2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L Review

Here at DiscoverAuto, we’ve been fans of Nissan’s recent motoring output – new generation models have been significant jumps over their predecessors – we recently spent a week behind the wheel of the mid range 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L to see how it compares to what is an increasingly crowded small SUV market. 

The Qashqai has been around in Australia for a while now. Originally badged ‘Dualis’ in Australia, it was one of the pioneers of the small SUV segment back in 2006, though today things are a little different as almost every carmaker in Australia has at least one small SUV on the market. Against stiff competition, how does the Qashqai stand up? Read on to find out. 

How much did the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L cost to buy?

Pricing for the Qashqai starts at $34,390 plus on-road costs (around $37,000 drive away) for the most affordable ST variant, and tops out at around $52,090 +ORCs (around $53,000 drive away) for the flagship Ti e-Power. Our test car, a ST-L, an upper-mid variant with premium paint asks $43,440 + ORCs or around $44,800 drive away, depending on location. 

Qashqai ST-L standard equipment: 

• 19-inch alloy wheels with a space-saver spare wheel
• Keyless entry and push button start
• Dusk-sensing automatic LED headlights
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Heated and auto-folding mirrors
• LED front and rear fog lights 
• Roof rails
• 4x USB charging ports 
• Wireless phone charger
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated leather steering wheel with paddle shifters
• Heated front seats 
• Leather and cloth upholstery
• 10-way electric driver’s seat
• 8-way manually adjustable front passenger seat
• Auto-dimming rear view mirror
• 7.0-inch driver’s display
• 12.3-inch touchscreen
• Six-speaker sound system
• Wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• DAB+/FM/AM radio
• Alarm

Qashqai ST-L safety equipment:

The Qashqai received a five-star ANCAP rating 2021 and is equipped with the following safety equipment: 

• Seven airbags (dual front, dual front side, curtain and front centre) 
• Auto emergency braking (AEB) with junction assist and pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality
• Adaptive lane guidance
• Matrix adaptive high beam
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear automatic braking with pedestrian detection 
• Rear-cross traffic alert (with braking) 
• Traffic sign recognition
• Lane keep assistance 
• Lane departure alert and assistance 
• 360-degree camera
• Front and rear parking sensors 
• Tyre pressure monitoring

Qashqai ST-L exterior colour range:

• Magnetic blue (standard colour)
• Fuji Sunset Red (featured on our test car +$750)
• Gun Metallic (+$750)
• Ceramic Grey (+$750)
• Platinum (+$750)
• Burgundy (+$750)
• Ivory Pearl (+$750)
• Pearl Black (+$750)
• Two-Tone Magnetic Blue & Pearl Black Roof (+$500)
• Two-Tone Ivory Pearl & Pearl Black Roof (+$1,250)
• Two-Tone Pearl Black & Gun Metallic Roof (+$1,250)
• Two-Tone Fuji Sunset Red & Pearl Black Roof (+$1,250)
• Two-Tone Ceramic Grey & Pearl Black Roof (+$1,250)

There are no shortage of other small SUVs on the market including the Toyota C-HR, Toyota Corolla Cross, Mazda CX-30, Kia Seltos, Suzuki Vitara, Subaru Crosstrek, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and Hyundai Kona – out of these, we think the Mazda CX-30 G20 Astina and the Kia Seltos GT-Line FWD are amongst the closest competitors to the Qashqai ST-L. 

At $44,040 + ORCs (around $45,000 drive away), the CX-30 is a smidgen more expensive then the Qashqai, and features a full leather interior, a head-up display, a sunroof, wireless Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose speaker system, a power tailgate, two-position memory for the driver’s seat and exterior mirrors and an auto-dimming driver’s side mirror, which the Qashqai ST-L misses out on. The Qashqai does however feature larger 19-inch alloy wheels (18s on the Mazda), a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system (10.25-inch in the Mazda), roof rails, LED front fog lights, a burglar alarm and extra USB charging points. 

