- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.3T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
110kW, 250Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 6.1L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (CVT)
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2021)
2023 Nissan Qashqai review: Australian first drive
After its predecessor overstayed its welcome, the world has been crying out for a new-generation Nissan Qashqai. It turns out the wait was worth it.
- Fresh new interior with well-integrated tech
- Feels premium, even with lower-spec grades
- Strong turbocharged engine
- Feels top-heavy through quick manoeuvres
- Lack of storage space
- Second row is tight for knee room
2023 Nissan Qashqai
As the doors closed on 2022, Nissan had one final car to launch at the new car market, having already refreshed nearly its entire SUV range. The 2023 Nissan Qashqai is the latest iteration of the nameplate and breathes fresh air into the Japanese carmaker’s small SUV line-up.
How much does the Nissan Qashqai cost in Australia?
The 2022 Qashqai brings new looks both inside and out, a bigger body with enhanced interior space, a new suite of technology including a large infotainment display across the dash, plus a perky turbocharged engine mated to a continuously variable automatic.
Its predecessor was well and truly outclassed by newer rivals including the Toyota Corolla Cross, Honda HR-V, and Mazda CX-30, so the refreshed Qashqai is a big deal for Nissan to claw back some market share and ascend once again into the top 10.
There are four variants to choose from in the Qashqai range beginning at the ST and advancing through the ST+, ST-L, and Ti. Prices are up as much as $8300 in the case of the Ti flagship, but every step of the line-up involves a price increase over the old Qashqai.
Naturally, as you walk up the range you unlock extra equipment. However, all four variants are powered by the same turbocharged 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine that outputs 110kW/250Nm to the front wheels.
Nissan says an 'e-Power' hybrid version will join the range later in 2023 – but whereas regular hybrid systems power the wheels using an engine and electric motor, the E-Power hybrid system uses its petrol engine to top up the charge in the battery. This, in turn, powers the electric motor that provides drive to the wheels. This version outputs 140kW/330Nm to the front wheels.
The 2023 Nissan Qashqai range starts at $33,890 before on-road costs, but we spent the most amount of time in the ST-L specification that costs $42,190 before ORCs. This specification scores leather-accented seats, 19-inch alloys, adaptive LED headlights, heated front seats, wireless smartphone charging, roof rails, dual-zone climate, and Nissan’s ProPilot semi-autonomous driving system. It also gets a 360-degree camera, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and satellite navigation.
Key details | 2023 Nissan Qashqai ST-L |
Price | $42,190 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Magnetic Blue |
Options | None |
Price as tested | $42,190 plus on-road costs |
Drive-away price | $46,484 (Melbourne) |
Rivals | Mazda CX-30 | Kia Seltos | Toyota Corolla Cross |
How much space does the Nissan Qashqai have inside?
Nissan’s Qashqai has long been thought of as the small SUV plus, in that its interior space is comparatively cavernous compared to its small SUV rivals. This is no different in this new generation – it is in fact bigger than it ever was.
There’s a great amount of room to move in the front row, and the seating position (electrically adjusted on ST-L and Ti) affords a clean view out over the bonnet. It feels very four-wheel-drive-like in its driving position, which affords good all-round visibility.
In this specification you get niceties such as a leather steering wheel (grades below get a dull urethane tiller) and leather-appointed upholstery, which makes the cabin feel more than a mid-spec offering.
Materials used throughout are nice and it’s not often you’ll come across scratchy plastics. But on our tester there was a particularly flimsy panel where the starter button sits. This seemed to be an outlier compared to the few other specifications driven.
It would have been nice for Nissan to make greater use of the centre console for more storage space, as there’s a fair amount of dead space around the gear selector. However, storage otherwise is fair for the class with twin cupholders up front and a neat slot in front of the gear selector.
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Back seat space is very comfortable, and there’s a huge near 90-degree aperture to slot yourself inside. Knee space is a little constrained when sitting behind your own driving position, but there’s good head room and enough space side to side.
The boot can contain 429L worth of your stuff in ST-L grades and below, though the top-spec Ti version only gets 418L due to a subwoofer that fits in the boot. A hands-free electric tailgate and Divide-N-Hide storage system offset the lack of extra space, though.
2023 Nissan Qashqai ST-L | |
Seats | Five |
Boot volume | 429L seats up 1524L seats folded |
Length | 4425mm |
Width | 1835mm |
Height | 1625mm |
Wheelbase | 2665mm |
Does the Nissan Qashqai have Apple CarPlay?
All versions of the Qashqai get a 12.3-inch touchscreen display on top of the dash, apart from the entry-level ST that makes do with an 8.0-inch infotainment system. However, both get new software under the skin that is very simple to get acquainted with and represents a big upgrade compared to Nissan’s older infotainment systems.
The screen is colourful and crisp, while the 360-degree camera feeds of our ST-L spec are high-definition. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, with Qashqai ST featured wired connectivity for both, while ST+ and above gain wireless CarPlay, while Android Auto retains a wired connection.
Digital radio (DAB+) is standard across the range, while there are USB-A and USB-C ports throughout the cabin.
Is the Nissan Qashqai a safe car?
