New Nissan Qashqai facelift spotted testing for the first time
Nissan is looking to give its mid-size SUV a mid-life update
The Qashqai is Britain’s best-selling car and looking to capitalise on its success, Nissan is already working on the car’s mid-life refresh, and we’ve caught it testing on the public road.
Introduced in 2021, the third-generation Qashqai has been a hit (like its forebears), thanks to a premium-feeling interior, extra practicality and improved levels of technology. As this is the first instance of seeing the updated model, we expect it to arrive sometime in 2024, once again rivalling the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Ford Puma and its sister model from Renault, the Austral.
Camouflage at the front of the car suggests the new Qashqai will be given a redesigned grille, headlight and bumper arrangement – perhaps a more streamlined look influenced by the newer Ariya EV is in store. To the rear we can see this isn’t the all-electric Qashqai that has been rumoured as there’s an exhaust protruding under the camouflaged rear bumper. The rear light cluster could take on a new signature, and expect to see a revised bumper here too.
The interior of the current Qashqai is one of its best assets so we don’t expect much to change there. Twin 12.3-inch displays will continue to sit on the dash although we could see more equipment included as standard across the range.
The current Qashqai has a selection of two powertrains – a mild-hybrid 1.3-litre petrol engine with 138bhp and the e-Power model with a 1.5-litre petrol engine acting as a generator to charge the electric motor for 158bhp. Sitting on the CMF-CD platform, we doubt any more powertrains will arrive with the new version of the Qashqai.
In entry-level Visia trim with the mild-hybrid engine, the Qashqai costs from £27,120. The mid-life facelift is likely to bump this figure up nearer to £30,000.
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