Nissan’s new QASHQAI has developed a personality and is now one of the more alluring small SUVs available in Australia

nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review
nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review

The third-generation 2023 Nissan QASHQAI is a promising replacement for its long-running and popular predecessor. The all-new QASHQAI not only packs in a lot of fresh safety technology, it’s also bigger, more efficient and noticeably improved dynamically. Driven by a brisk 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine, it also adopts an enticingly edgy new look that separates it from the bigger X-TRAIL.

How much does the Nissan QASHQAI ST-L cost?

At $42,190 plus on-road costs, the 2023 Nissan QASHQAI ST-L sits below the flagship Ti model (from $47,390 plus ORCs) but is well above the base ST (from $33,890) and justifies its price hike with extra nick-knackery.

A Nissan QASHQAI EV based on a specific CMF-EV platform, is expected to launch in Europe between 2025 and 2027.

What equipment comes with the Nissan QASHQAI ST-L?

The 2023 Nissan QASHQAI ST-L comes with five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels, self-dipping headlights, dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, electric front seats (also with heating, and eight-way adjustment on the driver’s side), cloth/leather-look seat trim, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, wireless phone charger and tinted glass aft of the B-pillar.

A small but welcome function is the use of a ‘P’ button on the shifter that provides positive engagement of the park function and shortens the throw of the stubby lever.

nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review

Other items added to the ST-L that you’d think should be applicable regardless of grade level include a rear-seat centre arm rest and roof rails (the QASHQAI is an SUV, after all).

The Nissan QASHQAI’s warranty covers five years/unlimited kilometres and servicing is at either 12-month or 15,000km intervals, whichever comes first.

Nissan offers pre-paid servicing plans for the QASHQAI priced at $1322, $2246 and $2626 for three, four or five years respectively.

How safe is the Nissan QASHQAI ST-L?

The 2023 Nissan QASHQAI ST-L notably factors in more safety equipment than the previous model, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in both forward and reverse, pedestrian avoidance braking, lane keep assist, active cruise control, active blind spot assist, road sign recognition and tyre pressure monitoring.

It continues with the previous ST-L’s lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, driver attention monitoring and front, side and rear cameras.

There are seven airbags, including a front centre airbag to minimise the risk of driver and passenger head-clash in the event of a collision.

nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review

The 360-degree bird’s-eye view cameras have the laudable capability of detecting moving objects and the lane keeping function is lifted to a new level by the inclusion of Nissan’s ProPilot semi-autonomous lane tracking.

However, AEB only operates at low speeds.

The new QASHQAI scored exceptional results when it was tested by local safety authority ANCAP and given a full five-star safety rating.

What technology does the Nissan QASHQAI ST-L feature?

At ST-L level the 2023 Nissan QASHQAI has a bigger central 12.3-inch touch-screen than the base ST.

The ST-L also includes sat-nav, a 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster ahead of the driver and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity to keep you feeling you’re in touch with the universe outside.

The head-up display seen in the QASHQAI Ti is missing, though.

nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review

Wireless Apple CarPlay will please some users but not all. Android owners – depending on the specific phone – have some consolation with the inclusion of a wireless charging pad in the centre console.

USB-A and USB-C points are located in the centre console bin, while the six-speaker audio includes DAB digital radio.

A sour note – literally – was that the system in our test car suffered a crackling glitch in the sound output when trying to deal with not particularly challenging bass notes.

What powers the Nissan QASHQAI ST-L?

The 2023 Nissan QASHQAI ditches the previous 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine for an all-alloy 1.3-litre turbo four-cylinder that punches out more power and torque and yields better fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions.

That’s despite the third-gen ST-L’s kerb weight, at 1482kg, being 90kg porkier than before.

Where the second-gen QASHQAI’s atmo 2-0-litre produced a respectable 106kW/200Nm, the new turbo powerplant is good for 110kW/250Nm and uses its higher torque to compensate for the new-gen QASHQAI’s greater weight.

nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review

How fuel efficient is the Nissan QASHQAI ST-L?

The new 2023 Nissan QASHQAI claims better efficiency and lower CO2 emissions with respective figures of 6.1L/100km and 138g/km, compared with the previous model’s 6.9L/100km and 150g/km.

