News/ Launches/ 2024 Nissan Qashqai Revealed: Closer Look at India-Bound ‘Samurai’

2024 Nissan Qashqai Revealed: Closer Look at India-Bound ‘Samurai’

Nissan has upgraded the Qashqai with edgier looks and better efficiency. This is one exciting upgrade if you are interested in Samurai culture. Nissan has taken inspiration from Samurais in some parts of the design. The new ‘Samurai’ car will have a lot of weight on its shoulders. It has to live up to the legacy of the car that was the UK's highest-selling model in 2022 and second-highest seller in 2023. Let's see how Nissan has managed the Samurai integration.

Exterior Design

Starting with the front of the Qashqai, a lot is new. The cluster for the lights is still in a V shape but has multiple housings now. It starts with an LED DRL at the top, separated by the headlamp and the lower DRL by a body-coloured element. The grill looks quite remarkable with a design inspired by the scales of Japanese armour; it's also wider than before. Nissan has also given angular side vents next to the grill and a central air vent below it. The rear is not as ravishing as the front as it only sees a bumper and tail lamp change.

Interior and Features

The interior of the Qashqai remains almost the same as the last generation. The most significant change is the size of the infotainment panel. The top trims have additions like the Alcantara inserts on the Dashboard and a new finish on the centre console. The cabin will be more silent because of the thickened windows which are utilized to reduce wind noise at high speeds. 

The improved features include a 360-degree camera and an 'invisible hood view' that lets the driver see the areas hidden from his view by the hood and fender. It has seen a massive upgrade in the software front helping it produce graphics of better quality and lesser processing times. It will also become Europe's first car to have built-in support from Google. You can use apps like Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play on the infotainment display without connecting your phone.

Engines on offer

There will be three engine options in the Qashqai. Two are mild-hybrid petrol options that can produce 140 bhp and 150 bhp. The last one is a 190-hp E-Power full hybrid. The latter will have a 140 kW electric motor and a 1.8 kW battery. 

India Launch

Nissan might be looking to introduce the Qashqai in India. This is supported by the times it was spotted testing on the Indian roads. We don't have any information on when it could arrive, though. We are sure that Nissan will launch two SUVs in India along with its partner Renault. One would be a 5-seater and the other a 7-seater. Read more about it here (Link)

 

TopGear Magazine April 2024