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UPDATE, January 2023: New Qashqai driven in Australia!
After pricing was announced early in 2022, the new-gen 2023 Nissan Qashqai is finally in Australia – and we've driven it! Get our full story at the link below.
July 4, 2022: 2023 Nissan Qashqai Australian pricing and features
The third-generation 2022 Nissan Qashqai will launch with four variants when it arrives in Australia later this year, the manufacturer has confirmed.
Having originally slated a first-quarter arrival for the new Qashqai, Nissan has since pushed the date back to the end of 2022, with the first examples set to arrive in driveways before the new year.
Initially arriving with just one powertrain available in the form of a new 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol, it's tipped Nissan's Qashqai e-Power hybrid could land locally next year.
Read our pricing and features story by clicking the link below.
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July 19, 2021: New model tipped to arrive in Australia early 2022
Nissan Australia has announced the new, third-generation Nissan Qashqai will arrive in local showrooms from the first quarter of 2022.
For the first time in the Qashqai's history, electrified powertrains will be available thanks to its shared Renault-Nissan CMF-C architecture, mating a 12-volt mild-hybrid system to a 1.3-litre petrol engine – although Nissan Australia hasn't confirmed whether the 1.5-litre range-extender hybrid will be available locally.
The Qashqai will be available in a range of eight paint finishes with five two-tone colour options for the panoramic roof, bringing 13 total exterior combinations for the model range.
Although no examples have arrived in Australia, Phil McNamara of sister brand Car has tested the latest model in the UK, getting behind the wheel of the third-gen crossover which is aimed at getting Nissan into the top-five of small SUV sales in Australia.
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July 5, 2021: 2022 Nissan Qashqai first drive
The Nissan Qashqai was reborn in February with the reveal of an all-new, third-generation that will launch Down Under next year – but exactly when remains a mystery for now.
But is it worth the wait? Phil McNamara takes the Qashqai out on British roads for this first-drive review.
Read our international first drive review using the link below.
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The story to here
February 18, 2021: Third-generation Nissan Qashqai revealed
Nissan has finally peeled back the camouflage on its all-new Qashqai, debuting the small SUV to the world with official details on its new third generation.
Completely redesigned on a new platform dubbed CMF-C, the Qashqai’s underpinnings increase the wheelbase by 19mm and overall length by 31mm. It is also 29mm wider, to help visually balance a 30mm height increase.
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Its look is familiar. Even Nissan says the new Qashqai is a more muscular, sharp and modern take on “unmistakable” styling, which it developed in its UK design studio.
As such, its signature chrome V-motion grille returns, the beltline still climbs towards the rear, the head- and tail-lights wrap around like before, while plastic wheel arches return under a similar rear-raked silhouette.
Now, however, a larger V-motion grille features a secondary chrome pinstripe. And as we’ve already seen, the new Qashqai features LED headlights split in a V-style with boomerang-style daytime running lights. Higher grades also score LED turn signalling.
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Another first for the Qashqai includes optional 20-inch wheels finished in a diamond-cut design, complementing more angular character lines.
More rounded surfaces also feature on both front and rear bumpers, while there’s also a ‘floating’ roof design above black-finished body pillars.
A black roof is available with four of the 11 body colours, alongside a gun metal roof on black cars.
Stepping up, inside
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Within the new Qashqai is a more upmarket cabin with higher-quality finishes, upgraded technology and sleeker design that follows suit with the new X-Trail and Pathfinder.
Like its stablemates, the Qashqai sports a standalone tablet-style infotainment screen, measuring 9.0 inches, loaded with smartphone mirroring and in-car Wi-Fi.
A new 12.3-inch LCD cluster debuts behind a new steering wheel, capable of displaying all driving information on top of a “Kiriko” cut glass background graphic.
Other technology includes a new 10.8-inch head-up display that can shows navigation and road information, while USB-A and USB-C charging ports are placed within the centre console box.
Nissan says rear occupants now enjoy 28mm extra knee room while headroom has grown 15mm. Drivers, meanwhile, are claimed to look through a wider opening angle on the windscreen.
Safety has been overhauled with the new Qashqai finally welcoming AEB, smart cruise control and autonomous stop-start driving, all within ProPilot driver assistance which adds a full suite of active safety technology.
There’s also a central airbag upfront to keep front occupants apart during a crash.
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Performance and handling
Driving the new Qashqai are a range of electrified powertrains, kicking off with a 12-volt mild-hybrid system complementing a carried over – and updated – 1.3-litre petrol engine offered with a six-speed manual.
Depending on the model, front-wheel-drive Qashqai variants can have the 1.3-litre petrol engine with either a 103kW/240Nm or 116kW/260Nm tune.
Four-wheel drive or CVT automatic-equipped variants are only available with a higher 116kW/270Nm output grade.
Above this is Nissan’s range-extender hybrid variant, using what it calls E-Power technology. Based on a 1.5-litre petrol engine, it exclusively charges a battery which then powers a 140kW/330Nm electric motor providing drive.
To balance the added weight from these new battery-based powertrains, Nissan has invested heavily into light-weighting its platform and has shaved 60kg from the Qashqai's body-in-white.
Nissan’s previously outlined front-wheel-drive cars will score MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear.
Meanwhile, all-wheel-drive cars score a more advanced multi-link setup up back, promising better handling and improved ride.
When is it coming here?
It's too early for Nissan to share Australian market details, with the car debuting only in Europe for now.
However, given deliveries in Europe are slated for mid-2021, we understand Australia might not receive the updated Qashqai until next year in 2022.
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