Johannesburg - Nissan has re-launched its Qashqai crossover with some mild stylistic updates, but inside the new model gains a host of higher-tech safety and convenience features
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You'll have to squint to notice exterior changes, but the Qashqai gets a redesigned nose with the latest Nissan "V-motion" grille, a new clam-shell bonnet shape and a slightly tweaked rear bumper. Halogen headlights also have a new boomerang-shaped LED daytime running light signature, while 17 and 19-inch wheels are updated with more aerodynamic designs.
Bigger changes have happened inside where a new flat-bottomed steering wheel with revised four-way switchgear has been added, door handles and vent surrounds are made from improved materials, and one-touch window switches can now be found across the range.
Slightly tweaked rear bumper complements new wheels with more aerodynamic designs.
Front seats have also been redesigned in the shoulder area for better comfort and visibility for rear passengers, the touchscreen navigation screen gets an easier to use interface, and a seven-speaker Bose sound system isnow available in the range-topping Tekna derivative.
But it's in the tech department where the Qashqai benefits most and here you'll find loads of new items from Nissan's Intelligent Mobility (NIM) suite, which already feature in other models like Patrol and X-Trail.
New flat-bottomed steering wheel has revised four-way switchgear.
These include Intelligent Blind Spot Warning to monitor adjacent lanes outside a driver's view, Intelligent Emergency Braking which will automatically apply brakes if it detects an impending collision, Forward Collision Warning to keep an eye on slowing traffic in the front, and Intelligent Cross Traffic Alert which monitors side-on traffic when reversing into a road.
Then there's a new Around View Monitor using five cameras to give a 360-degree view of the vehicle's surroundings, and this works together with a Moving Object Detection system that can detect objects, such as kids, when parking.
Front seats have been redesigned in the shoulder area for better comfort and visibility for rear passengers.
On top of all this Nissan has fettled the Qashqai's shocks and anti-roll bars for improved handling, and made improvements to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels through thicker rear door glass and extra sound deadening materials.
PRICES
1.2 T VisiaR334 9001.2 T Visia +AlloysR346 7001.2 T Acenta R367 0001.2 T Acenta CVTR381 0001.2 T Acenta Plus CVTR394 000
1.5 dCI AcentaR394 000
1.5 dCI Acenta PlusR407 000
1.5 dCI TeknaR434 000
These prices include a six-year or 150 000 warranty and three-year or 90 000km service plan.