Nissan Qashqai 2024 gets a bold new face

Since the third-generation Nissan Qashqai arrived in 2021, the crossover has sold more than 350,000 examples across Europe.

To remain competitive in the segment it effectively created, the Japanese manufacturer has refreshed its best-selling model, giving it a new look.

A new face for the Nissan Qashqai

Nissan has taken the saying “new year, new me” literally, unveiling a Qashqai whose front end is entirely different from the one seen before. It adopts a far sportier appearance, shaped around several triangular sections.

Little, if anything, remains of the familiar V-Motion grille. It has been replaced by a larger grille that visually spans almost the entire width of the car and features a pattern inspired by samurai armour.

The front end also gains a new lighting signature - the previous boomerang motif has gone - along with redesigned headlamps.

The daytime running lights are now split into two sections: an upper strip and a lower section positioned directly beneath the headlamp, made up of five elements.

At the rear, the light clusters retain their previous shape but receive a new LED arrangement. The lower bumper has also been reshaped to match the changes made at the front.

The 2024 Qashqai can be fitted with wheels from 17 to 20 inches, while 18-inch wheels now come as standard on mid-range trim levels.

Inside, the revisions are more subtle, focusing on new patterns and materials, including Alcantara in better-equipped versions.

The first Nissan in Europe with Google

Nissan’s changes are not purely cosmetic. The 2024 Qashqai has received a stronger technology offering, beginning with its status as the first Nissan in Europe to feature Google’s Android Auto operating system.

This brings additional possibilities, including access to Google Assistant for voice commands, Google Play for apps, and Google Maps.

It also includes Nissan Connected Services, which make the Qashqai safer. Using the Nissan Connect app, the driver can receive alerts if doors have been left locked or windows left open, and can operate these functions remotely. It is also possible to track the vehicle’s location live and, in the event of theft, notify insurers and the authorities.

Invisible bonnet

The Nissan Qashqai 2024 has also significantly upgraded its AVM (Around View Monitor) system, which uses four exterior cameras and provides eight distinct viewing angles.

As well as offering a 3D view of the vehicle, the AVM system introduces a new function: the invisible bonnet. This lets the driver see the exact position of the front wheels, making more difficult manoeuvres easier, such as those in multi-storey car parks. For example, it may help prevent unwanted contact between a wheel and a kerb.

One button to set everything as you like it

The driving assistance systems, or ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), have also been enhanced in the 2024 Qashqai.

For instance, autonomous emergency braking has been recalibrated to identify the risk of a potential collision more effectively and respond more quickly to prevent it.

Under the new safety rules imposed by the European Union, most onboard assistance systems must automatically be activated whenever the vehicle is started, including the emergency lane-keeping system and intelligent speed assist.

In other words, even when the driver has switched off certain systems or adjusted how they intervene while driving, they return to their original settings when the car is started again.

To reduce the inconvenience of having to configure them repeatedly, Nissan has added a steering-wheel button - “Driver Assist Custom Mode” - that allows the intervention of the various driving assistance systems to be personalised and those preferences saved.

The next time the vehicle is started, the driver simply presses this button, confirms with the “Ok” button, and everything is set according to the saved preferences.

No changes to the powertrains

The Nissan Qashqai 2024 powertrains remain exactly as before, comprising a 12 V mild-hybrid option and the e-Power hybrid, which does not need plugging in:

• Qashqai mild Hybrid: 1.3 DIG-T, 12 V mild-hybrid, with 140 hp and 158 hp;
• Qashqai e-Power: electric motor, 190 hp (140 kW), 1.5-litre turbo engine used solely as a generator.

When will it arrive?

The Nissan Qashqai 2024 is expected to reach the market in summer, although pricing has not yet been announced.