better understand, here is a complete list of all versions and prices of the Nissan Qashqai: 15 variants in total. It is worth noting that even in the starting configuration, we have excellent equipment: a full package of security systems, dual-zone climate control, LED-headlights, all-round visibility, a large central touchscreen display. And an additional example is the Nissan Qashqai with a 1.33-liter gasoline engine (MHEV-hybrid), front-wheel drive and automatic transmission XTRONIC, in the N-Connecta configuration : It costs about 1.44 million UAH ($34.5 thousand), offers a good list of equipment, pleasant combined seat trim, comfortable luggage compartment.), offers a good list of equipment, pleasant combined seat trim, and a convenient trunk with movable shelves.
And the traditional question: should I buy or not?
If you used to like the Nissan Qashqai in general, but didn’t like its headlights or wanted more equipment, then with the update these comments have been corrected and the popular crossover is ready to continue playing one of the main roles in its class. That’s because the car was a success from the start: a well-tuned suspension, great engines (either the MHEV hybrid or this e-POWER), the ability to choose an all-wheel drive version, and a very wide choice for the buyer. This material is published in the format of the main questions and answers about the Nissan Qashqai update, but if this were a full-length review, the car would definitely get an 8-point rating – that’s how high I put the Nissan Qashqai in my own ratings. Of course, the main assessment will be given by buyers; but I think there will be a lot of them.
Loading comments …