Nissan Qashqai N-Tec 1.5 dCi 4x2, road test (Interior, exterior and boot design)

In this second instalment we tell you all the details of the interior and exterior of the Nissan Qashqai we have been testing at Highmotor.

In the first part of the test we went through all its technical details of this Japanese crossover that has become a true bestseller.

Exterior design

The Nissan Qashqai has been completely redesigned, both inside and out, with the arrival of this new generation. The second edition of the Qashqai has been on our roads since 2014, but it still turns heads thanks to a much more attractive look than the first generation.

Looking at the exterior, we must highlight its front end, which adopts much sharper lines. The grille now has a more aggressive look, with a V-shaped finish surrounding the logo (which is large). This grille has become the house signature, as the manufacturer’s new models all come with this grille, including the Pulsar and the X-Trail.

The headlights also have a sharper and more elongated look, including the LED daytime running light fitted as standard across the range. As an option, they can also feature LED technology for the dipped and main beams. Our unit did not have this option. The front bumper has a large air intake in the centre, while the fog lights sit at the sides. Its ground clearance may be somewhat limited when driving over rough terrain.

The side view does not change as radically as the front; instead, it modifies its look by raising the waistline. The window surrounds are finished in chrome, which increases the perceived quality of the Nissan. The lower part is completed with black plastic cladding that also runs along the wheel arches, enhancing the rugged image.

At the rear we find a fairly bulky bumper, with “protectors” that encourage the user to tackle a trip across the countryside. The rear window is not especially large, which does not help rear visibility. It has no independent opening. The rear lights have followed the front ones, improving their appearance and adopting LED technology for some functions such as the brake light.

Interior design and boot

Moving to the interior, we quickly notice that the Qashqai has made a great leap in quality over its predecessor. The first thing that catches the eye are the seats, particularly comfortable and able to devour mile after mile without fatigue. The dashboard is improved by the addition of a large 5″ colour TFT screen. The steering wheel has controls with which to operate the phone, the radio or the instrument cluster.

The dashboard brings together the multimedia system and the controls for the dual-zone climate control, set into a piano-black trim that also extends to the lower section, the sides of the dashboard and the doors. The materials are of noticeable quality, with soft plastics across the whole upper section and front doors. On the lower part and rear doors we find harder plastics, somewhat less pleasant to the touch.

However, the fit and finish are good, with no misalignments or creaks in any situation. The engine starts with a button, and there is also subtle ambient lighting along the sides of the gear selector. A highlight of this version is the large one-piece glass panoramic roof, which does not open, and which adds light and a sense of space to the cabin.

Speaking of space, the front seats are very roomy, while in the rear there is sufficient legroom, as well as headroom. The boot offers a good capacity of 439 litres, expandable to a maximum of 1,513 litres when the second row of seats is folded, which folds down in a 60:40 split. It also has a very practical false floor.

Photography | Daniel Valdivielso

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverNissan Qashqai19 versions · from 32,200 €