Redesigned Nissan Qashqai: Bright

Nissan always likes to say, the Qashqai is still a crossover icon as it was, with the first generation in 2006, easily the creator of this category. Water has flown under the bridge since then and, generation after generation (we’re on the 3rd) the Qashqai has certainly improved but, inevitably, it’s no longer able to dominate an increasingly competitive market.

The current model, presented in 2021, shows less impressive sales in France but is still a sure bet for Nissan on the European market (350,000 sales), especially in the UK where it is produced. It must be said that the Peugeot 3008 and another Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage have been there and that the Qashqai style has declined somewhat (perhaps too much). Therefore, Nissan’s answer is clear: more character, more “face”, more power and more technology. Here is the redesigned Nissan Qashqai.

Restyled Nissan Qashqai: V Motion and comma

By definition, adaptation seeks above all to counter the trend. However, due to technical and financial problems, it is not always easy to repair the car during its life. So you have to be clever and attack on everything in sight, generally the front and rear parts of the car. This new Qashqai is no exception to the rule by offering a substantial evolution of its V-Motion grille.

The purpose of this modification was to give it more character in a more aggressive and technical style, to respond to market trends.

Christophe Lalo, Project Lead Designer for Nissan Europe

You want to be sharper and sharper, it expands and significantly strengthens the front of the crossover through the marking work on the styling details. Above the revised optical unit, the signature of the DRL remains unchanged, except for the Nissan highlighted at the end, but now it is connected, below the headlight, with another “line” that forms a horizontal V and includes the flashing comma patterns.

Only the top trims (Tekna/Teckna+ and N-Design/N-Design+) will benefit from this new light signature. In the high-end versions (Acenta and N-Connecta) you will have to make do with satin chrome inserts. Expected to evoke ancient Japanese armor, this comma design largely shapes the rest of the grille and gives the Qashqai a slightly different personality, setting it apart significantly from the brand’s other offerings, including more recent ones like the Kicks.

The Nissan Qashqai is now European-only and so the design team has taken some liberties with the global design.

Christophe Lalo, Project Lead Designer for Nissan Europe

At the rear the changes are more subtle, mainly involving a black painted lower plate in Teckna finish and incorporating a reworked aluminum style grille. Another change concerns the lighting. Their shape doesn’t change but their appearance has been changed significantly to give them a more familiar techno aspect. It uses reflective glass and features comma patterns as a light signature. The latter uses a special red called “super red” on the higher versions and is therefore very red…

Nissan Qashqai has been restyled: In red with N-Design/N-Design+

And red is mainly for N-Design and N-Design+ versions. These films, which appear in the catalog of the Qashqai’s restyling event, aim to further enhance the car’s performance while giving it a “superior” appearance.

This N-Design model has a minimalist SUV look, with black painted body parts

Christophe Lalo, Project Lead Designer for Nissan Europe

Indeed, the color of the body, in this case Fuji Red in the picture, spreads around the whole car (rocker panel, wheel arches), satin chrome inserts give way to black lacquered color (grille, side decorations or bumper back) and everything is. adorned with new 20-inch rims.

This new finish also seeks to look somewhat inside by adopting the seats which, although the design remains the same as the other versions, are treated in a special way using “high-end” materials such as leather and Alcantara, also on the dashboard, or by creating a beautiful Qashqai graphic placed under the head.

The facelifted Nissan Qashqai: Black… and 64 colours

The color chart of the Qashqai changes well. In addition to the Fuji Red mentioned above and featured heavily in this modification, we will not complain too much, Nissan updates its Magnetic Blue and Squale Gray and its two Clay but brings three new shades: Pearly White, Black Kuro a Cayuga Blue which its manufacturer. he already seems pleased to see us surprised by his color assessment. Note in passing that 5 of the 8 colors offered are compatible with the two-tone and black roof.

If we except the Tekna finish which is decorated with TEP brown touches on the seats, center console and dashboard, it is basically black that we get in abundance in the passenger compartment. The final adjustment is modest but noticeable. So we see a slightly redesigned dashboard to offer a more horizontal presentation and better integrate the new decorative systems. The instrument cluster, which is still digital, receives several adjustments in the color of its displays and the main touch screen, which remains 12.3 inches, takes Google services as standard and for the first time on a Nissan in Europe ( Google Maps, OK Google. , Google Play).

To lighten up this slightly dark sky, Nissan has followed the now prevalent trend of colored ambient lights. You won’t find yourself inside a Mercedes-Benz, the all-category champion in this area, but with a choice of 64 colors you should be able to find what you’re looking for and brighten up your Qashqai.

The redesigned Nissan Qashqai: sees everything and everywhere and does everything on its own… or almost

The Qashqai update is of course also about its technological equipment. Already well-equipped in this area on the version sold in 2021, the Nissan crossover has improved or improved its version.

The new panoramic view therefore has a 3D display from 8 different points and focuses on moving objects by notifying you of their presence. The wide-angle camera at the front of the car provides a 200° view, which is very practical for exiting a place or alley with no side view.

In addition, the 3D vision can also record your behavior and reproduce it almost by itself, for example with a parking space. In the same vein, work Invisible hood allows the driver to see his front wheels as if the engine hood were invisible. It is enough to preserve its beautiful rims against rough road conditions.

But the Qashqai also has a full range of ADAS that is now necessary (and in some cases mandatory) for any self-respecting modern car: emergency braking assistance, lane keeping assistance (over 60 km / h), speed limit signs reading speed. and speed warning … and many others. A good thing to note is that the personal support mode allows you to choose the support you want based on the profile. It’s certainly enough to cut through a high-speed alarm with ease.

The redesigned Nissan Qashqai: e-POWER above all

Nissan Qashqai now offers two petrol engines. A small combination of 4 cylinders with a capacity of 1.4 l and developing 158 hp and a special “hybrid” solution for Nissan called e-POWER and providing 190 hp. This system is based on full electric traction that provides all the advantages of this power (flexibility, torque, e-pedal system, etc.) but is driven by a small 3-cylinder diesel engine through an electric converter.

This engine is usually the one put forward by the Japanese manufacturer that is still proud of its proposal and announces the number of 100,000 vehicles with the e-POWER system sold in Europe from 2022. The restriction, as we remember, was offered on the Qashqai but also on the X-Trail that we offered try here.

It is still produced in a British factory Sunderland The Qashqai should arrive on our roads by summer. Prices have not yet been revealed.

Photo: Nissan and Guillaume Agez for LNA