New Nissan Qashqai debuts with sporty looks and e-Power

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Nissan has taken the camouflage off the 3rd generation Qashqai for Europe, scheduled to go on sale this summer. The new Qashqai is the European version of the 3rd generation Rogue that debuted in June 2020.

The new Qashqai is the first model in Europe to use the Alliance’s CMF-C platform, which is supposedly lighter and stronger. There’s an overall weight saving of up to 60 kg (132.3 lbs) and a 41% increase in structural rigidity over the outgoing model. The tailgate, for example, is now made of a composite material, which saves 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs). More here.

With the new platform, the new Qashqai has an updated MacPherson strut set-up at the front and at the rear. The rear suspension features a torsion beam for front-wheel drive models and a multi-link configuration for all-wheel drive models with 20-inch wheels.

As for the design, the new Qashqai looks sportier compared to its aforementioned American sibling, thanks to its smaller dimensions, a sporty front bumper, blacked-out V-Motion grille, floating roof design and 20-inch alloy wheels. Depending on the trim, the Qashqai gets adaptive LED headlights. There’ll be 11 body colors to choose from, with 5 two-tone combinations.

Inside, the dashboard looks almost identical to that of the Rogue and so is the list of features, which include a 12.3-inch TFT driver display, a 10.8-inch Head-Up Display, a 9-inch central touchscreen, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay connectivity, Google Assistant & Amazon Alexa support, and Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link.

As for the powertrains, there’ll be two options. The first one will be a 1.3L 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a 12-volt mild-hybrid system, and the second one will be the brand’s e-Power series-hybrid system, which is a combination of a 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine and an EM57 electric motor — a setup similar to the new Kicks e-Power and 3rd gen Note, but you can expect significantly higher output figures. Depending on the market, the transmission will be a 6-speed manual or a CVT.

At launch, however, the new Qashqai will offer only the mild-hybrid powertrain, with the e-Power to join at a later date. For those scratching their heads, a series-hybrid is where the ICE (petrol engine in this case) acts as a generator, while the electric motor is the one that actually drives the vehicle.