WHAT’S NEW

The base ST is $26,490 for the six-speed manual, a $500 increase offset by active safety aids. The continuously variable transmission — standard on all other grades — adds $2500. The new ST-L variant adds bigger wheels, seveninch screen with satnav and power driver’s seat for $32,990 plus on-roads. The headline act (for now) is the N-Tec at $36,490 with auto headlamps, panoramic sunroof, more safety tech and semi-automated parking. All versions are fitted with autonomous emergency braking and lane-departure warning software. Top-tier examples pick up blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert, along with active lane keeping. Smartphone mirroring is standard. Given this is a midlife update, Nissan hasn’t touched the 2.0-litre engine and CVT. They’re no dynamic duo but they are ideally suited to this category and match such rivals as the Mazda CX-3, Mitsubishi ASX and Honda HR-V. Customer feedback got Nissan to stiffen the suspension and ditch the pillowy ride of the previous iteration. Some will love the way the Qashqai sits flatter when cornering, others may not be as impressed with the way it jiggles over road ripples. The feel behind the wheel is far more hatch-like than SUV. The changes are skin deep, with the expected tweaks. There are a more pronounced grille and revised foglights, shark-fin antenna and new designs for the 17 to 19-inch wheels. Existing owners may notice; others will struggle to pick the difference unless the cars are side by side. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is far more obvious and the control buttons now look integrated rather than apparent add-ons.