The new Nissan Qashqai will ditch its predecessor’s ageing 2.0-litre petrol engine in favour of a frugal new 1.3-litre turbo unit – though an upcoming E-Power hybrid expected later in 2022 promises to sip even less fuel.
The new-generation 2022 Nissan Qashqai due in showrooms early next year will debut a new 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the Nissan brand, replacing the ageing 2.0-litre ‘MR’ engine in service in various forms for nearly 15 years.
Filings on the Australian government’s Road Vehicle Certification System (RVCS) website confirm the outgoing Qashqai’s 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine will be axed, instead making way for a new 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine offered in overseas versions of Nissan’s small SUV since 2018, and in a number of small Renault and Mercedes-Benz vehicles locally.
Australian models will develop 110kW – a minor bump over the 106kW of the 2.0-litre engine, and splitting the 103kW and 116kW versions of the 1.3-litre mill available in Europe. The RVCS listing doesn’t quote a torque figure, though the 260-270Nm developed by European models suggests a notable increase over the old non-turbo four-cylinder’s 200Nm.
Crucially, locally-delivered 2022 Qashqai models are likely to eschew the 12-volt ‘mild-hybrid’ system fitted as standard in Europe – given Australian cars’ which recovers and stores energy under deceleration to power auxiliary systems, and can switch off the engine below 18km/h to save fuel.
Despite the lack of a mild-hybrid system, the new 1.3-litre will likely record a moderate improvement over the 6.9L/100km combined fuel consumption claim of the 2.0-litre engine, which has been in use in Australia in the Qashqai since 2014, or since 2007 (albeit without direct injection technology) in the Dualis, the name under which the Qashqai was previously sold.
Drive in all 1.3-litre Australian models will be sent to the front wheels through a CVT automatic transmission only – spelling the end for the six-speed manual transmission option locally, offered only on the entry-level ST variant, priced $2000 lower than the CVT at $28,590 before on-road costs.
While yet to be officially confirmed, the new 1.3-litre turbo engine is expected to be joined later in 2022 by an ‘E-Power’ hybrid variant. Debuting the technology for Nissan in Australia, the Qashqai E-Power can’t directly drive the wheels with its petrol engine – instead, the engine acts as a generator, powering a 140kW electric motor that spins the front wheels.
Pricing for the new Qashqai is yet to be locked in, though the axing of the manual transmission – combined with a larger body, all-new interior and a slew of new convenience and safety technologies – will likely see the price of entry rise into the low-to-mid-$30,000 region before on-road costs.
A set of 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights are standard on the entry-level model, the RVCS listing confirms – the latter item previously restricted to the flagship variant – with higher-grade models gaining 18- and 19-inch wheels (though the 20-inch alloys available overseas will be off-limits Down Under).
For comparison, the current Qashqai starts from $28,590 before on-road costs for the entry-level ST manual, or $30,590 before on-road costs (or just under $35,000 drive-away) for the ST automatic – so a price rise to the tune of a few thousand dollars is a fair estimation.
The flagship Ti currently asks for $39,090 before on-road costs – and with a fully-digital instrument cluster, colour head-up display and other features all offered on top-tier Qashqai variants overseas, a starting price for the new range-topping model in the $40,000s is likely.
While full local specifications are yet to be confirmed, features available on certain variants will include a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, multi-zone climate control, 10-speaker Bose premium sound system, quilted nappa leather seats, and a full suite of driver assistance aids, including adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
Full details of the 2022 Nissan Qashqai will be confirmed closer to its Australian launch in early 2022, with the launch date confirmed earlier this year (click here to read the full story).
For everything you need to know about the new small SUV’s exterior, interior, technology and engines, click here to read our full reveal story.
The post 2022 Nissan Qashqai: New 1.3-litre turbo four-cylinder confirmed for Australia, hybrid option to follow appeared first on Drive.
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