Articles by Tim Nicholson

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.

Mercedes-Benz has undercut the starting price of its two main rivals with its new EQE electric sedan.The sleek saloon is on sale from today, and will sit under the recently launched S-Class-sized EQS in Benz's growing electric vehicle line-up.It will be i

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?

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