The all-new Nissan Qashqai has only just started arriving in Australian showrooms, but the Japanese brand has received strong interest from local customers.
Speaking at the Australian media launch of the new Qashqai, managing director for Nissan’s local division, Adam Paterson, said the company has already received some 1500 orders for the new crossover, for which deliveries will commence this month.
Nissan has been largely without stock of the Qashqai between generations, with the new model subject to numerous delays after being initially promised for an early 2022 market introduction – pricing was announced in July.
Mr Paterson added that the local arm expects the latest generation to be “just as successful” as its predecessor, which for some time was one of Australia’s most popular small SUV nameplates.
ST-L 
ST-L
As for which variant will be a hit with Aussie consumers, the local arm says initial orders have seen a strong skew for the upper end of the range, with the penultimate ST-L grade tipped to be the top seller.
Mr Paterson noted that local interest in the upcoming Qashqai e-Power series hybrid has also been very strong, though was unable to provide an update on when we can expect the electrified versions to lob – currently, the most definitive timeframe is sometime during calendar year 2023.
We do know, however, that the Qashqai e-Power will be an option on ST-L and Ti grades when it eventually arrives.
Power in the series hybrid version of the Nissan Qashqai comes from a front-mounted electric motor developing a healthy 140kW and 330Nm, fed by a 2.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The hybrid part? Well, there’s a 116kW 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that has no connection to the wheels, but instead serves as an on-board generator – a range extender, if you will.
For now, the sole engine option for Australian models is a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels via a new-generation X-Tronic CVT automatic, generating 110kW and 250Nm.
Pricing for the petrol range kicks off from $33,890 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Qashqai ST, topping out at $47,390 before on-roads for the flagship Qashqai Ti.
Expect the e-Power versions to carry a circa-$4000 premium, if the larger X-Trail e-Power is anything to go by.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for our launch review of the new Qashqai, which will be live at 3:00PM AEDT on January 12.
2023 Nissan Qashqai pricing
- Nissan Qashqai ST: $33,890
- Nissan Qashqai ST+: $37,890
- Nissan Qashqai ST-L: $42,190
- Nissan Qashqai Ti: $47,390
Prices exclude on-road costs