Nissan has been awarded a full five-star ANCAP safety rating with the 2023 Nissan Qashqai as of October 2022, based on Euro NCAP results recorded in 2021.
It scores an impressive 97 per cent within the safety assist pillar, while also notching up 91 per cent for adult occupant protection, 93 per cent for child occupant protection, and 74 per cent for vulnerable road user protection.
2023 Nissan Qashqai ST-L | |
ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2021) |
Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the Nissan Qashqai have?
The 2023 Nissan Qashqai can achieve such scores due to an array of active safety measures across the range. These include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection support, plus features including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse AEB, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control.
The Qashqai also gets a new centre airbag between the front passengers that can prevent head clashes in side impacts.
In practice the safety systems worked well at launch and there were no instances of systems unnecessarily interfering. Adaptive cruise control is standard across the range, but the more advanced ProPilot system on ST-L and Ti is touted as being the next best thing in terms of autonomous driving, but is effectively the same as other carmakers’ systems.
That’s not to say it’s not effective – the system follows the car in front faithfully and can stop and go for up to three seconds. It also uses the lane-keep assist system to steer itself within a lane.
How much does the Nissan Qashqai cost to maintain?
Despite getting a newer car with up-to-date tech and features, you’ll pay a fair amount more for a 2023 Nissan Qashqai over its predecessor. Whereas the range-topper costs $8300 more than before, even the entry-level variant costs $3300 over and above the old car. But, coming back down from outrage, most cars in the segment have risen in price recently too.
The Honda HR-V starts at $36,700 drive-away compared to the Qashqai’s tip-in point of $33,890 (plus ORCs), and the new Toyota Corolla Cross begins from $33,000 (plus ORCs). The pricier end of the Qashqai and Corolla Cross spectrums ends up just shy of $50,000 before on-road costs. So, the Nissan Qashqai’s pricing is on par for the times and segment.
To keep it serviced, Nissan will have you pay $1467 over three years, $2494 over four years, or $2916 over five years.
Nissan also offers five years of roadside assistance and five years (unlimited kilometres) of manufacturer warranty.
The Nissan Qashqai will cost $1418.76 to insure per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
At a glance | 2023 Nissan Qashqai ST-L |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $1467 (3 years) $2916 (5 years) |
Is the Nissan Qashqai fuel-efficient?
Nissan says the Qashqai returns a fuel consumption of 6.1 litres per 100km on a combined cycle, but our testing saw a figure of 7.5L/100km. The car has a 55L fuel tank that's recommended a minimum fuel quality of 95RON.
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Fuel Usage | Fuel Stats |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.1L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 7.5L/100km |
Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 55L |
What is the Nissan Qashqai like to drive?
Uniform across the 2023 Nissan Qashqai range is a turbocharged engine with automatic transmission (continuously variable transmission) and front-wheel-drive configuration. The 1.3-litre engine outputs 110kW/250Nm – which is 4kW and 50Nm extra than the previous naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine – and the turbocharged power feels far better suited than before.
Though the engine starts noisily for a brief moment, it quickly dies down to a quiet and refined murmur. On the whole, road noise is subdued and quiet at most speeds – this is a car that’s been built well and exhibits few fit and finish issues.
The transmission isn’t one of those classically thrashy and revvy CVT units, but it isn’t the last word in responsiveness. Power to the wheels can come through in a sudden whoosh under throttle load. That said, drive is effectively put to the ground through Continental EcoContact 6 tyres.
Though it feels large for its class, the Qashqai remains simple to park with an 11.1m turning circle and short overhangs. The reverse camera (on ST+ and above) with 360-degree visibility also makes reverse parks a breeze. Top-spec Ti variants score a semi-autonomous parking function.
The suspension tune in the Nissan Qashqai is just right and damps over imperfections like potholes and speed humps. Little imperfections are felt to a larger extent, and you can feel an underlying firmer-than-normal setting, though the cabin ambience stays calm for the most part.
Once you start cornering through some tighter back roads at higher speed, there is a degree of body roll, but this isn’t so much of an issue around town where speeds are lower. Steering is light and comfortable to manoeuvre the car and, overall, the Qashqai is a polished and dependable driving experience.
Key details | 2023 Nissan Qashqai ST-L |
Engine | 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
Power | 110kW @ 5500rpm |
Torque | 250Nm @ 1600–3750rpm |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Continuously variable automatic |
Power to weight ratio | 74kW/t |
Weight (kerb) | 1482kg |
Spare tyre type | Space-saver |
Tow rating | 1500kg braked 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 11.1m |
Should I buy a Nissan Qashqai?
It’s easy to look at the headlines and scoff at the increased price of the Nissan Qashqai in this new generation. Up to $8300 more is a lot of extra money. Yes, it is substantially more expensive across the board than its predecessor, but it’s when you look at comparing the new bits and pieces (and what it’s competing against) that it starts to shape up as a compelling small SUV package.
The thing that counts is Nissan is offering a suite of cool new tech, a comfortably spacious cabin, and a resolved drive experience. Aside from the out-of-place polyurethane steering wheels of the lower-specification cars, the Qashqai feels well built and uses nice materials.
With all the new arrivals in the small SUV space, we can’t wait to stick the Qashqai up against its rivals to see how it fares.