There is little doubt that heavy traffic is the bane of the lives of people who have to commute in urban areas on a daily basis, but surprisingly it does have one small plus. When the traffic is bumper-to-bumper, you do get an opportunity to check out the cars in front of you and in the next lane.
Last week, I was driving the refreshed version of the Nissan Qashqai and outside me in the middle lane was a Qashqai with an 09 reg. It was hard to believe that the stranger and myself were both driving the same model car, such are the improvements that Nissan have made to their popular SUV since it was launched in 2007.
I drove the car at the launch last October when we headed off from Nissan headquarters in Park West in Dublin to the famous Castle Leslie Estate in north Monaghan.
There seems to be no disputing the fact that Qashqai is the most copied car in the world. Since Nissan launched their popular SUV most of the other mainstream manufacturers have followed with a rival model. The Qashqai has been available in 140 markets worldwide and has sold over 4 million units. In Ireland over 60,000 drivers have bought a Qashqai.
Nissan launched their second generation of the car in 2014 and the third iteration came in 2021. Now we have a refreshed version. One of biggest changes seems to be to the grille, which is now very impressive, having been extended all the way across the front of the car.
I would liken it to a nose job. Many people are not happy with their noses and get some work done. It’s similar with the Qashqai which now has a very impressive grille/nose. You also get new headlights and discreet daytime running lights.
The new version is more muscular and sharper looking. The rear bumper has also been reshaped to deliver an all-round sleeker and sportier look. And you also now get the Nissan logo on the rear door. The refreshed Qashqai has Google built-in as part of the Nissan Connect infotainment system.
Inside, there is a relatively small infotainment screen on the dash, much smaller than the screens used in other modern cars. The interior has now got a very classy look, with a touch of brown PVC used on the dash.
For many years the Qashqai was regarded as a ‘cash-cow’ for Nissan, but sales have dipped in recent years. Part of the reason is that Nissan made the controversial decision to stop production of the Qashqai with diesel engines and that has allowed competitors who have cars in the same category with diesel engines, to grab a significant share of the market.
Some years ago, I was with a group of Irish motor journalists who travelled to Sunderland in the north of England see a new Qashqai come off the production line at the Nissan plant in Washington every minute. A combination of robots and humans working together in harmony.
I know it’s a strange compliment, but maybe the Qashqai has got too big. It’s no longer the neat, cuddly SUV that we remember from the early part of this century, but of course nothing stands still when it comes to design of new cars.
Prices start at €39,900, while the six-speed manual 1.3-litre SV Mild Hybrid version I drove will cost you €46,300, while the automatic version is €49,800. Road tax is €270. Also available in e-Power and as a full EV at the end of 2026.
There won’t be a Qashqai+2 version; Nissan reckon that their X-Trail will cater for people who want a seven-seater. And the really good news is that you get a spare wheel, which is a rarity nowadays.
