Nissan Qashqai (2014 - 2021)

The wide-ranging changes are based on consumer insight and customer feedback, and are designed to reinforce the Qashqai's position as the undisputed leader in the segment. Grade structure has also evolved with the introduction of Tekna+ grade, setting a new benchmark in luxury within the C-SUV crossover segment.

Innovative technologies have been added while others have been upgraded with new safety features. For customers seeking new levels of driving flexibility and greater freedom when they want it, the new Qashqai will be available with ProPILOT, Nissan's autonomous drive technology.

New to the Qashqai range is the addition of a fifth grade, Tekna+, which sits as the flagship of the line-up above Visia, Acenta, N-Connecta and Tekna. With exclusive new premium features as standard, Tekna+ is aimed at buyers seeking the ultimate Qashqai.

In the cabin, the new premium seats are trimmed in the highest-quality soft nappa leather, with luxurious 3D quilting on the centre panels - a first for Nissan in Europe. The design is replicated in the rear. Black leather is standard, with the choice of a rich plum colour as a £495 option.

The driver's seat features electrically controlled four-way pneumatic lumbar support - another first for Nissan Europe. This allows drivers of all sizes to fine-tune their seating position, enhancing comfort and reducing fatigue. A seat memory function with two stored positions has been added, linked to the door mirrors. This is a unique feature on any Nissan Europe model today, with operation via buttons on the seat's lower finisher. Externally, Tekna+ comes with premium satin silver door mirror caps and roof rails.

Entering the car, the striking new steering wheel is the first thing drivers will notice. It echoes the design of Nissan's newest models globally, including the all-new Micra and the new X-Trail, and is standard across the Qashqai range. Now D-shaped, the horizontal base means easier entry and exit for the driver, as well as providing a more sporty look and feel.

The steering wheel's compact central hub is smaller than before and the three spokes are slimmer, creating an upper space that's larger by 17% to improve instrument visibility. The four-way controllers for the combimeter display (left spoke) and cruise control (right spoke) are new, and offer customers more intuitive use and reduced 'eyes off the road' time.

The rim's width has been widened - from 34mm to 37.5mm - to provide a more comfortable and safer grip. A new premium style comes from the satin silver detailing on the central spoke, which echoes the shape of Nissan's iconic 'V-motion' front grille.

Many other areas of the cabin have been upgraded. The air vents and interior door handles are finished in higher-quality, more tactile materials, while smart new stitching has been added to the centre console armrest between the two front seats from Acenta grade. The Qashqai's headliner is now dark from Tekna grade. For customers choosing a Qashqai with the CVT XTronic automatic transmission a leather-style gaiter has been added to the gear selector. One-touch power window switches are now featured on all four doors and standard across the range. Additionally, all windows can be opened and closed together remotely via the key fob - for example, to help cool the vehicle quickly on hot days.

Now monoform in style, they feature an extended base and bolster shape for additional support. They have a higher back and tapered shoulders, creating a more roomy cabin environment, a more cossetted feeling for the occupant and improved visibility for rear passengers.

The back of the front seats has been redesigned, with a new and more scratch-resistant plastic trim and two useful map pockets. This slimmer finish improves knee room for rear seat passengers.

Acenta grade benefits from a new and more durable upholstered finish to the existing seat design.

Customer feedback has led to improvement of the Qashqai's two infotainment systems. DAB digital radio is now standard for the first time (in most markets) while the NissanConnect touch-screen satellite navigation unit (standard on N-Connecta grade and above, optional on Acenta) features a smart new user interface that's more app-like in appearance. Where the NissanConnect system is fitted, the new Qashqai now features a 'shark fin' roof antenna for improved reception and a more contemporary finish.

The Qashqai's light and spacious interior makes it a versatile vehicle for up to five occupants, with clever storage solutions and practical features for singles, couples or families. The boot is a truly flexible load space, with a carrying capacity of 430 litres which increases to 1598 litres when the 60:40 split rear seats are folded flat. The boot features Nissan's innovative Flexible Luggage Board System, which allows for shelves and dividers to be adjusted in any one of 18 configurations.

Reflecting customer demands for an extra audio option, the Qashqai is available with an all-new eight-speaker system. Supplied by BOSE, Nissan's audio partner, it features two 25mm tweeters at the base of the windscreen, a 165mm woofer in each front door and a 130mm mid-range speaker in each rear door. Two 115mm woofers are housed in a 7.7-litre custom-engineered enclosure mounted in the spare wheel well. A BOSE digital amplifier with eight channels of custom equalisation and digital signal processing is mounted under the passenger seat.

The most dramatic enhancements to the Nissan Qashqai are to its exterior. Featuring a contemporary new look - a style Nissan calls 'Premium Dynamism' - the upgrades are visible from every angle. The front of the Qashqai has been completely revised, with an integrated new front bumper fitted as standard. It features much greater use of the car's body colour, with the visible black plastic benefiting from a more premium gloss finish. Vents on each side aid engine cooling.

