What we have here is Nissan releasing a new batch of photos of their stylized and improved Qashqai just ahead of the start of sales in Europe scheduled for July 2017.
To those who do not know, Qashqai is Nissan’s best-selling model in Europe, but the Japanese company, just a few years after the appearance of the second generation of this car, actually decided to improve its compact crossover in order to retain the current status with the European customers. If you ask yourself how? Well, the front part of the vehicle was completely restyled. That means they redesigned the headlights, bumper, and grille as well which is now noticeably larger.
The redesigned grille introduces a lot bigger chrome addition that frames the Nissan emblem. Because of the changes to the front end, the hood was also corrected where you now have those hood creases shifted more toward the front wings. Headlights are getting more pronounced LED “signature” and a similar change also happened with the brake lights and rear bumper. Customers will also have access to new alloy wheels that now size from 17 to 19 inches.
According to Nissan, materials that are used in the cabin have a lot higher quality than before, and they have also improved the vehicle’s control panel. There is a new multi-function steering wheel and improved NissanConnect multimedia system which is equipped with a new DAB digital radio and navigation. As an option, you will be graced by a Bose audio system with 7 speakers.
The company’s engineers have improved several things on the new Qashqai such as the suspension and steering systems, but they also tackled the noise problem that is now nearly nonexistent thanks to the cabin’s improved sound insulation. However, one of the most important innovations in the new 2018 Qashqai is the introduction of ProPilot which is company’s semi-autonomous driving technology. Thanks to this partial autopilot, Nissan’s crossover is capable of speeding up, slowing down and following the highway traffic lane (performs corrections of direction within the lines) – without the help of the driver.
Besides this, it is also equipped with a number of active safety systems, such as the automatic braking tech that kicks in in the case of an emergency. This system now includes pedestrians recognition technology on the road. Qashqai for 2018 also offers a system that warns you about the movement of other vehicles that are behind you (Rear Cross Traffic Alert), which is particularly useful when backing your car up. There are also technologies that recognize traffic signs, the system that detects drivers fatigue and loss of concentration, as well as the Intelligent Park Assist parking assistance system which detects other vehicles in the blind spots, a system that warns you when you involuntary make a lane departure and so on. The list is really big.
The engine range is pretty much unchanged and very familiar, but Nissan is particularly excited about their 1.5 L dCi unit that offers 110 HP and CO2 emissions of 99 g/km. The rest of engine range consists of 1.6 L dCi with 130 HP attached to the six-speed manual or the CVT and with the 4×4 drive system. There are also petrol units, and these include 1.2 L unit that offers 115 HP and has the same combination of transmission as the diesel one, plus the 1.6 L turbo that makes 163 HP, but this one is only available with a manual six-speed transmission. It is also good to note that the petrol models are exclusively offered with the FWD system.
2018 Nissan Qashqai Release Date and Price
As far as the prices are considered, they will be known in July when the vehicle hits the markets.
