2023 Nissan Qashqai price and specs: up to $8300 more expensive

The 2023 Nissan Qashqai will cost up to $8300 more than the model it replaces when it arrives in showrooms in late 2022.

The first new version of Nissan’s small SUV in about nine years, prices of the new qashqai range starts from $33,890 plus on-road costs for the entry-level ST automatic – a $3300 increase over the outgoing ST car, or $5300 more than the defunct ST manual.

The top-end Ti has been hit by the biggest price hike of all, jumping $8300 for a grand total of $47,390 plus on-road expenses — a 21 percent increase, pushing the flagship small SUV off more than $50,000 for the first time.

The mid-range ST+ is up $5300 to $37,890 plus road use costs, while the single-sport ST-L costs $7590 (or 22 percent) more than before, at $42,190 plus road use costs. That’s also $2900 more than the old Ti flagship ($39,090).

While prices have risen significantly, standard feature levels have also risen across the range – supported by a more modern platform under the skin, a new turbo engine and a larger body.

Compared to its predecessor, buyers of the cheapest new Qashqai now get a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, LED headlights, an enlarged 7.0-inch digital instrument display and a full suite of advanced safety technologies.

The outgoing Qashqai ST offered an Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEB) and Lane Departure Warning as standard, but the new model scores an updated AEB system with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection support, Reversing AEB, Lane Keeping Aid, Blind Spot Monitoring, Reverse – traffic warning, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control.

A central airbag has also been placed between the front passengers, contributing to a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating abroad, although the local authority ANCAP has yet to release the same rating for Australia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the flagship Ti’s $8300 price hike justifies an all-digital 12.3-inch instrument panel, an enlarged 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 10.8-inch head-up display, memory and massage for the front seats, Bose stereo with 10 speakers, wireless phone charging and a heated steering wheel.

Also new on the Qashqai Ti and lower than ST-L ($7950 more expensive than before) is the ProPilot semi-autonomous driving system, which combines adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistant for ‘Level 2’ (hands on the wheel and eyes on the road) assisted driving on highways.

For a full list of standard features available in the Nissan Qashqai range, scroll down to the equipment lists below.

Powering all Qashqai variants at launch is new 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine distributed among several Renault and Mercedes-Benz cars, replacing the 2.0-litre engine of the old Qashqai, which was used in various forms for almost 15 years.

The new turbo mill is developing 110kW and 250Nm – up to 4 kW/50 Nm – and only powers the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), without the need for a six-speed manual transmission.

Although it lacks the mild hybrid system available in Europe, Qashqai petrol models in the Australian market still achieve a claimed fuel economy of 6.1 liters per 100 kilometers in combined driving – less than the 6.9 l/100 km of the old model.

An E-Power hybrid (below) is expected at a later date (click here for full details), which uses a 115 kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine as a generator to top up a battery pack, which in turn drives a 140 kW/330 Nm electric motor on the front axle.

Nissan’s design contrasts with Toyota’s, where the wheels of its vehicles can be powered by the petrol engine and/or electric motor. According to Nissan, E-Power delivers “[the] driving experience associated with a pure EV [electric vehicle]but without the need to recharge”.

The E-Power was previously in the showrooms at the end of 2022; Motive has reached out to Nissan Australia to confirm the latest launch timing update. The price of the hybrid is yet to be confirmed.

Eight unicolour colors are available in the range: Magnetic Blue, Gun Metallic (grey), Ceramic Grey, Platinum (silver), Burgundy, Fuji Sunset Red, Ivory Pearl (white) and Pearl Black. Everything except Magnetic Blue costs extra.

ST+, ST-L and Ti buyers can also choose five two-tone color schemes: Ivory Pearl, Fuji Sunset Red, Ceramic Gray and Magnetic Blue with a Pearl Black roof or Pearl Black with a Gun Metallic roof.

The 2023 Nissan Qashqai range is expected in Australian showrooms by the end of 2022.