Mid-way down the bumper, the two horizontal finishers are new. They are coloured black on Visia and Acenta models and satin silver on N-Connecta and above. Front fog lamps - now more integrated and in a lower position - are standard from Acenta grade.

At the heart of redesigned front face of the Qashqai is the latest incarnation of Nissan's iconic 'V-motion' grille, which frames the new Nissan badge. There are two versions of the badge. From N-Connecta it has a completely flat finish; this is because the upgraded radar which forms part of the Qashqai's Intelligent Emergency Braking (IEB) system is now located behind it. A flat finish allows radar waves to pass through it unhindered. Previously the radar was fitted lower down the grille and to one side. A second version of the badge, contoured in a more traditional way, is fitted to cars without IEB.

Barely noticeable thanks to innovative Nissan engineering, the grille's chrome surround now houses the front camera that provides part of the image for the car's Intelligent Around View Monitor, Nissan's 360° parking camera system. Previously it was part of the Nissan badge.

Framing the grille are new headlamp clusters, with much clearer design differentiation between the halogen units on Visia, Acenta and N-Connecta grades and full LEDs on Tekna and Tekna+ (optional on N-Connecta). On the halogen lights, the 'boomerang' Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) signature is new, consisting of nine LEDs rather than six and a new thicker lens. The result is a more contemporary and premium appearance.

There are also improvements to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) performance on the new Qashqai. More sound insulation material, and material of a higher quality, has been added inside the front doors and behind the rear wheel arches. Additional sealing around the front doors has been integrated, while the rear door glass is now thicker - from 3.15mm to 3.85mm - to improve the rear passenger experience. The result is that road and wind noise in the cabin have been reduced on every Qashqai model. There is also less engine noise ingress on the 1.6-litre diesel thanks to powertrain calibration improvements.

Aerodynamic performance has always been a strong part of the Qashqai package and contributes to low running costs for drivers. Even after so many exterior design changes, the new model retains its drag coefficient of 0.32 - among the best in the class. That has been aided by new 'vortex generator' technology fitted to the underside of the car's front bumper. Normally seen only in the aircraft and aerospace industries, these small raised sections on the bumper's smooth surface break up airflow under the car. This helps to reduce drag and improves wind noise. Nissan believes this is a new innovation in automotive aerodynamics and a patent application has been filed.

Nissan Intelligent Mobility is the name for the brand's advanced technologies which make its cars more desirable by redefining how they are driven, powered and integrated into society. The goal is to make Nissan drivers feel more confident, excited and connected, while also enhancing road safety.

In Q4 FY17 Nissan will introduce ProPILOT on the new Qashqai. It's the first stage of the brand's journey to autonomous driving, giving drivers more freedom by allowing them to automate the mundane elements of their motoring life if they wish. ProPILOT will control the steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane on highways during heavy traffic congestion and high-speed cruising. It is based on three technologies - Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and Traffic Jam Pilot (TJP). Intuitive to use, ProPILOT will be activated via a button on the Qashqai's steering wheel. Information will be displayed in the combimeter between the instrument dials. Further details on ProPILOT will be given nearer to its launch.

New Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies have been added to the Qashqai. Rear Cross Traffic Alert, to mitigate the risk of low-speed impacts when reversing out of a parking space, is now available for the first time. If the driver attempts to reverse when an approaching vehicle is detected, the system gives visual and audible warnings.

Intelligent Emergency Braking was on the Qashqai from 2014, and has been upgraded with Pedestrian Recognition. This innovative technology helps to avoid or mitigate collisions with pedestrians using a combination of forward-facing radar and a camera. Blind Spot Warning is now based on radar data rather than camera images, which means it operates over a wider arc and with improved accuracy of detection.

The Qashqai continues to be offered with Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Intelligent Park Assist, Intelligent Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Warning. Next-generation control modules have been added to many of the car's technologies to optimise performance.

New to the Qashqai is a technology called Stand Still Assist (SSA), which supplements Hill Start Assist (HSA) on cars with a manual transmission. SSA holds the car in a stationary position for up to three minutes, after which time the parking brake is automatically activated. SSA works on inclines, declines and on the flat, allowing the driver to take their foot off the brake. This improves safety, boosts driver confidence and reduces fatigue. A green light on the instrument cluster indicates when it's activated.

The Qashqai's range of engines has been carried over, offering the choice of petrol or diesel, six-speed manual or CVT XTronic automatic transmissions, and two or four-wheel drive to meet every type of customer need. The line-up includes the 1.5-litre 110PS diesel which, with CO2 emissions of 99g/km and fuel economy of 3.8 litres/100km.