Nissan Qashqai Testing Underway: Why It Makes Sense For India

Published November 11, 2022
Views : 4438
2 min read

The sporty-looking, mid-size SUV was displayed in the country recently with a powerful strong-hybrid powertrain

Nissan Qashqai has been spotted testing on Indian roads.
It’s a sporty-looking SUV equipped with premium features.
Available with a strong-hybrid powertrain and ADAS functions overseas.
To be brought in as a completely built-up unit post evaluation, priced from around Rs 30 lakh onwards.

A few weeks back in October, Nissan had unveiled a band of three SUVs from its global portfolio – the compact-sized Juke, mid-size Qashqai and X-Trail. While the full-size X-trail has been confirmed for an India launch, the Qashqai is being evaluated.

It seems that the Qashqai’s testing has already begun; the SUV has been spotted on Indian roads for the first time:

The Qashqai is a rival to the Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Citroen C5 Aircross and Volkswagen Tiguan. It’s expected to be brought in as completely built-up units (CBU), so it will be pricey, but it has a chance to make up for that with its features and capabilities.

Nissan Qashqai Testing Underway: Why It Makes Sense For India details

Overseas, in markets such as Europe, the Nissan Qashqai makes for a powerful, efficient and safe family SUV with its features and powertrains. It looks sporty and modern with its C-shaped LED headlights and sleek, swept-back proportions.

Inside, it gets a minimalist dashboard layout with all the essentials in place and then some. The features list includes a digital driver’s display, 12.3-inch floating touchscreen, large 10.8-inch heads-up display, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, powered front seats with massaging and a powered tailgate. It even gets a full suite of driver assistance and active safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and front-collision avoidance.

In the UK, the Qashqai’s standard engine is a 1.3-litre mild-hybrid tuned for 140PS or 158PS, depending on the variant. In addition, there’s a 1.5-litre, strong-hybrid powertrain with a 190PS output. The hybrid variant was the one that was showcased here.

It remains to be seen which of the above features will make it to the India-spec Qashqai. The strong-hybrid is expected, but with a global model being imported to India, there is a downside, as discussed next.

Nissan Qashqai Testing Underway: Why It Makes Sense For India showcase

Fully-built imported vehicles carry a steep price tag and can be more expensive than their competitors. We expect the Nissan Qashqai to cost upwards of Rs 30 lakh. But its rival, the Jeep Compass, carries a much less expensive base price of Rs 19.29 lakh (all prices ex-showroom).

However, the Qashqai might still have a dog in the fight, as its other rivals, such as the Hyundai Tucson and Citroen C5 Aircross, are priced at up to Rs 34.54 lakh and Rs 36.67 lakh, respectively.

Was this article helpful

Yes No