Good to drive, but there's a problem! (Nissan Qashqai ST+ 2023 review)
Detailed review and test of the 2023 Nissan Qashqai in ST+ trim, including 1.3-litre turbo engine, CVT automatic, interior, handling and price.
The Nissan Qashqai has landed in Australia and we’ve been spending time with the reasonably affordable ST+ variant, which is good to drive but presents as slightly downmarket with its plastic steering wheel.
If Nissan can fix that touch then this trim of the Qashqai small SUV will be more competitive. Servicing costs are also high.
Time codes:
0:00 - Intro
0:18 - Pricing
0:30 - Styling
1:05 - Interior
3:28 - Back seats
4:47 - Boot space
5:36 - Running costs
6:54 - Driving dynamics
11:44 - Verdict
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Agree with the review. Plastic steering wheels are nasty at $40k. Buyers deserve more.
Hi Tom. Thanks for another great review.
Buy a $30 steering wheel cover. Problem solved. I considered the Cash Cow early this year but ended up going with a top spec CX-5 instead.
I have 2004 Forester with a leather steering wheel, 20 years older than this, the last car I owned back in the day with a plastic steering wheel was 2005 Hyundai Getz, even in the Getz it was hideous, bizarre of Nissan to cut a cost there considering its the only part in the car that is being handled 100% of the time.
For some reason, if you do end up buying a Qashqai, just buy the lowest spec. Get a steering wrap and aftermarket android auto dongle. All together AUD 200 tops, problems solved.
Or buy a competing model that includes it for the same or less.
@@aaaaplayyour suggestion?
I've driven a Maxima with a cvt for 17 years. I've never had a problem.
I was driving my FIL's AU Falcon around today. I thought about the plastic wheel zero times, non issue for me. Hard to tell from this vid, but looked like qashqai cente console might have padding where your knee rests. This actually matters to me.
I ended up upgrading the steering wheel of my previous car ( Holden Astra ah base model) to an OEM top spec leather wrapped version by myself It felt goldilockly goldilocky at that moment onwards 😂 After all, it is a piece of equipment you will be touching 99% of the time while using the car. It is justifiable for the upgrade. Nissan , you shouldn't have , for a level 2 trim model 😅
Thanks Tom you nailed it again. I had high hopes for the Q but the rear seat for adult friends was a hard fail. Passed.
Good review, Tom. My Aunt has owned the previous model for two years and absolutely loves it. I thought lasting steering wheels went out with XE Falcons!
I feel the same way about auto dimming mirrors as Tom does about plastic steering wheels.
Here in a small EU country I got this car for around 36k euro all options included which neither VW, nor korean cars offer at the moment for such a price.
What alternative to this car? In Europe it seems the car with all security systems and seems winning because of this. But maybe I missed some cool competitive model? Tekna trim has sun roof and lots of tech.
Personally, I like the fact that there is greater model differentiation, and I'd say there should be even more differences between base and top spec, so it's clearer where your money went. I'd always opt for the top spec if I can, and for that money, I want the top spec to have some very obvious differences in spec to even the model below, let alone the base model. Bring back the proper poverty spec, I'd say, with window winders, no power steering, no air cond, steel wheels and unpainted plastic bumpers, acres of hard plastic in the interior.
I do quite enjoy your videos. However as a mechanic I take issue with your comments about servicing. I run a small independent workshop in Melbourne. it is very very hard for me to keep the costs of services at such an artificial price point. If you told me that it would cost $2900 for 5 years of maintenance That’s quite reasonable from my end. Having these artificially low prices really does impact smaller businesses that can’t absorb the same costs as a big dealership. Please keep that in mind. Otherwise you guys do a great job with your reviews. 👍
That's a very valid point and I have wondered how the smaller workshops are faring against the dealer discounted service agreements on offer. A 5 Year service agreement on my BMW 330i in 2019 only cost me $1615.
@@davidperry3531 Your BMW oil change interval is 30,000km. Forcefully lowering the cost.
@@nizm0manI too have a 2019 330i and there is no way I’d let my car go 30k without an oil change! In fact BMW servicing is very expensive. The original poster didn’t mention that his is the most basic service package. You can add $4k+ to that if you include brakes, certain filters etc etc
Not only is the plastic steering wheel a problem but also the refrigerator like roof lamps nissan use in its cars makes it look cheap.
