Good to drive, but there's a problem! (Nissan Qashqai ST+ 2023 review)

[@andrewvasta9511]

Agree with the review. Plastic steering wheels are nasty at $40k. Buyers deserve more.

[@blazedkermit3338]

For some reason, if you do end up buying a Qashqai, just buy the lowest spec. Get a steering wrap and aftermarket android auto dongle. All together AUD 200 tops, problems solved.

[@aaaaplay]

Or buy a competing model that includes it for the same or less.

[@moyamorrison2807]

​@@aaaaplayyour suggestion?

[@fairgo4156]

@@moyamorrison2807 VW T-Roc City Life is bigger inside including the boot and has more kit. and is normally cheaper than the Nissan. The T-Roc also has the Asin 8 speed torque converter auto that is nicer to drive than this CVT and more reliable long term.

[@timothydoyle6172]

We're activly considering the ST+. Had one as a loan car while ours was in for a service a few days ago. The HR13DDT feels responsive with the CVT. Peak torque comes on early and the CVT keeps it in the power band nicely. Doesn't rev out like the older MR20DE & CVT did in the Dualis. Have been considering CX-30, Kona and Sportage/Seltos, and the Qashqai seems to tick more boxes for the price point, including Wireless CarPlay, LED, cabin space and power. Nighttime driving is an unknown quantity. I wish there was more reviews on the lights for country drivers.

[@sneakyfoz3692]

I have 2004 Forester with a leather steering wheel, 20 years older than this, the last car I owned back in the day with a plastic steering wheel was 2005 Hyundai Getz, even in the Getz it was hideous, bizarre of Nissan to cut a cost there considering its the only part in the car that is being handled 100% of the time.

[@DavidSmith-eh9im]

I've driven a Maxima with a cvt for 17 years. I've never had a problem.

[@johnpalmer5010]

I was driving my FIL's AU Falcon around today. I thought about the plastic wheel zero times, non issue for me. Hard to tell from this vid, but looked like qashqai cente console might have padding where your knee rests. This actually matters to me.

[@stephengrainger248]

Hi Tom. Thanks for another great review.

[@JayG0o]

I ended up upgrading the steering wheel of my previous car ( Holden Astra ah base model) to an OEM top spec leather wrapped version by myself It felt goldilockly goldilocky at that moment onwards 😂 After all, it is a piece of equipment you will be touching 99% of the time while using the car. It is justifiable for the upgrade. Nissan , you shouldn't have , for a level 2 trim model 😅

[@whatthe6532]

Thanks Tom you nailed it again. I had high hopes for the Q but the rear seat for adult friends was a hard fail. Passed.

[@_petar]

Here in a small EU country I got this car for around 36k euro all options included which neither VW, nor korean cars offer at the moment for such a price.

[@AntonDanilchenko]

What alternative to this car? In Europe it seems the car with all security systems and seems winning because of this. But maybe I missed some cool competitive model? Tekna trim has sun roof and lots of tech.

[@lovingCarz]

Not only is the plastic steering wheel a problem but also the refrigerator like roof lamps nissan use in its cars makes it look cheap.

[@Odesos]

O_o do Australia gets differenet Qashqai than Europe because it has butter smooth ride even with the 19" ... the Kamiq compared to it rides super firm too O_o

[@BomberFletch31]

Personally, I like the fact that there is greater model differentiation, and I'd say there should be even more differences between base and top spec, so it's clearer where your money went. I'd always opt for the top spec if I can, and for that money, I want the top spec to have some very obvious differences in spec to even the model below, let alone the base model. Bring back the proper poverty spec, I'd say, with window winders, no power steering, no air cond, steel wheels and unpainted plastic bumpers, acres of hard plastic in the interior.

[@UKArtlover]

Having thought about all that “ space saver spare” business , I have an X3 with a squirty bottle for emergencies and tbh would I really want to be jacking up a large car like that on the side of the road and replacing the tyre when the breakdown guys would do it so actually a squirty is safer and punctures happen so rarely these days also.. anyway just my 10c or p in UK :)

[@DOUGALUS]

I test drove the Ti which was pretty good. One oddity was when cruise control was switched on the digital speedo was cancelled.

[@joelbowden3207]

That's not the case in my Xtrail which has the same system. It has a heads up display as well as the one in the instrument cluster that don't go anywhere when cruise control is on.

[@aussie8114]

Buy a $30 steering wheel cover. Problem solved. I considered the Cash Cow early this year but ended up going with a top spec CX-5 instead.

[@davidarter6271]

Good review, Tom. My Aunt has owned the previous model for two years and absolutely loves it. I thought lasting steering wheels went out with XE Falcons!

[@aaaaplay]

I feel the same way about auto dimming mirrors as Tom does about plastic steering wheels.

[@Shambles7698]

Overall i really love this car. e-power really bring you something else

[@raphadudao]

Last I checked the UK is still in Europe 😂 just not in the EU

[@noeljohns196]

Harder plastics lower in the cabin can be overlooked, you’d be reminded of the cost cutting every time you touch the nasty, plasticky wheel.

[@candiscayona8609]

Have the 2nd level version 6 mths in. I noticed the car starts loud in the morning. Noticed this about 2 mths in. Is this normal. It starts loud and then evens out to a hum after about 1 min.

[@jermpoz2971]

3000$ service is that a year?

[@maartenk7513]

Interestingly, in Europe this engine is a mild hybrid 140hp.

