“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” is a popular adage from Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Julliet.
A Nissan by any other name … well, let’s look at the Qashqai, the badge chosen by the Japanese manufacturer for its popular urban crossover SUVs, a name copied from a nomadic tribe of pastoralists in Iran.
Nissan believes buyers will be nomadic in nature, too, driving the Qashqai hybrid across new destinations while knowing it is what it is … a Nissan!
This motoring writer was one of the first to test drive the newly-minted 2025 Nissan Qashqai N-design e-Power – a racy all-new grade that was launched alongside the face-lifted version of the third-gen Qashqai earlier this year.
Priced at $54,365, plus on-road costs, it is the most expensive Qashqai ever sold by Nissan in Australia, but holds the line on pricing compared to its predecessor
An e-Power hybrid-only proposition with no internal combustion engine option, this is the UK-built small SUV’s sporty-luxury flagship, with lots of glossy trim, striking 20- in. alloys and body-coloured bumpers to boot.
The e-Power system works by making the petrol engine subservient to the e-motor and a small 2.1 kWh battery pack. Synonymous with the word ‘hybrid’, which is the desire to save fuel, the system’s design allows the electric motor and petrol engine to drive the wheels at the same time, or individually. So, you can run on EV power, or petrol power, or a combination of both.
Nissan claims 4.8L/100 km, compared to as much as 6.1L/100km for the turbo-petrol engine.
Nissan has changed the name of all but the base model, now offering six variants. While ST remains, ST+ becomes ST-L, ST-L becomes Ti and Ti becomes Ti-L. Nissan says this aligns Qashqai better among its SUV siblings such as the X-Trail.
The 2025 Qashqai range sees an adjustment to the grade names to align with Nissan’s larger SUVs.
Across the grades, every Qashqai come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and dual-zone climate control. The ST misses out on embedded satellite-navigation, a wireless phone charger, front parking sensors and an around-view safety camera.
A powered driver’s seat and heated front seats come with the Ti-L, along with a panoramic sunroof, a powered front passenger seat and tailgate, leather trim, parking assist, a head-up display and Bose audio.
The allure adds a revised exterior design to entice crossover customers; interior ambience with new materials and trim; a new design for enhanced visual appeal; and the debut of Nissan’s ‘connected car service’ that cuts across major systems – security, convenience, entertainment and information, navigation and communication.
All Qashqai models include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and junction assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert with rear braking, traffic sign recognition and speed adaption and driver monitoring.
The Qashqai has a five-star ANCAP rating, seven airbags, three child seat top tethers and two ISOFIX mounting points. Storage includes deep, round door bins, armrest-integrated cupholders and a small cubby hole on each upper door panel.
Boot space ranks among the biggest in the small SUV segment. e-Power variants offer a middle-of-the-road 404 litres, but that expands to 504 litres for variants without the hybrid powertrain.
All new Nissan models bring three years of ‘complimentary access’, a six-month free trial of the Nissan ‘connect premium’ that accompanies each vehicle purchased.
“While the original Qashqai essentially pioneered the urban crossover SUV, the 2025 update redefines the segment in terms of style and substance,” says Nissan Australia marketing director Sriram Padmanabhan.
Elsewhere across the range, the front grille has been updated to create a more striking first impression. It now consists of dozens of high-gloss, three-dimensional ‘comma’-shaped elements painted in high gloss black which appear to float in the space between the lip of the bonnet and the number plate holder. To the sides, the ‘commas’ are finished in a ‘satin chrome’ hot foil stamp on select grades. Daytime running lights consist of five small lenses which are the same shape as the ‘commas’ on the main grille.
So, more power – electric power – and style for Nissan or is that Qashqai?
Editor’s note: The new Nissan Qashqai is now available with a special introductory price on the ST and ST-L grades for vehicles delivered until April 30. Visit your preferred dealer for details
