The Qashqai ST-L does nearly everything related to urban driving well or better. (Image: Justin Hilliard)
The Qashqai has an occasionally pitchy performance over lumps and bumps. (Image: Justin Hilliard)
Likes
Good value Improved technology Genuinely practical
Dislikes
Lumpy acceleration Underdone braking ePower hybrid coming
And just like that my three months with the 2023 Nissan Qashqai ST-L are over. If you’ve read the first two instalments of this long-term UrbanGuide review, you’ll already know I am genuinely going to miss it.
There are many reasons why, and I’ve already covered those on the value, ownership, design and practicality fronts, but in this third and final edition I’ll finally tell you whether it’s good to drive — or not. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Now, before we go too far, it’s worth calling out the point of this long-term UrbanGuide review is to work out how well the new Qashqai ST-L stacks up in metropolitan areas over a long period of time, so that’s where I’ve primarily driven it.
And the good news for potential Qashqai ST-L buyers is it’s very good at not annoying drivers when they’re behind the wheel in the urban jungle — or passengers in general, for that matter.
You see, the Qashqai ST-L does nearly everything related to urban driving well or better. It’s an undeniable all-rounder within city limits, so much so that it’s arguably the best option for most buyers in its highly competitive small SUV segment.
Steering-wise, the Qashqai ST-L offers nearly all you could want. The electric power-assisted set-up is pleasingly well-weighted and relatively direct. Is it replete with feel? No. Does that really matter in a vehicle like this? No.
That said, I do wish it was a little quicker at lower speeds, as parking isn’t quite the breeze it is in other vehicles. Either way, there’s no denying the Qashqai ST-L’s deceivingly compact dimensions are city-friendly.
So too is its visibility, with the Qashqai ST-L resisting the temptation to compromise on its glasshouse in order to look more ‘stylish’. Point being, this is a crossover that you can look backwards in and actually see what you need to see. Shocking, I know.
When it comes to suspension, the Qashqai ST-L’s set-up consists of MacPherson struts up front and multi links at the rear. In fact, the inclusion of independent rear suspension is a big win for Australia, as some other markets make do with a less sophisticated torsion beam instead. So, it should ride and handle better — but does it?
Well, the Qashqai ST-L’s ride is pretty good for the most part, 19-inch alloy wheels withstanding. Despite some initial concerns with how well it deals with uneven surfaces in the urban jungle, I’ve since found myself at peace with its occasionally pitchy performance over lumps and bumps. Call it Stockholm Syndrome if you will.
But in all seriousness, the Qashqai ST-L doesn’t offer up a ‘magic carpet’ ride, but nor should it at this price point. Speed bumps, potholes and other disturbances present their challenges, but it deals with them more than adequately. I’ll put it like this: it didn’t grate on any of my passengers.
The same can be said of the Qashqai ST-L’s Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels. True to its semi-premium positioning, it doesn’t overwhelm with wind and/or tyre noise. The only occasional threat is that generated by the engine, by way of the continuously variable transmission (CVT), but more on that combination in a moment.
The Qashqai ST-L does nearly everything related to urban driving well or better. (Image: Justin Hilliard)
The Qashqai has an occasionally pitchy performance over lumps and bumps. (Image: Justin Hilliard)
On the handling front, the Qashqai ST-L also makes a strong impression. It’s by no means a sports car, but it still handles corners with aplomb, resisting the urge to seriously lean in when driving normally.
Grip is also encouraging, but traction can be broken off the line in slippery conditions, such is the nature of a front-wheel drive vehicle with half-decent outputs. That said, it doesn’t feel unsafe, with the electronics doing what they need to.
Speaking of safety, the Qashqai ST-L’s advanced driver-assist systems are among the best I’ve sampled. For the full list of features, make sure you read the first instalment of this long-term UrbanGuide review, but I do what to bring attention to Nissan’s ‘ProPilot’ suite for a moment.
ProPilot? I hardly know ‘er! It’s Nissan speak for the combined powers of its latest adaptive cruise control (with stop and go functionality) and steering assist systems.
Basically, the Qashqai ST-L can drive itself on highways, and what a great job of that it does — seriously. It modulates its speed and lane positioning so well, so much so that it made me think autonomous vehicles might actually happen one day.
Anyway, performance from the Qashqai’s ST-L’s 1.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine is plentiful. It’s a huge improvement over the previous 2.0-litre naturally aspirated unit.
Its 110kW (+4.0kW) of power at 5500rpm is nice, but it’s the 250Nm (+50Nm) of torque from 1600-3750rpm that I appreciate the most. Again, this is no sports car, but it’s got more than enough punch for city life — or country road overtaking for that matter.
But it’s that aforementioned CVT that ever so slightly spoils things. You see, I’ve never been a fan of CVTs, mainly because of their droney nature when accelerating, so I’d prefer a traditional torque-converter automatic transmission every day of the week.
But the Qashqai ST-L’s implementation is relatively harmless thanks to its surprising linearity, with my other key complaint being it’s sometimes a little slow to react when taking off from standstill, leaving me in the lurch.
Which brings me nicely to how the Qashqai ST-L’s fuel consumption fared in my third and final month with it.
I averaged 8.0L/100km over 848km of mainly urban driving, but it did include a roughly 200km Victorian return day trip from Melbourne to Portarlington.
Either way, that’s the best result I’ve recorded and went some way towards lowering my three-month average to 8.8L/100km over 2556km.
Again, if you’re instead looking for hybrid levels of efficiency around the city, wait for the forthcoming Qashqai ePower and its rare series hybrid set-up.
Acquired: February 8, 2023
Distance travelled this month: 848km
Odometer: 3415km
Average fuel consumption this month: 8.0L/100km
Price Guide
$42,690
Based on new car retail price
See pricing and specification for 2023 Nissan Qashqai pricing & specs
Keyword: Nissan Qashqai 2023 review: ST-L long-term | Part 3