Face of a warrior: updated NISSAN QASHQAI 2024. What’s really new

Meet: Nissan Qashqai! Eighteen years of production, more than 4 million copies, and it looks like it was born yesterday.

Actually, that’s true. Because this is a new version of the extremely popular crossover, a serious restyling of the 3rd generation.

We caught all his seriousness on video:

And for those who are easier to read, a text version of our test drive is prepared.

If you look at the chronology of the most popular Nissan crossover, it turns out that recently you were surprised by something new literally every year.

At the beginning of 2022, a completely new Nissan Qashqai appeared in Ukraine. In 2023, we started selling this crossover with a mild hybrid MHEV system, and a little later – an electrified Qashqai with e-Power technology. Well, 2024 brought a significant update to the militant style model we’re talking about today.

Why militant? The fact is that it is the weapon of the ancient Japanese warrior that inspired the designers when creating the new front part!

But if the armor of the samurai consists of many plates of steel and leather, here the main element of artistic and combat is commas made of shiny plastic. In rich versions, they are also decorated with hot foil stamping called “satin chrome”. That’s how it is here because this is the N-Design package. And it’s new. This has never happened before.

So the current Nissan Qashqai, whose price starts at UAH 1,109,890, is most easily recognizable by its large radiator grille, which consists of dozens of shiny three-dimensional elements in the shape of a comma. But that’s not all.

Previously, the Nissan Qashqai had a strip of running lights, where the headlight was located. Now there are two stripes, solid and intermittent, and the headlights (by the way, the matrices that start with the standard Tekna configuration) seem to be covered by these stripes.

The shape of the rear lights has not changed, but they have a more transparent body and new LED elements in the form of the same comma. Moreover, with a 3D effect, because these commas, as explained by Nissan, seem to float in the headlight. Well, let’s wish them good swimming, and let’s look at the discs themselves.

Even the Nissan Qashqai with e-Power technology now comes standard with 18-gauge diamond-cut wheels. Their size increases with equipment level: mid-range versions have 19-wheel drive, and top-end versions have 20-wheel drive. And the selection of these disks is one of the widest in the segment.

Three new body colors appeared: more saturated Pearl White, Pearl Black and the unusual Deep Ocean. Depending on the lighting, it changes from dark blue to metallic turquoise. In addition, five colors from the body palette can be combined with a contrasting black roof.

The top versions have a lot of very cool material – Alcantara. And in the new N-Design package (1,541,890 – 1,811,410 UAH, depending on the power plant) there is even more Alcantara – it is used on the instrument panels, doors, armrests and even in the center console!

There’s more ambient (or aesthetic, as Nissan calls it) interior lighting. LED lighting appeared where there was none before, for example on the dashboard, and the choice of colors is now rich. You can adjust them without leaving the steering wheel – in general this is a good feature of Nissan crossovers here almost everything can be adjusted from the steering wheel.

LED backlighting is already available in N-Connecta (1,361,840 – 1,631,370 UAH) and Tekna (1,454,890 – 1,724,410 UAH) trim levels, but only at the front. And in N-Design (1,541,890 – 1,811,410 UAH) and Tekna+ (1,636,270 – 1,878,370 UAH), rear passengers also receive LED lighting.

Slightly, but still improved, one of the Qashqai’s most useful driver functions is the Around View Monitor, or AVM. The surrounding vision system is a Nissan feature that it introduced in 2007, that is, one of the first. And it’s included in the starter kit!

And now there are new parking lines, which made it more convenient to maneuver in a limited area of ​​space. Although it seems to us that the most convenient function of the AVM system is the ability to see the image on the right near the wheels – so as not to damage the rims, and the wide front angle – so as not to crane the your neck forward when something prevents you from seeing an obstacle to the right or left.

The color of the instrument scales on the display now changes to red in Sport mode or green in Eco mode. And the dashboard also has a new, “minimal” display mode, where you only see the selected gear, driving mode and speed. Nothing extra, just a digital detox.

What has changed under the hood? Absolutely nothing. But not because Nissan refuses to make a revolution here, but because it has already done it a long time ago.

After all, under the hood of the test crossover there is a 1.5 VC-Turbo power unit. There are only three cylinders, but this small engine can change its displacement by several cubic meters and the compression ratio – from 8:1 to 14:1.

This is achieved by changing the height of the piston, that is, by shifting TDC. There is a special fastening of connecting rods, which are connected to the crankshaft through a movable rocker arm block. This, in turn, is connected to an eccentric shaft and an electric motor, which, at the command of electronics, changes the tilt of the rocker arms, that is, the location of TDC. This allows the motor to switch from maximum economy mode to maximum performance mode within seconds.

Therefore, on the one hand, we have a rather complex design, and on the other, a very soft and gentle operating mode of the engine. After all, the internal combustion engine does not directly participate in the rotation of the wheels, it only produces an electric current that enters the battery and the electric motor, which already rotates the wheels. No gearbox – just a gearbox. And this is a significant plus for reliability in general.

Therefore, it is difficult to call the Nissan Qashqai e-Power a regular hybrid. Instead, it is a combination of hybrid and electric car. Unless the latter does not know how to charge himself. But the Nissan Qashqai can.

But this, again, applies to Qashqai with e-Power technology. Because there is also a Qashqai MHEV, that is, a mild hybrid. It has a 1.3 engine and a conventional transmission, but can be had with all-wheel drive, while the Qashqai e-Power is exclusive to front-wheel drive.

But how dynamic! 190 horses and 330 Nm feel good: only 7.9 seconds to hundreds. In addition, the box will not interfere in any way with the overclocking process, because the boxes – remember? – not here. But e-Power is a story not only about driving, but also about efficiency. If you really try, you can achieve 4.4 l/100 km. And even if it is a more realistic 5.5 l/100 km, then a 55 l tank will be enough for 1000 km.

After the update, the equipment of not only the top trim levels, but also the starting Acenta (1,109,890 – 1,507,740 UAH) has improved. There will now be a keyless entry system, lensed LED headlights with automatic high beam switching, dual-zone climate control and a 12.3-inch central display – same as here. There will also be wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and even navigation.

And most importantly – a complete set of security systems. It’s basically the same across all trim levels – from blind spot monitoring to intelligent cruise control. And this distinguishes the Nissan Qashqai from most competitors, where the level of safety depends on the configuration.

Structurally, the suspension has not changed: MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link at the rear. But the settings are now more comfortable: the updated Qashqai in 20-wheel drive is almost softer than before the update in 18-wheel drive. That’s also good news. Well, it’s time for us to draw conclusions.

Let’s start with the design, which can be considered successful and original. It is impossible to confuse the Nissan Qashqai with other crossovers! Bright and modern, it will definitely attract attention.

The new N-Design equipment and a standard new level of finish are a significant plus. After all, we spend a lot of time in cars, and we want the experience to be pleasant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will definitely improve them – already included in the starting trim, mind you!

Also worth noting is the e-Power technology with the internal combustion engine, which changes the compression ratio. Yes, nothing has changed in the update. But it still remains unique – its competitors don’t have it.

Therefore, if you have money for a new car, we advise you to take a closer look at the updated Nissan Qashqai – it is definitely worth it.

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