Feedback

2022 Nissan Qashqai Review: Moving Up

Lionel Kong
26/04/2022

Back to Page 1: Design and Interior

Driving Experience

The great news is that despite the engine driving the front wheels through a CVT, usually notorious for their rubber bandy power transmission, there’s none of that in the Qashqai. The car always feels responsive in the standard drive mode, and sport mode puts it into a sort of hyper responsive program. Nissan didn’t give an official 0 to 100km/h dash time, but we figured that at its paciest setting you’re looking at a mid eight-second time. 

Nissan Qashqai 2022 in Singapore engine

It can be driven very sedately, but when you really lean on the accelerator it punches hard enough for quick bursts of speed. The sequential shift paddles on the steering wheel locks the transmission to seven fixed gear ratios, though in practical use they are most likely deployed for engine braking on slow, steep descents like long multi-storey carpark spiral ramps. 

Nissan Qashqai 2022 in Singapore

Steering feel is pretty relaxed though, so you don’t have to worry about a twitch on the wheel sending the car over to the next lane like you would find from driving a Mini Cooper JCW

Cornering composure is pretty good for a car for this size, though we reckon that the 18-inch wheels of the Premium variant, with the fatter tyres, will offer a slightly more comfortable ride than the 19-inch wheels riding on tyres with less sidewall height.

Nissan Qashqai 2022 in Singapore instruments

It’s also very well stocked with active safety systems. The lane departure warning will buzz the steering wheel with a vibration motor should the car start to deviate from the driven lane. Blind spot warning indicators on the wing mirror alert you to hidden motorcycles, and forward collision assist sounds an alarm if the car thinks that you are going to crash into the vehicle ahead. At low speeds, intelligent emergency braking will halt the car if it senses an immediate threat of collision, which can typically happen at traffic junctions with vehicles inching forwards and stopping suddenly.

Nissan Qashqai 2022 in Singapore console


The adaptive cruise control is applicable only on the Prestige variant, and on smooth highway drives does the job of tracking, and matching the speed of cars in front of you pretty well. However we wouldn’t advise using it in start-stop traffic as the system won’t bring the car to a complete stop, and it reacts quite suddenly at lower speeds. It’s not the Qashqai’s AI that you have to worry about, but rather, there’s the risk of the car behind ramming into your rear if the driver isn’t keeping a safe distance or is not alert.



Competition and Conclusion
One might think that the Honda HR-V is the most obvious alternate choice to the Nissan Qashqai, but it’s not. The Qashqai’s much more powerful engine and fully loaded cabin raises it head and shoulders above the Honda. Unfortunately, you must pay to play and the Qashqai’s much higher price will put it out of reach of some shoppers looking for a smart family urban SUV. 

Nissan Qashqai 2022 in Singapore

It’s closer in theme with the Peugeot 3008, which is around S$10k cheaper and slightly less powerful. Despite being about the same size, the French-made Peugeot has a very different styling aesthetic and the final deciding factors could be down to brand loyalty and personal opinion.

Nissan Qashqai 2022 in Singapore


There’s also the Peugeot 3008’s cousin, the Citroen C5 Aircross. It’s built on the same chassis and has the same 1.2-litre turbo engine as the Peugeot, but has less features and as a result a more palatable price tag. 



Nissan Qashqai 2022 in Singapore control lever

The Qashqai’s increased size and upmarket positioning has also put it within range of a base model Hyundai Tucson. The popular South Korean car has plenty of fans and is a larger car than the Qashqai too. It is however, thirstier with a 1.6-litre turbo engine and in these days of sky-high petrol prices, and road tax, means a lot.

wheel Nissan Qashqai 2022 in Singapore


They base model Qashqai Premium is quite a bit cheaper, though it does away with some niceties. The most obvious are the lack of a panoramic moonroof and digital instrument cluster.

The Qashqai is fighting for position in a crowded spot, though it’s arguably above the ultra-price sensitive segment of small crossover SUVs like the Toyota Yaris Cross. As it stands, it’s worth remembering that if you want a smaller Nissan crossover SUV there’s the very accomplished Nissan Kicks E-Power, a car that has in many ways filled the spot of the Qashqai as it moves upmarket.

Nissan Qashqai 2022 in Singapore

Nissan Qashqai Prestige

Drivetrain type Petrol-electric mild hybrid 
Engine 1,332cc, inline 4, turbocharged 
Power157hp at 5500rpm
Torque270Nm at 1800-3750rpm 
GearboxCVT 
Electric MotorNot stated
BatteryLithium Ion, unknown capacity
System PowerNot stated
System Torque Not stated
0-100km/h8.5 seconds (estimated)
Top Speed200km/h (estimated)
Fuel Efficiency5.5 L/100km 
VES Band / modifier A2 / -S$15,000
AgentTan Chong Motor
PriceS$175,800 with COE and VES
Availability Now
Verdict More techy and with a properly classy interior, the Qashqai has definitely gone up a level and is now a step above its old competitors

Pages: 1 2

Tags:

5 seat 5-door nissan petrol Prestige Qashqai SUV

About the Author

Lionel Kong

An old hand from the bad old days of crazy COEs, the straight-shooting, ex-CarBuyer editor is back in the four-wheeled world. Rumours that he went to another country to start a Judas Priest tribute band are unfounded.

Related Models

Loading...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

CarBuyer – Revolutionizing The Online Car Marketplace In Singapore

Buy Used And New Cars Online
Start your car buying journey with CarBuyer as we connect you seamlessly to the industry’s best CaseTrust-SVTA accredited car dealerships. As a one stop car online portal you can now buy your new ride, be it a pre-owned car or a brand new car from trusted dealers all over Singapore, all in one place. Our ever expanding listing of quality and covet-worthy cars, new and second hand, from both owners and trusted car dealers, will leave you spoilt for choice. Refine your search by vehicle type, registration year, price, mileage, engine type, transmission, annual depreciation value and more to find the car that best suits your needs, taste and lifestyle. You can even search for your car by dealer or directly by owner.

Sell Your Car In An Instant With Confidence
We all know how selling a car in Singapore can be a daunting task especially for a first time car seller; from trying to get a valuation for your car, finding a trusted dealer, to getting the best quote on your vehicle. CarBuyer understands the hassle and even the costs involved and have as such partnered with Huawei to develop a FIRST in Southeast Asia AI car valuation tool that is able to provide a car’s resale value at the snap of a finger. Backed with a consortium of trusted CaseTrust-SVTA accredited car dealers you can be assured that you are getting the best price for your vehicle and do not have to worry about any hidden costs.

The Ultimate Car Shopping Experience Online
CarBuyer platform is the first of its kind to be backed by Huawei’s Artificial Intelligence and cloud computing, enabling it to be able to offer users transparency and enhanced security, all with the one aim of enhancing customer experience. So come on over to buy and sell used cars online at the best prices at CarBuyer Singapore. Connect easily with dealers in real-time via our online video call feature, or schedule a test drive when you’re ready. Have some questions? Get them answered instantly with our chatbot moderated by our responsive team. Stay in the loop with our car-related tips, reviews and news. Learn the ins-and-outs of your car, as well as global and Singapore’s car updates at your own pace.