Car Reviews

Now that it has arrived in the form of the GWM Tank 300, it kind of makes us wonder why it’s taken so long to get a ladder-chassis, off-road four-wheel-drive with a conventional (rather than a mild or PHEV) hybrid driveline on to the market here.

If you want the most Nissan Qashqai money can buy, look no further than the flagship Ti.At $47,390 before on-road costs, the Qashqai would tip over the $50,000 mark when you factor in on-roads. And that is a whopping $8300 more than the old Ti!But, you do get high-end features like a 10.8-inch head-up display, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, quilted leather accented seats with a massage function at the front, driver seat memory function, 10-speaker Bose audio system, panoramic sunroof, hands-free power tailgate, auto parking and the Divide N Hide boot storage system.Until the 'ePower' hybrid arrives at some point in 2023, the Qashqai range uses a new 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine - found in some Renault models - pumping out a decent 110kW/250Nm, matching the Skoda Kamiq. It’s front-wheel drive and uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT).There’s a lot more safety gear too, including auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, rear AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise, rear cross-traffic alert, a front centre airbag, lane departure warning, and a blind spot warning. 

Second from top ST-L grade Qashqai’s might be the sweet spot of the new-gen small-SUV range, because you get a lot of kit for your money. Priced from $42,190, before on-road costs, the ST-L is a not insignificant $7500 more expensive than the grade it replaces. Once again, that comes with a much bigger suite of standard equipment.And that includes a heated leather steering wheel, power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, wireless charging, adaptive LED headlights, tinted windows, roof rails, dual-zone automatic climate control, and 19-inch alloys.Until the 2023 launch of Nissan’s 'ePower' hybrid, the Qashqai range is powered by a new 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine - found in a couple of Renault SUV models - pumping out a decent 110kW/250Nm, matching the Skoda Kamiq. It’s front-wheel drive and uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT).There’s a lot more safety gear, too, including auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, rear AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise, rear cross-traffic alert, a front centre airbag, lane departure warning, and a blind-spot warning. The ST-L also introduces the 'ProPilot' system that combines adaptive cruise control with steering and lane keep assist tech for semi-autonomous driving.

If you’re after a bit more kit from your Qashqai but don’t want to crack the $40,000 mark, there’s the ST+. It’s just like an ST but with more stuff.Pricing is set at $37,890, before on-road costs, which is about $5000 more than the model it replaces. It’s also $4000 more than an ST.But for that $4000, you get a larger 12.3-inch multimedia display with sat-nav and wireless Apple CarPlay, LED fog lights, a surround-view monitor, rain-sensing wipers and 18-inch alloy wheels.Until the arrival of the 'ePower' hybrid in 2023, the ST+ uses a new 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine - found in the Renault Captur and Arkana - delivering a more than reasonable 110kW/250Nm, matching the Skoda Kamiq. It’s front-wheel drive and uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT).There’s a lot more safety gear too, including auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, rear AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise, rear cross-traffic alert, a front centre airbag, lane departure warning, and a blind spot warning.

After eight years, the Nissan Qashqai has finally been replaced by a new-generation model. A new platform, new powertrain and a massive uptick in standard equipment - including all-important safety gear - are the headline acts.The base ST kicks things off at $33,890, before on-road costs, for the auto - there is no longer a range-opening, sub-$30,000 manual - and that’s a $3000 increase compared with the outgoing ST.Thankfully, you get a lot of gear, including auto LED headlights, 8.0-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, heated and auto-folding exterior mirrors, auto stop-start, keyless entry and start and 17-inch alloy wheels. But you also get cloth seats and a plastic steering wheel. And if you want the bigger touchscreen you have to step up to the ST+.Until the arrival of the 'ePower' hybrid in 2023, all Qashqai grades are powered by a new 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine - seen in the Renault Captur and Arkana - offering up a healthy 110kW/250Nm, the same as a Skoda Kamiq. It’s front-wheel drive only and uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT).Safety gets a big boost in the new model with auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, rear AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise, rear cross-traffic alert, a front centre airbag, lane departure warning, and a blind-spot warning.

The Nissan Qashqai lived a long life in its second generation, and was a compelling value-packed model late in its run. But tech and powertrain-wise, it lagged its newer competitors. Nissan has introduced the third-generation of its small SUV and it now comes with a lot of the safety and in-car tech missing from the old one. But is the price hike worth it?

Subaru's BRZ, along with its Toyota GR86 twin, has carved out a reputation for pure sports car driving fun at a relatively affordable price. The current, second-generation version costs a little more, but offers more sophistication and equipment. But our test of the S manual has confirmed a big safety gap!

The SX is the entry-grade in the Isuzu D-Max line-up and pricing starts at $32,200 for the Single Cab Chassis 4x2 with the manual gearbox and tops out at $52,200.

The LS-M sits on the rung above the entry grade SX in the D-Max ute line-up with the 4x4 Crew Cab Chassis version listing for $53,800 and the 4x4 Crew Cab Ut body style costing $53,300 with the manual gearbox and $200 more for the auto.

The LS-T sits at the top of the Isuzu MU-X range with a list price of $61,400 for the two-wheel drive version and $67,400 for the four-wheel drive.