Review and test Nissan Qashqai Mild-Hybrid 158 Xtronic Tekna+

next to the word cozy we have another gem in the Dutch language that you will find almost nowhere else: ‘Just act normal, then you are acting crazy enough.’ The buying behavior in our little country reflects this typically Dutch sobriety. Take the Nissan Qashqai and Juke. Because where the Qashqai has been a big favorite for years, the exciting-looking Juke barely manages to win hearts in the perhaps even more popular segment of smaller crossovers. And that while both cars (as Nissan repeats five hundred times) were the first of their kind. After three million copies in Europe, the Nissan Qashqai is now in its third generation. It looks a bit more exciting and futuristic, but not too much. He would, however, drive a lot sportier; let’s see what they baked.

At launch, the Qashqai will come to the showroom with two variations of the 1.3-liter four-cylinder. The entry-level model gets 140 hp and a manual gearbox, the more powerful version with 158 hp comes as a manual or automatic transmission. The latter gets 10 Nm extra and you can also order it with four-wheel drive. Especially with the manual versions, the engine shows its turbo character very much. At the bottom, the petrol engine is difficult to move and above 3,000 rpm you really notice that it is getting going. On the highway, downshifting is a must for a smooth overtaking action. It’s a good thing Nissan found 60 pounds somewhere to scrap (including a composite tailgate).

Less power is sometimes better

The funny thing is that the less powerful version picks up a little earlier. The specs confirm this: peak power is reached 500rpm earlier and torque 150rpm earlier. The gearbox has a fine resistance which gives the shifting a sporty edge. Incidentally, not a feature that everyone will appreciate in an SUV; some find it just a bit stiff to shift. The automatic transmission does what a French beret does for people with a less than interesting personality: it obscures the (lack of) character. The unwillingness at the bottom of the revs is not noticeable in the automatic transmission.

The gearbox in the Nissan Qashqai

Moreover, the bin seems to have a good eye on what you are planning; rarely ‘switches’ he too far back or he remains too low in the revs hang. To be honest, we didn’t realize at first that we were on the road with a CVT automatic transmission, which is a big compliment. For all motorizations applies that the four-cylinder quietly does its job and that you will rather suffer from some wind noise than from hum.

As far as we are concerned, you go for the automatic transmission with the new Nissan Qashqai. That may also attract the most – seems to be important in this segment. If you prefer a manual gearbox and you are not such a touring hunter, you might as well keep 2,000 euros in your pocket and take the 140 hp version. Or even better: get a thicker version for the same money. You have the cheapest Qashqai from 33,540 euros, which is fairly in line with the competition.

How sporty is the Nissan Qashqai?

Nissan wants you to know that they have put extra focus on the sportiness, steering feel and dynamics of the new Qashqai. Doesn’t sound like something buyers want, so we’ve got some good news. The Qashqai simply drives pleasantly. It’s not overly sporty or over-suspended, but it certainly doesn’t feel like you’re swinging a sack of potatoes through the corners. That’s for the better, because adaptive dampers are not on the option list, so the only setting better be the right one.

The chairs

Furthermore, it is nice to sit in the Qashqai. Especially the steering wheel is easy to adjust, so that a pleasant seat is quickly found. The seat of the chair could be a little longer (or extendable), but otherwise it sits well. The space in the back is fine, although driving to Calabria with four adults is a bit ambitious.

In the thickest version (Tekna +), Nissan installs a set of massage chairs with three positions. We had trouble spotting the differences between the modes and as far as the massage itself is concerned, wellness centers don’t have to fear competition. The Bose audio system that comes in the same package also lacks some depth. The 20-inch wheels, the panoramic roof and the leather upholstery with diamond stitching make this version worthwhile.

The navigation system in the new Nissan Qashqai isn’t the clearest we’ve ever come across, but it works well. Just like the rest of the infotainment system; not the most beautiful graphics or the best layout of the menus, but all fine to work with. The common thread is starting to show itself, isn’t it? The only really annoying thing is that Apple CarPlay takes over the entire screen when you receive a WhatsApp message, causing you to temporarily miss your navigation. Other notifications do get a small pop-up. What is great, however, is the presence of enough physical buttons to, for example, set the heating or change the volume of the music.

The active safety systems

In addition, the Qashqai almost bursts out of its body of all safety systems. Very nice is the traffic sign recognition that does not randomly throw down the speed of the cruise control, but only adjusts downwards or upwards when you press the button once. Another system ensures that the car brakes automatically if you threaten to hit a pole when parking and the well-known blind spot sensors and self-locking systems are all on board. The lane assistant wants to push the car just a little too much to the middle of the lane at times, but otherwise you notice little of the presence of all systems. The interior is also nicely finished with enough soft materials and nice motifs.

The predominant thought is that the new Nissan Qashqai is simply a very nice car to get from A to B. Seems people still do that with a car. Quiet, comfortable and besides, it doesn’t look bad. Not everything in life has to be very special; Imagine if you had to cook a three-course meal every day, you’d go crazy. Sometimes just is really crazy enough. It seems that Nissan has built the Qashqai among the SUVs with their new SUV.

The other option

If you are not in a hurry, you can wait a little longer for the so-called E-Power powertrain that comes next year. Not because that is necessarily the most attractive choice, but because no one really knows what they are going to do yet. It drives fully electric and gets its power from a 1.5-litre four-cylinder that acts as a generator. The striking thing is that this car does not have a plug to recharge. Sounds rather cumbersome, but Nissan apparently sees some bread in it. The biggest question is what this version will cost. If CO2 emissions remain within limits, it could be an interesting car for the Netherlands. Of course, consumption in practice must also be friendly. The Outlander PHEV did much the same, but with a plug, but it wasn’t very economical once the battery gave its last sigh. We are slightly skeptical, but above all very curious.