Kia prices the Seltos GT Line FWD at $41,850 +ORCs (also around $45,000 drive away), and while again only slightly more expensive then the Nissan, it features more equipment. This includes artificial leather seats, assistance for the rear cross traffic alert system, a safe exit warning system, remote engine start, two-position memory for the driver’s seat, driver attention alert, 8 ways of powered adjustment for the passenger seat, a sunroof, a power tailgate, a larger 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster (7.0-inch on the Nissan), a head-up display, remote services, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, ventilated front seats and a full sized alloy spare wheel. 

The Nissan, however, features larger 19-inch alloy wheels, Matrix headlights, dual-zone climate control, a larger 12.3 inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, rear auto braking, a front centre airbag, paddle shifters and 360-degree camera. 

Nissan could sharpen the value equation for the Qashqai ST-L through either a small price drop or by adding a bit more equipment – a sunroof, fully leather (or artificial leather) interior, a powered tailgate, a digital instrument cluster, powered adjustment for the passenger’s seat, a head up display and a premium sound system, for example, would help its value equation significantly. But we also appreciate that sourcing a car from the UK costs more than Thailand (CX-30) or South Korea (Seltos).  

How fuel efficient is the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L?

The 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L is powered by a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 110kW of power at 5,500rpm and 250Nm of torque (between 1,600 and 3,750rpm). It’s a perky unit, and with plenty of torque accessible low in the rev band, it makes the Qashqai nippy, especially around town. The Qashqai never feels lacking in the engine department – getting up to city and suburban speed from a standstill is a breeze, and with a claimed 8.9 seconds, it’s not the fastest car on the open road, but it’s more than serviceable for getting up to highway speeds and competent at overtaking. 

Power is sent to the two front wheels by a CVT automatic transmission – it won’t be to everyone’s taste, but we found the transmission to be one of the better CVTs we’ve tested – it acts far more like a torque converter thanks to artificial gear ratios, then the rubber band drone Nissan CVTs of old.

The transmission does well at extracting the best from the engine, and it’s only occasionally at low speeds where it gets tripped up by turbo lag. 

Nissan says the Qashqai should use 6.1L/100km of fuel in mixed driving – we weren’t able to match this in our week of mixed highway and suburban driving – instead achieving 8.5L/100km – it’s not the worst consumption we’ve ever seen in a small SUV, but it’s not fantastic either. Achieving the same fuel economy we did, a full (55-litre) petrol tank should yield a range of about 640km. The Qashqai can run on 91RON petrol, but Nissan recommends 95RON petrol. Those looking for more impressive fuel economy should consider opting for the hybrid Ti ‘ePower’ variant, which is far more economical.

What is the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L like to drive?

As we’ve discovered previously with other current generation Qashqai models we’ve tested, the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L strikes an excellent ride and handling balance. The steering is well weighted, with the right amount weight and feel for a small SUV – it feels direct and precise. While some might find the ride of the Qashqai to be a bit firm, the trade off is that it’s well planted to the road when cornering allowing those who want to push the Qashqai into corners and have a bit of fun, to do so. 

Road imperfections and noise are very well suppressed, the Qashqai is almost always a comfortable place to be, despite the large 19” alloys which might suggest otherwise. Wind noise and tyre roar are also fairly subdued making for a pleasant experience. Like with most SUVs, the Qashqai is no sports car, but it’s mature and planted nature means that drivers will feel safe behind the wheel and those who want to have a little bit of enjoyment on twisty road sections can.  

How practical is the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L?

The cabin of the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L features a modern design we think it’s a pleasant place to be. Plush, soft touch surfaces abound, with most surfaces such as the door cards, dashboard, centre console sides, centre armrest and side armrests finished in combination leather and leatherette materials – for the class it’s pretty impressive, more so considering the ST-L isn’t the flagship model. Switchgear throughout, like other new-generation Nissans, is well dampened and feels premium to operate – combined with the soft touch surfaces, Nissan has done well creating a premium feeling to the cabin. 