We got close to that consumption claim too, with 6.5L/100km recorded during a week of testing in varied conditions.

This is smack-bang in the centre of most other conventional small SUVs and all very well, but there’s a downside in that the QASHQAI owner must face higher fuel costs.

Because the little 1.3-litre turbo is tuned to run on 95RON premium unleaded, there’s a substantial impost at the pump. Most of the QASHQAI’s (non-turbo) peers are happy with regular 91RON.

The QASHQAI, unlike the new Nissan X-TRAIL, at least factors in automatic engine idle-stop technology to introduce a little frugality.

nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review

What is the Nissan QASHQAI ST-L like to drive?

Moreso than the already-lauded new-generation Nissan X-TRAIL, the 2023 Nissan QASHQAI is a big winner with its new CMF-C platform.

A reworked MacPherson strut front-end and a coil-spring multi-link set-up at the rear combine to provide a fine level of balance and poise, which complements the ST-L’s showy 19-inch wheels wearing semi-serious 235/50R19 tyres.

The steering is relatively quick at 2.6 turns from lock to lock and is well weighted too; a little heavier and more communicative than the new-gen X-TRAIL, it’s largely responsible for the QASHQAI’s agility and eagerness on the road.

There are times when the big wheels and low-profile tyres conspire to magnify the odd harsh bump but generally the ride feels controlled and absorbent enough and the transmitted noise levels are quite low for a small SUV.

The slight downside is that the 11.1-metre turning circle tends to be greedier than its main rivals.

nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review

The small-capacity 1.3-litre turbo has a character familiar to most engines of its ilk. The torque is quite meaty but tends to come on, from a relatively low 1600rpm, with a slightly delayed rush.

Once in its sweet zone, there’s a steady, turbo-induced muscularity that serves the QASHQAI well.

The CVT transmission helps eke the most out of the engine with the usual compromises. Driven sensitively but meaningfully the transmission remains relatively subdued, working comfortably and unobtrusively within the parameters of its three drive-mode settings (Eco/Standard/Sport).

On the other hand, a meat-fisted, tramped accelerator creates the familiar yowling CVT racket as the revs rise to a steady, determined roar.

The ST-L’s steering wheel shift paddles at least provide some respite.

nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review

What is the Nissan QASHQAI ST-L like inside?

Although the 2023 Nissan QASHQAI tends to be bigger in most dimensions than its main competition, it retains a nicely compact feel that is belied by a surprisingly large cabin with meaningful headroom, legroom and shoulder-room.

There’s also a useful 429-litre boot that not only has more volume than the bulk of its rivals but also opens up to a gratifying maximum of 1542 litres when the rear seatback is laid flat.

The ratio between boot space and rear seat legroom can be altered by sliding the rear seat longitudinally, and the seatback has a 60/40 split-fold enabling further divvying up of the sometimes conflicting needs of cargo and passenger space.

The boot is accessed, at ST-L level, via a manually operated tailgate.

There are no beefs about the part-leather seats, either, and the general quality of trim and attention to detail lifts the ambience to new levels of comfort and style, somewhere between proletarian and premium.

Although only the driver’s side is power-adjusted, the front passenger is provided with seat heating. Rear-seat occupants are also provided with air vents.

Should I buy a Nissan QASHQAI ST-L?

If the previous QASHQAI borders on being a bland, smaller interpretation of the bigger X-TRAIL, the new third-generation 2023 Nissan QASHQAI takes on a stylistic edginess that is sure to attract younger and young-at-heart audiences.

This is backed up by a new-found dynamic liveliness, a lift in safety levels, improvements in efficiency and lower exhaust emissions.

With the new-gen QASHQAI intruding in a space where it could end up being – like some of its peers – an appealing alternative to next-step-up models such as the X-TRAIL, the small SUV class gets ever more interesting.

nissan, qashqai, car reviews, family cars, nissan qashqai st-l 2023 review

2023 Nissan QASHQAI ST-L at a glance:

Price: $42,190 (plus on-road costs)

Available: Now

Engine: 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol

Output: 110kW/250Nm

Transmission: Continuously variable automatic

Fuel: 6.1L/100km (ADR Combined)

CO2: 138g/km (ADR Combined)

Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)

Keyword: Nissan QASHQAI ST-L 2023 Review

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