[@anakinskywalker4113]

I do quite enjoy your videos. However as a mechanic I take issue with your comments about servicing. I run a small independent workshop in Melbourne. it is very very hard for me to keep the costs of services at such an artificial price point. If you told me that it would cost $2900 for 5 years of maintenance That’s quite reasonable from my end. Having these artificially low prices really does impact smaller businesses that can’t absorb the same costs as a big dealership. Please keep that in mind. Otherwise you guys do a great job with your reviews. 👍

[@davidperry3531]

That's a very valid point and I have wondered how the smaller workshops are faring against the dealer discounted service agreements on offer. A 5 Year service agreement on my BMW 330i in 2019 only cost me $1615.

[@nizm0man]

@@davidperry3531 Your BMW oil change interval is 30,000km. Forcefully lowering the cost.

[@gavinryan4166]

@@nizm0manI too have a 2019 330i and there is no way I’d let my car go 30k without an oil change! In fact BMW servicing is very expensive. The original poster didn’t mention that his is the most basic service package. You can add $4k+ to that if you include brakes, certain filters etc etc

[@acde9355]

Now, there is a car that costs even more to maintain than a Volkswagen T-Roc compared to its size.

[@dannymartins388]

Good review, what happened to your hand in the thumbnail picture? Some photoshop weirdness there.

[@leesylou1429]

Just got me the new Quashqai. Beautiful driving car, just trying to master the tech having just switched from my little 2023 Arona which was a lot more simple & straightforward, that said I prefer the Q.

[@gavinryan4166]

Nissan servicing is out of step with its competitors on more than just cost. I do not know about the Cumquat, but the X-Trail has 10,000 km service intervals when the Mitsubishi Outlander with identical mechanicals has 15k intervals as well as lower service costs per visit. I’m with you on urethane steering wheels except to say that if they’re to be leather they need to be good leather. Look at many cars at 7 or 8 years old with fake leather wheels and they’re ratty and peeling. Totally agree with having fabric seats though as a Western Australian … I wish we could all get over absurdly big road wheels. I’ll take the ‘rental spec’ 17” on a Ti, please. Not only will it ride better, it will save a motza when new tyres are needed.

[@BatfinksWings]

Qashqai has an 18000miles or 1 year service schedule here in the UK, In fact im sure the Xtrail does too.

[@SuperLloyd84]

A plastic steering wheel at this price point is absolute bullshit... but it wouldn't stop me buying this car. I'd just get a custom made leather cover for it. Plenty of sites offer them and they're a lot less than the step-up to the next model.

[@gene978]

I have to laugh at today’s plastic steering wheels with a nasty seem around the outside middle circumference. We grew up with Plastic urethane wheels or Resin and never do I remember a Seem around the wheel and I am 61 years old and have driven 100’s of cars selling cars back in the days.

[@sman2887]

Tested a connecta to day and it had a leather steering wheel?!

[@GlowingTube]

Plastic steering wheel is an immediate no buy for me

[@malcolmscott4150]

MG HS decimates this for spec and value - even MG3 has a leather steering wheel so no excuse - CVT not my favourite transmission and why is suspension so firm for such modest performance?

[@BatfinksWings]

The HS is one of the worst cars I've driven. The Qahsqai is so far ahead of it, its not even close.

[@dimitrisgaris7436]

So if the wheel is plastic so what?For countries that are hot specially in summer, the leathers add more degrees of hot in the cabin!Just buy a leather accessory or go to a store to place it and thats all....who cares?

[@xili0966]

how about that $3000 service fee? Just because it shares a Mercedes engine.

[@c.s2001]

Ouch I agree.

[@maartenk7513]

What service fee? Don't have that in Europe.

[@kmuinde]

Not bad but Nissan cvt are not good better UK spec they get manual ones

[@gasparlucrece5841]

I dont want leather on my steering wheel. Had it on 3 cars, hard to keep clean , deteriorates in Australian son.

[@jermpoz2971]

41kk aud? i paid 52k aud lastweek? is this australia?

[@maymoonasha5793]

Thank u for this review...plastic steering wheel..very off putting..Im going for the X trail...lets hope its better than this..

[@scottmckenzie90]

You are making too much of the plastic steering wheel Tom! Some people have a allergic skin response to processed leather. Therefore a synthetic steering cover has to be purchased. Besides customers can adorn the steering wheel with their own taste colours and style. Is the Nissan plastic really that bad?

[@johnedds2327]

Oh well, back to threading a leather steering wheel glove on to the Qashqai.

[@willward952]

It's good, but it's not Kia Sportage 2024 GT LINE S!

[@equalitypeace1695]

Still using renault engines i bet

[@maartenk7513]

OH, and the UK is still a country in Europe, just not in the EU....

[@lukuscannon9697]

Cannot get through these car reviews anymore. These guys have just become so stuck up 🙄

[@micktokar]

Plastic steerling wheel for $41k??? Good luck Nissan.

[@HaruHaruman]

Nissan and Honda are just goners now, aren't they? Old, outdated designs and it almost looks like that these two companies stopped investing into their new cars in the last 10 years.

[@Gdsamplify]

pretty surprising given that small/medium SUVs are their top sellers these days (bar utes)

[@aerofox64]

I would say Mitsubishi is much worse than those two. Tho I can definitely see your point. I actually rented a new Altima last year and found it pretty nice, tho wouldn't buy one😅. As for Honda its easier to see them falling from an Aussie perspective as they act completely different in the U.S. market. Honda is doing well over here.

[@nizm0man]

@@aerofox64 yep Honda only has top spec models available. Civic is either $47k (petrol), $55k (hybrid) or $72k (Type R).