2019 Nissan Qashqai (Rogue Sport) Review
Intro
I have reviewed the 2018 Nissan Qashqai (Rogue Sport) last year and really enjoyed the combination of features and utilities the vehicle had to offer at the price point. It turned out to be a big success for Nissan, as the Qashqai is now its second best selling vehicle in Canada. In 2019, Nissan adds a number of significant safety enhancements including the ProPilot assist and Safety Shield 360. There is also an updated audio system with standard Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Would these upgrades keep the Qashqai competitive in this crowded segment? Lets find out.
Thanks to Nissan Canada, I had one week to test drive the 2019 Nissan Qashqai SL with the intelligent AWD system. Below is my unbiased review.
Exterior
The exterior of the Qashqai remains largely the same in 2019. Using sharp edges and large fenders, it gives the Qashqai a youthful, sporty look that doesn't stand out too much in the crowd.
The stand out feature of the front fascia is the sophisticated looking boomerang LED daytime running lights. The available fog lights are embedded inside the large lower fender for a sporty look.
The side profile of the car is highlighted by muscular wheel arches and and chiseled door panels. The sharp edges continues to the rear of the car where long lines and large openings create a wide body appearance. The signature boomerang shaped taillights matches the front LED daytime running lights for a coherent look.
Overall the 2019 Nissan Qashqai remains a pleasant looking car that should appeal to a wide audience.
Interior
The interior of the Nissan Qashqai is very similar to its bigger brother, the Nissan Rogue. And that is a good thing. Nissan has a no-nonsense attitude toward its interior design. Everything is logically placed, and physical buttons are used whenever they are called for. The front seats are very comfortable, and the driver seat offers a commanding ride height. There are more hard plastics in the the Qashqai, and they do make the interior of the car feel less premium.
The rear seats offer just enough legroom and headroom, but taller passengers will suffer. I am glad that there is a dedicated air vent and a fold-down armrest with integrated cup holders for the rear passengers.
The infotainment system of the Qashqai is centered around the 7" touchscreen display. It is a simple system to navigate and the system response is snappy. Like in the Rogue, I very much appreciate the presence of the redundant physical buttons. They are much easier to operate while the vehicle is on the move.
Both Apple Carplay and Android Auto are standard now, and the upgraded nine speaker, Bose audio system sounds excellent. There is one USB charging port in the center console and one inside the storage compartment under the armrest. I do wish Nissan would make them two each.
The information LCD display in the instrument penal is small but functional. And I love how easy it is to control the LCD through the nicely laid out buttons on the steering wheel.
For 2019, the Qashqai has included more standard safety features. They include:
- Intelligent Emergency Braking (IEB)
- Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Rear Door Alert (RDA) system
The last one is an innovative system Nissan has developed to remind passengers that they may have left things in the back of the car by monitoring if the rear passenger door was opened in the beginning, and not again at the end of the ride.
The 2019 Qashqai is also now one of the four Nissan models offering level 2, semi-autonomous ProPILOT Assist technology, in addition to the Rogue, LEAF and Altima. The ProPilot assist takes care of the acceleration, steering, and braking of the vehicle in certain driving conditions (such as highway driving).
There is also the Nissan Safety Shield 360 that combines Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Intelligent Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and High Beam Assist (HBA) to provide a 360 degree safety monitoring and intervention solution.
Driving
The Qashqai is powered by a 2.0L inline 4 that is rated at 141 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque. It is either coupled to a Xtronics CVT or a six speed manual transmission (yeah!). And the Qashqai is offered either as a front wheel drive vehicle or as a all wheel drive vehicle.
The plus side of adapting a CVT is that the Qashqai does have pretty good fuel economy. In fact, the Xtronic AWD (rated 8.4L/100km combined) uses less fuel than the 6 speed manual transmission (9.2 combined). The Xtronic FWD uses even less (8.0 combined).
On the road, the 2019 Qashqai is nimble in the corners. This is partially due to the use of 4-wheel independent suspensions. Unlike many of its competitors, Nissan opted for rear multi-link suspensions instead of a rear torsion beam design. The suspensions is tuned to provide both good handling and ride comfort.
The steering of the Qashqai is on the relaxed side with less feedback. It makes for a stressed free but less thrilling ride.
Cargo Space & Storage
Behind the 2nd row, the Qashqai offers 20 cu.ft. of cargo space. With the 60/40 rear seats folded, this is increased to 53.3 cu.ft. The Divide-N-Hide cargo system provides more flexibility and organizing options in the trunk.
The in cabin storage options are average. My only complain would be the smaller side door pockets in the rear.
Verdict
Once again, Nissan smartly implemented the winning recipe of the best-selling Nissan Rogue for the smaller 2019 Qashqai. It is a physically appealing vehicle that offers a practical interior, good fuel economy, great ride quality, and a reasonable price tag (esp at lower trims). It also now comes with a ton of safety features. For most people, it is all they need in a vehicle. For people that really care about driving, there are better options out there.
Test Vehicle
2019 QASHQAI SL AWD
MSRP
35,548 CAD with Freight and PDE
Color
MONARCH ORANGE
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