Its starting price tag of R568,200 might be slightly intimidating, but you’ll be glad to know the new Nissan Qashqai has surpassed the steep expectations that come with it.
The third generation of the longstanding crossover series went on sale in South Africa this week, and we got in the driver’s seat of the top-end Acenta Plus to get a feel for how it performs.
With a 1.3-litre mill and CVT transmission under the bonnet we were skeptical at first, but opinions quickly changed after the first few bends along the beautiful coastline of the Western Cape.
Ready to go
The new Qashqai’s powerplant puts out 110kW and 250Nm in each model but the base specification, rather impressive numbers when considering the 1,300cc displacement, and turbo lag is virtually non-existent.
As a result, the crossover comes across as anxious and ready to go from behind the wheel, giving it a more athletic driving profile than most vehicles in its league.
The Nissan also supplies a good kick in the back off the line allowing you to get ahead of traffic, and it does not reach its power ceiling all that quickly as we pushed it a bit past what you would normally do on a freeway and it did not run out of spirit.
As CVTs go, the automaker’s “X-Tronic” gearbox is also among the most responsive on the market, and it can be taken advantage of with paddle shifters that offer five “steps” for a more satisfying shifting sensation when you flick the Qashqai into its sportier settings.
Similarly, the suspension is on the stiffer side but it handles rough surfaces well without hopping about or rattling, and once you’re on the smoother tar, it’s almost as if the crossover is being sucked towards the surface making for a confident ride.
The interior, though, is where the new Qashqai significantly improves upon the outgoing generation both in terms of design as well as fit and finish.
It sports large flat surfaces, premium-feeling materials, and attention to detail not often found on mid-range vehicles giving the passenger cell a more grown-up feeling than before.
Nissan has made good use of the CMF-C platform on which the Qashqai is built, as it offers generous cabin space at the front and rear with doors opening to a near 90-degree angle for easier entry and exit, while the driver’s seating position is high and authoritative, and road noise is muted.
As for the amenities, this range-topping Acenta Plus sees a high level of specification comprising a 12.3-inch infotainment unit, a 7-inch instrument cluster, electric front seats, on-board navigation, roof rails, and a driver assistance suite comprising dynamic LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, moving object detection, a 360-degree camera system, lane-departure warnings, predictive emergency braking, driver attention alert, and intelligent cruise control.
It’s further differentiated from the mid-range Acenta through Nappa Leather trimmings, heated seats with memory functions, heated and reverse tilting mirrors, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Additionally included are massaging features for the front seats with up to three different settings as well as keyless comfort access that sees the driver seat move forward and backward as you open the door making for effortless entry and exit – meaning the Nissan is one of, if not the only vehicle in its price class with these abilities.
While we didn’t get a chance to test them properly, Nissan also said its driver assistance features are unlike any others on the market right now. It’s not so much what they do that’s different, but rather how they do it.
It said the Qashqais fitted with ProPILOT are able to sense the driver’s pulse on the steering wheel to know if they’re paying attention. If the pulse fades or goes away completely, the vehicle will assume the driver has fallen asleep or has taken their hands off the wheel and will brake twice in quick succession to get them to wake up.
If nothing happens, it will produce a loud noise, start slowing down, and pull off on the side of the road until the driver takes control again.
Nissan’s crossover has significantly evolved for its newest iteration both under the skin and inside the cabin, while retaining the sporty design that has garnered it much attention.
The pricing may still be a bit steep, but it’s much more palatable once you have gotten a feel for the Qashqai.
Nissan Qashqai Acenta Plus
Keyword: First drive in the new Nissan Qashqai