Nissan QASHQAI Ti 2025 Review

The good news story about the 2025 Nissan Qashqai and the Ti model we’re testing here is it’s a no news story. That’s good because there are no prices rises.

Well, the price of the old Qashqai did go up about a six weeks before the new one launched, but it was only a few hundred bucks.

So while badge names change and there is just a skerrick of equipment adjustment, there is no price rise to justify with this facelift.

The badges first. While ST remains the base model, the ST+ becomes ST-L, ST-L becomes Ti, Ti becomes Ti-L and there’s a new N-Design black pack added at the top of the range.

The Ti is priced at $42,965 plus on-road costs, placing it in direct competition with other ‘quality’ compact SUVs like the Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross. And they all outsell it. The Qashqai wasn’t even in the top 10 sellers in the class in 2024.

Clearly work to be done, which Nissan itself acknowledges.

The Ti is the top-spec Qashqai model that misses out on the option of Nissan’s e-Power range extender hybrid system.

Instead it comes with the familiar 110kW/250Nm 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine powering the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Every other mechanical facet of the Qashqai Ti is also unchanged, while there are body revisions including a new and more angular nose section, new-look 19-inch (with unusual plastic shields) wheels and LED tail lights are the highlights.

Equipment updates for Ti over the old ST-L include a larger 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, as well as a 12.3-inch digital display.

Other key Ti equipment includes roof rails, privacy glass, auto LED headlights with an adaptive driving beam, dual-zone climate control, satellite-navigation and a wireless phone charger.

Seats are trimmed in PVC and leather, the driver gets power adjustment, the passenger gets manual lumbar adjust, both front seats are heated and so is the steering wheel.

There’s a full suite of safety gear including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and junction assist; adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and keep assist, blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert with rear braking, traffic sign recognition with speed adaption and driver monitoring.

The Qashqai has a five star ANCAP rating based on 2021 protocols, seven airbags, three child seat top tethers and two Isofix mounts.

All Qashqais now get a connected car smartphone app, although the services are quite limited – there’s no SOS emergency call for instance. But it is free for three years.

Another new feature Qashqai benefits from is Nissan’s 5+5 year/300,000km warranty. The first five services (due every 12 months or 15,000km) are priced at $399 each, delivering a claimed saving of up to $1064 compared to the old scheme. Roadside assistance is also offered up to 10 years.

The 2025 Nissan Qashqai Ti is one of the best compact SUVs you can buy. It’s that simple.

First off, like its bigger siblings the X-Trail and Pathfinder, it drives really well. It doesn’t just ape them though, the Qashqai has a more direct and athletic personality on-the -road which suits its more compact size.

Once the tiny turbo gets rolling the Qashqai zots along at a very useable speed. It really does deliver well above where you might expect.

The CVT is one of the least droney CVTs going around, with some distinct ‘gear’ steps and flappy paddles to help stir the action.

The Ti really challenges the relevance of the e-Power engine, which is marginally more fuel economic but costs almost $10,000 more up-front – at a minimum. On-test the Ti came out at 8.0L/100km versus the 5.8L/00km claim. The e-Power claims 4.8L/100km and in our most recent drive averaged 5.7L/100km. In both cases, the results were based on the recommended 95 RON fuel.

You do the sums…

It helps the Qashqai Ti is nicely manoeuvrable and a good viewing platform because it is the right size for urban motoring, something backed up by a large – by class standards – 479 litre boot, that expands to 1422 litres with the rear seat folded.

On the open road the Qashqai Ti also feels at home. It rides firmly in a Mazda-ish way, but not too intrusively. That helps deliver crisp steering and handling that makes it genuinely enjoyable on a winding country road. The big Continental tyres fitted to the Ti no doubt contribute to both the ride firmness and handling surety.

There’s not too much tyre roar, engine or other noises entering the cabin. It’s a pretty quiet place to be.

The Qashqai is very efficient in terms of interior space. Access to the rear seat is via 90-degree-opening doors and two taller people can sit comfortably back there. There are also a good level of facilities including adjustable air-con vents and USB ports. Storage options are also good front and rear.

Up-front the addition of the bigger screen thankfully doesn’t mean the abandonment of physical buttons for audio and air-con. Also, the lane keeping, speed monitoring and driver monitoring systems aren’t too intrusive.

There is an easy shortcut to access in the instrument panel to help shut down unwanted steering inputs too.

There really isn’t a lot to dislike about the 2025 Nissan Qashqai Ti.

I found the seating position to be a bit high, I kept reaching for the adjuster even when the seat was at its lowest position. While the steering wheel is nicely adjustable, its plastic spokes looked a bit low-rent.

From the driver’s seat the view out can be a bit compromised. The stylish body means it’s all a bit enclosed, especially to the rear.

The Qashqai is that rare car nowadays sold in Australia that is built in the UK (imagine the shock if you’d just teleported in from the 1950s). And while the overall quality seemed fine, the misalignment of two inserts in the centre console was obvious.

There’s still a skerrick of tip-in throttle hesitation when you first accelerate from zero – be it engine and/or transmission - but it feels reduced from the last time I drove a Qashqai ST-L pre-facelift.

In Standard powertrain mode rather than Sport mode the edge is somewhat taken off the engine’s eagerness. Use it for the urban low-speed stop-start.

The steering also weights up that bit more in Sport mode which helps with smooth cornering. The standard settings is so light you can take too much of a chunk from the turn. Again, save it for the low-speed, tight, stuff.

Maybe the ride is a tad firm for some people on the 19-inch wheels, but that is being critical of what is a really good suspension set-up.

And the handling if you really get into it leaves a little bit to be desired. Some roll, some deflections from the front wheels under power. Again, we’re hunting for issues here.

As big as the boot is, a pronounced step appears at the mid-point in the floor when the rear seat is split-folded. That’s a prime spot to catch bicycle pedals for sure.

A power tailgate would be nice too, but manual operation is acceptable at this price these days.

And speaking of the price. While it’s better, the Ti’s still an ask threatening $50,000 by the time you add on-road costs.

The thing was the Qashqai used to be expensive so holding its price for this update brings it inline with the opposition rather than handing it an advantage.

The Nissan Qashqai Ti is an excellent compact SUV. Already one of the best vehicles in the class, it’s now more competitive against its opposition because of its pricing conservatism.

So over to you Nissan, let’s see if you can actually sell a few more of them!

2024 Nissan Qashqai Ti at a glance:
Price: $42,695 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 110kW/250Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Fuel: 5.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 134g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)

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