Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 160 Tekna 2019 UK review
January 01, 2019
A year on from its mid-life facelift, the second-generation Nissan Qashqai is comfortably still the country’s most popular crossover - but this is a rapidly growing corner of the market, and competition is fierce.
Rivals were beginning to eclipse the class-defining Qashqai with more dynamic handling and more up-to-date infotainment - although not, it must be said, with higher sales. So, to maintain its position at the top, Nissan has fired back with a focus on technology and a brace of new engines.
There’s now a single petrol, a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-pot, which replaces the 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre units. It's available in two states of tune, and both versions are more efficient than the engines they replace, with improved fuel economy and lower emissions courtesy of a petrol particulate filter. Plus, they are tuned to deliver more torque at the lower end of the rev range - something lacking in the old 1.2.
The more potent 158bhp engine can now be mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, a first for any mainstream Nissan and following in the tyre treads of the flagship GT-R supercar. It is the model tested here, in top-end Tekna trim.
The petrol is joined by a 1.5-litre diesel at launch and will be followed by a 1.7-litre oil-burner in early 2019. The latter will reintroduce a CVT transmission to the range, along with four-wheel drive. All petrol models are front-wheel-drive only.
Downsized engines and revised infotainment keep the nation's favourite crossover competitive
Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 160 Tekna DCT specification
Where Cheshire, UK Price £29,445 On sale now Engine 1332cc, four-cylinder, turbocharged, petrol Power 158bhp at 5500rpm Torque 199lb ft at 1600-3500rpm Gearbox six-speed manual Kerb weight 1435kg Top speed 123mph 0-62mph 9.9sec Fuel economy 49.4mpg CO2 131g/km, Rivals Seat Ateca, Skoda Karoq