What's all this about?

Arguably the most important new car of the year – the updated Nissan Qashqai – has been revealed ahead of its launch later this year. Although it looks very different from its predecessor, the changes are largely cosmetic, but Nissan has given the car extra technology to help boost its appeal.

It looks very different...

Although Nissan has made some massive changes to the bodywork, under the skin, this is still the same car as before. But the Qashqai now gets a massive new front grille and some trick new headlights, as well as different bumpers and tail lights. The effect is remarkable – the car looks completely different, particularly from the front – and Nissan has announced a new N-Design trim level to make the most of those changes.

Where other high-level Qashqai variants will get black valances around the bumpers and under the doors, the N-Design gets body-coloured trim and wheel arches, designed to make it look that bit sportier and more upmarket.

Nissan has also created some new paint colours, including a hue called Deep Ocean, which is designed to sit somewhere between blue and green.

What's it like inside?

This is where you can tell the new Qashqai is really the same car as before, because Nissan has changed very little in terms of design. What it has done, however, is upgraded the interior materials to make the cabin a more comfortable place to sit. Higher-end versions get Alcantara microfibre on the dash, door cards and knee pads, while there are new materials on the centre console and the gear lever. Nissan has also tweaked the seat upholstery for the three highest trim levels.

So where's all this tech you were on about?

Predictably, much of it can be found in the touchscreen, where Nissan has fitted a new 360-degree manoeuvring camera, and a system that lets customers adjust the ambient lighting with a choice of 64 colours. Google Maps has also been integrated into the screen, giving customers a full smartphone-esque navigation experience, with much the same display and all Google’s navigation tech.

Voice control is a big part of the offering, too, with the Google Assistant built in as standard, while Amazon’s Alexa system is also available. What’s more, Nissan has upgraded the Nissan Connected Services system so the car will now warn drivers if they leave a window open or leave the car unlocked.

Anything else?

Oh yes. With new regulations looming surrounding driver assistance technology, Nissan has given the new Qashqai fresh safety tech, including a sharper autonomous emergency braking system and a lane-keeping system that’s automatically on from the moment the car starts. But Nissan is aware that some drivers find the assistance tech irritating, so there’s an ‘individual’ setting for the equipment that’s linked to the driver’s profile. That way, the car knows what to switch off and on depending on who is driving the car.

What about engines?

Everything mechanical is exactly the same as before, from engines to suspension, so expect the same driving experience as the outgoing model. Customers will be able to choose between a mild hybrid powertrain and Nissan’s clever e-Power system, which uses an electric motor to drive the wheels and a petrol engine as a kind of on-board generator to charge the battery. You'll have to wait for a fully electric Qashqai, but Nissan says it may happen in future.

So how much will it cost?

We don’t know yet, but though the changes look dramatic, they aren’t all that marked, so don’t expect a massive price hike over the existing model. Full pricing and specifications are set to be announced closer to the car’s launch.

James Fossdyke - 17 Apr 2024