The combination leather and cloth seats are comfortable to sit in – they’re supportive and the upholstery is well done. Finding a comfortable and suitable driving position is easy with 10 ways of powered adjustment for the driver’s seat, and the passenger does well too, with eight ways of manual adjustment (including lumbar). Drivers (and passengers) in colder parts of Australia will appreciate the heated seats, and the heated steering wheel. Speaking of the wheel, it’s well padded and covered in a quality leather – it’s lovely in the hand. 

Ahead of the driver is a semi digital instrument cluster – two analog dials which frame a 7.0-inch information display – the display is well laid out, and the screen itself features a high resolution. The dials themselves are a bit dated, but overall it does the job well – it would have been nice though to see a head up display for keeping an eye on the speed and the road at the same time. The layout of the cabin is practical, with controls easy to reach and well laid out.  Storage is well provided for, with a large glovebox, capacious centre console box, reasonable door bins and cupholders throughout. 

Infotainment is taken care of by a large 12.3 inch touchscreen mounted tablet-style in the centre of the dash – it offers wireless and wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto and DAB/FM/AM radio in addition to Bluetooth and USB inputs. It’s an impressive display, with crisp image quality. The graphics used throughout the system are slick and fluid. Operating of the system is breeze, with good responsiveness to touch inputs and fairly logically laid out menus – we particularly like row of shortcuts on the left side of the screen – close to the driver. They reduce the need to dive into menus to launch common functions – other car brands should take note! Device charging needs up front are covered by two USB charging points in the front row (one doubling as an infotainment input) and a wireless phone charger. 

Visibility all around the cabin is good, though the reversing camera and 360 degree camera are a bit on the lower quality side, especially at night where the graininess is frustrating at times. Still we’ve seen worse though, and both cameras are still serviceable. 

The second row of the Qashqai is pretty spacious for the class – two adults can sit in relative comfort with good head, leg and knee room. In terms of amenities, back seat passengers are fairly well catered for compared to the class, with two map pockets, air vents, two handy USB charging points, door bins and a centre armrest with cupholders. 

Opening the manual tailgate of the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L reveals a 429-litre space and a massive 1,524L with the seats folded, which is large for a small SUV, with nearly as much space as smaller booted SUVs in the medium segment. In terms of storage in the boot, there are a few tie down hooks though we wish the dual-level boot floor from the upper-spec Ti featured for a flat floor with the seats folded. Beneath the boot sits a space-saving spare wheel – any spare at all is better than none! 

What warranty covers the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L?

Nissan backs the 2024 Qashqai ST-L a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which matches the warranty package Mazda gives the CX-30, but is bested Kia’s seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty offered on the Seltos. The Qashaqi must be serviced once every 12 months, or 15,000kms (whichever comes first) – both the Seltos and the CX-30 have the same service intervals. 

Over the first five years of capped price servicing, the Qashqai will set you back an eye-watering $2,866 to service ($573 per year), compared to $2,337 for the Mazda and $2,082 for the Kia – considering a Honda ZR-V or a Toyota Corolla Cross would cost $995 and $1250 respectively to service makes Nissan’s pricing seem even more scarier. The 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L also comes with five years of included roadside assistance, which is matched by Mazda with the CX-30. The Kia Seltos comes with one year of roadside assistance, but this is extended one year for every scheduled service undertaken at a Kia dealership, to a maximum of eight years. 

Should I buy a 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L?

While the Qashqai has gone from being one of the only small SUVs to having a seemingly endless list of competitors, this hasn’t detracted from the appeal of the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L. With its perky engine, good driving dynamics and classy interior, the Qashqai makes a compelling argument for itself. 

Where Nissan lets the Qashqai down a bit is in pricing, equipment and servicing costs. Compared to its closest competitors, the 2024 Nissan Qashqai ST-L is either overpriced, or down on equipment, depending how you look at it – a modest price drop and a little extra equipment would do well to sharpen the appeal of the Qashqai. Then we come to servicing – over the first five years, buyers will be paying nearly triple the servicing costs of an equivalent Toyota or Honda, for example. 

Still, we don’t think any of the negatives should preclude the Qashqai from your shopping list, it’s a worthy option and deserves a test drive.