I test drove the Ti which was pretty good. One oddity was when cruise control was switched on the digital speedo was cancelled.
That's not the case in my Xtrail which has the same system. It has a heads up display as well as the one in the instrument cluster that don't go anywhere when cruise control is on.
Harder plastics lower in the cabin can be overlooked, you’d be reminded of the cost cutting every time you touch the nasty, plasticky wheel.
You are making too much of the plastic steering wheel Tom! Some people have a allergic skin response to processed leather. Therefore a synthetic steering cover has to be purchased. Besides customers can adorn the steering wheel with their own taste colours and style. Is the Nissan plastic really that bad?
Overall i really love this car. e-power really bring you something else
Last I checked the UK is still in Europe 😂 just not in the EU
3000$ service is that a year?
Good review, what happened to your hand in the thumbnail picture? Some photoshop weirdness there.
Just got me the new Quashqai. Beautiful driving car, just trying to master the tech having just switched from my little 2023 Arona which was a lot more simple & straightforward, that said I prefer the Q.
Tested a connecta to day and it had a leather steering wheel?!
I dont want leather on my steering wheel. Had it on 3 cars, hard to keep clean , deteriorates in Australian son.
Nissan servicing is out of step with its competitors on more than just cost. I do not know about the Cumquat, but the X-Trail has 10,000 km service intervals when the Mitsubishi Outlander with identical mechanicals has 15k intervals as well as lower service costs per visit. I’m with you on urethane steering wheels except to say that if they’re to be leather they need to be good leather. Look at many cars at 7 or 8 years old with fake leather wheels and they’re ratty and peeling. Totally agree with having fabric seats though as a Western Australian … I wish we could all get over absurdly big road wheels. I’ll take the ‘rental spec’ 17” on a Ti, please. Not only will it ride better, it will save a motza when new tyres are needed.
Qashqai has an 18000miles or 1 year service schedule here in the UK, In fact im sure the Xtrail does too.
Now, there is a car that costs even more to maintain than a Volkswagen T-Roc compared to its size.
Oh well, back to threading a leather steering wheel glove on to the Qashqai.
Not bad but Nissan cvt are not good better UK spec they get manual ones
I have to laugh at today’s plastic steering wheels with a nasty seem around the outside middle circumference. We grew up with Plastic urethane wheels or Resin and never do I remember a Seem around the wheel and I am 61 years old and have driven 100’s of cars selling cars back in the days.
MG HS decimates this for spec and value - even MG3 has a leather steering wheel so no excuse - CVT not my favourite transmission and why is suspension so firm for such modest performance?
The HS is one of the worst cars I've driven. The Qahsqai is so far ahead of it, its not even close.
Thank u for this review...plastic steering wheel..very off putting..Im going for the X trail...lets hope its better than this..
A plastic steering wheel at this price point is absolute bullshit... but it wouldn't stop me buying this car. I'd just get a custom made leather cover for it. Plenty of sites offer them and they're a lot less than the step-up to the next model.
Plastic steering wheel is an immediate no buy for me
how about that $3000 service fee? Just because it shares a Mercedes engine.
Ouch I agree.
It's good, but it's not Kia Sportage 2024 GT LINE S!
41kk aud? i paid 52k aud lastweek? is this australia?
Plastic steerling wheel for $41k??? Good luck Nissan.
Cannot get through these car reviews anymore. These guys have just become so stuck up 🙄
Nissan and Honda are just goners now, aren't they? Old, outdated designs and it almost looks like that these two companies stopped investing into their new cars in the last 10 years.
pretty surprising given that small/medium SUVs are their top sellers these days (bar utes)
I would say Mitsubishi is much worse than those two. Tho I can definitely see your point. I actually rented a new Altima last year and found it pretty nice, tho wouldn't buy one😅. As for Honda its easier to see them falling from an Aussie perspective as they act completely different in the U.S. market. Honda is doing well over here.
@@aerofox64 yep Honda only has top spec models available. Civic is either $47k (petrol), $55k (hybrid) or $72k (Type R).