Nissan Qashqai (2017) review

The new product cycle is favouring Nissan dealers at the moment with the latest Micra launched in March and the new X-Trail and facelifted Qashqai in showrooms in time for the September plate-change.

The Qashqai is the most important model in the Nissan line-up. It is the brand’s most popular model, regularly featuring in the top five monthly UK best sellers, and is the most popular C-SUV taking an unassailable 10.3% market share. Not bad for a car that created the crossover sector exactly 10 years ago and has now spawned over 20 direct competitors.

With so much at stake a new set of door handles and mirrors was never on the cards for the second generation Qashqai’s mid-life facelift. The latest iteration sees a host of exterior and interior changes and improved driving characteristics. A range of autonomous driving features will be added in the autumn.

The line-up also gets a new top-end Tekna+ trim level which takes its price over £30,000 for the first time; a sign of the brand’s confidence in moving the car upmarket with its more premium look and feel.

For Alex Smith, the UK managing director of Nissan, the facelift represents a significant sales opportunity for the brand’s retailers.

“The exterior design is a bold new step and the interior quality is a step towards premium. This is an important car for the dealer network and gives our dealers an important reason to talk to a lot of existing Qashqai owners. For us it’s a new car and gives us the impetus we need to carry on the segment leading position we’ve had since the start,” he said.

The changes are far reaching. Unusually for a facelift the freshened up exterior includes metal body changes including an all-new bonnet with sharper creases. The expanded grille is more eye-catching than before while the integrated bumper features greater use of the car’s body colour. These changes, combined with a new rear bumper, amount to an elegant new exterior which will not go unnoticed on the road.

The cabin also benefits from an upgrade. In line with other new Nissan models the Qashqai now has a sporty D-shaped steering wheel, there’s greater use of higher quality and more tactile materials plus the infotainment system has been upgraded. Best of all though are the ultra-comfortable and supportive new front seats, although these will only be appreciated by customers choosing the N-Connecta grade and above.

There are also plenty of changes under the skin with Nissan engineers tasked with improving the ride, handling and steering characteristics based on customer feedback. This means dampers have been retuned and the anti-roll bar stiffness increased. More immediately noticeable is the introduction of Active Return Control which means the steering wheel returns to the centre position more naturally.

The engine line-up remains unchanged with a choice of 1.5 and 1.6-litre diesel units. The petrol options are 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre petrol. The only 4WD option is the 130PS diesel.

Nissan’s comprehensive rethink of the Qashqai may have just moved on what is possible to achieve in a facelift.

Behind the wheel

The latest Qashqai is more than just a mid-life facelift of the 2014 model. The external look has been comprehensively refreshed, the interior given a more upmarket look plus there’s improved driving dynamics.

We tested the 163PS 1.6-litre turbo petrol model in the newly added Tekna+ trim which retails for £29,995. Central to the facelift is Nissan’s move to take its popular crossover upmarket and this is perhaps best exemplified in this top-end grade which features black leather trim, 19 inch diamond cut alloy wheels, Bose sound system and new ultra-supportive seats.

On our test drive the engine responded well through the six-speed manual gearbox with the small engine effortlessly punching above its weight. It also proved to be economic returning 44mpg against a claimed 48.7mpg.

The ride was comfortable at speed on dual carriageways and motorways but can feel a little jittery at slower speeds across anything but the smoothest of B-roads. However, that’s a minor quibble for a car that has upped its game in terms of functionality, creature comforts and sheer showroom appeal. Nissan dealers will be delighted to sell the benefits of the end result.

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