The facelifted Nissan Qashqai brings fresh new looks to a proven formula. But in the face of new energy competition, will it simply fade to the back?
Singapore – Just one generation ago, the Nissan Qashqai was one of the best selling compact SUVs on our island. A practical small SUV which did not break the bank – an SUV for the people. But with the current generation car, Nissan made the decision to go a little upmarket with it, adding a little plushness to the experience; but in the process, jacking up the price tag. It also came in a time when COEs were on an upward trajectory.
Slightly more posh on the outside
The facelift brings the Qashqai visually closer to the Nissan Ariya EV. The most notable changes are its slim headlamps, which are perched above a ginormous grill. As for the rear, the tail lamps have been given a small tweak, and a re-worked bumper projects more girth.
Nappa Country
The 2025 car’s interior has been left untouched, which is good, considering that I already found the pre-facelifted car to be quite posh for something in its class. Also like previously, Nissan has offered us the Prestige trim Qashqai with a light tan Nappa leather interior. While the hides are not factory fitted, one can be quite convinced that they are. We learnt that the Qashqai Prestige is also available with a black Nappa option, but the door cards are lined in suede, which in my opinion, picks up dirt.
A 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is much wider than it is tall, sits atop the dashboard. It offers wireless connectivity through both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and navigating though its menu and features is as easy as 1-2-3 and four. As for the driver, there is a digital instrument cluster, which offers a little customisation. Overall button feel is decent, but pales in comparison to those found on the Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5.
With a boot volume of 504 litres, it sits squarely in the middle when compared to its peers. The Hyundai Tucson at 620 litres easily trumps the Nissan, while the new MG HS offers a near-identical 507 litres.
Familiar powertrain
The 1.3-ish-litre turbocharged engine, which is carried over from the pre-facelift car is the same unit found in some of Renault’s cars, and more prominently powering the bulk of the compact premium range of Mercedes-Benz, like the A-Class, GLB and CLA. Here, it produces 158hp and 270Nm, and is assisted with mild hybrid technology. But unlike Renault and Mercedes-Benz, which have opted for a DCT, Nissan, like many Japanese carmakers, chose to stick with a belt-driven CVT.
The result is a willing engine, albeit with performance a little rubberband-like, which revs well within an optimum torque band. It accelerates surprisingly briskly and is devoid of that nasty sluggishness we experienced with cars like their Latio with the CVT. However, Nissan has caved to customer sentiment and have added jerks between virtual gear changes, and even to its “downshifts”. That said, to make driving smoother, the CVT allows for a little bit of play when you lift-off the throttle, giving you just a minor bit of coasting. However, this is far from how Volkswagen Group cars do it with their DSGs.
Behind the wheel, the Qashqai feels pleasantly comfortable, with the suspension tuned to deliver a fair mix of fluff for town driving, and with just a little firmness dialed-in, to instill confidence around turns. Like all SUVs in its class, there is that little bit of body roll you can expect, but a simple lift-off of the throttle usually does the job of tucking the compact SUV back in.
The CVT is surprisingly reactive when powering out of turns. Perhaps my preference for dual clutch transmissions still makes me think that CVTs are too “variable” with their ratios for my liking.
Big fish in a much bigger pond today
The 2025 Nissan Qashqai finds itself in the midst of even more competition today, than just one generation back, where it was one of the best selling cars in Singapore. It is no secret that the Chinese have caught up with the world, and now have a whole list of offerings (mostly electric), which undercut legacy carmakers, and tempting would-be buyers in their direction.
At $218,800 for the Prestige variant, and $10,000 less for the Premium, its closest rival would be the Category A Volkswagen Tiguan.
Text & Photos: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good handling | Jerks added to the CVT, which ruins smoothness |
| Quality interior | |
| Feels smoother than a Mercedes-Benz |
2025 Nissan Qashqai Mild Hybrid 1.3 Turbo Prestige
| Drivetrain | Petrol-electric mild hybrid |
| Layout | 1,332cc, inline 4 |
| Power / torque | 158hp / 270Nm |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Efficiency | 16.1km/l |
| Fuel Capacity | 55 Litres |
| 0-100km/h | – |
| Top Speed | – |
| VES Band | B |
| Dealer | Tan Chong Motor Sales |
| Price | S$218,888 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | Well executed, comfortable, quite posh. |
