The Nissan Qashqai is Britain’s favourite crossover, and has been for some time now, thanks to its high levels of practicality and low price tag.
Starting from £19,595, the Qashqai comes with a good level of safety equipment and technology – which many drivers now demand.
But with Nissan giving the Qashqai range a minor update, what has changed and what can buyers expect from the family model? We take a look…
New petrol options
The biggest change for the Qashqai is the new 1.3-litre petrol engine, which replaces the 1.2- and 1.6-litre options previously used on the crossover. With this unit, customers can choose from 138bhp and 158bhp – both of which offer more than enough grunt for the Qashqai. The low-end unit can get you from 0-60mph in 10.3 seconds and up to a top speed of 119mph, while the 158bhp option can get to 60mph from standstill in 8.9 seconds and go onto 124mph – all while achieving a quoted 53.3mpg and 121g/km CO2.
New transmission
With this new engine, Nissan is also introducing a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission – a first for a volume Nissan model. Only available alongside the top-end 1.3-litre petrol, it provides a smooth gear change that allows for an even power delivery through the range and puts the power down well through the front wheels.
Updated infotainment system
Before the update, the screen on the Qashqai felt like it was from the early 2000s – it was blocky and the resolution of the rear camera wasn’t great at all. Now though, Nissan has given the crossover a much better screen with the new NissanConnect system. Offering smartphone integration through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a customisable home screen with drag and drop tiles, 3D TomTom maps and over-the-air software and map updates, the new system is much improved here. The seven-inch screen is much clearer – making using the Qashqai’s infotainment is much easier than before.
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