Prices haven't risen too much, so most models will continue to be sold in the £25,000-£30,000 bracket. In the mainstream range, there are five trim levels, 'Visia', 'Acenta Premium', 'N-Connecta', 'Tekna' and 'Tekna+. Prices start from just over £23,500 for base 'Visia' trim. Generously-specified Premiere Edition models are also being offered from £29,270 for the 1.3 DiG-T 140PS Mild Hybrid Manual (6-speed), or £31,790 for the 1.3 DiG-T Mild Hybrid 158PS Xtronic automatic model. Across the standard range, there's plenty to spend extra money on if you have the budget. Large 20-inch wheels are available for the first time, as is a head-up display. And audiophiles will be drawn to the Bose Premium sound system. It features 10 speakers plus Bose's Acousticmass bass box located in the boot for a crisp, powerful sound.
This Qashqai can also be equipped with the next generation of Nissan's 'ProPILOT' driver assistance technology - though mostly only if you specify the Xtronic auto gearbox. Called 'ProPILOT with Navi-link', the latest system is able to accelerate and brake the vehicle within a single-lane on a highway. This set-up takes care of steering duties and can adapt to things like changing speed limits. And 'ProPILOT with Navi-link' can communicate with the Qashqai's blind-spot radars to help intervene with a steering input correction to help prevent a lane-change manoeuvre if there is a vehicle in the blind-spot zone.
Other upgrades include a 'flank protection' warning for urban situations, which alerts the driver of the risk of contact with an object on the side of the vehicle, typically when turning into a supermarket parking space. And the Qashqai can also intervene to prevent a collision upon reversing from the space thanks to an upgrade on the existing Moving Object Detection alert, applying the brakes to stop the car if a moving obstacle is detected nearby.