Nissan’s top-spec Qashqai Ti lands
BY TIM NICHOLSON | 22nd Jun 2018
NISSAN will complete the rollout of its Qashqai small SUV line-up with the arrival in showrooms of the flagship Ti model grade from July 1.
When Nissan launched the facelifted version of the Qashqai in December last year, the range included a special-edition N-Tec variant that filled the void until the arrival of the delayed Ti.
Now that the Ti is here, Nissan has dropped the N-Tec from the line-up.
As reported, the Ti is priced from $37,990 excluding on-road costs, which is $1500 more than the outgoing N-Tec.
On top of the features offered in the N-Tec, the Qashqai Ti adds adaptive cruise control, a lane keeping aid and Nappa leather accented seats with 3D quilting and soft cushioning.
Standard safety gear across the Qashqai range includes autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, lane departure warning, hill start assist, brake assist and an electric park brake with auto hold.
The range also features a self-parking system, a 360-degree surround-view monitor with moving object detection, intelligent driver alert, blind spot warning and high beam assist, while the Ti gains rear cross-traffic alert and an adaptive front lighting system.
Inside, the Ti features keyless entry and start, a 7.0-inch colour infotainment screen with satellite navigation, DAB+ digital radio and Bluetooth, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and dual-zone climate control.
Like all Qashqais, the Ti is powered by a 106kW/200Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine matched with a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels, delivering fuel consumption of 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres.
The Qashqai range starts at $26,490 for the entry-level ST with a six-speed manual, with a CVT adding $2500 to that price, while the mid-spec auto-only ST-L is priced at $32,990.
Nissan says the Ti will account for 30 per cent of total Qashqai sales, a similar split to the ST and ST-L.
Qashqai sales have lifted by 1.0 per cent to the end of May this year, compared with the same period in 2017, with 5015 units shifted.
It is enough to place it fourth in the booming sub-$40,000 small SUV segment that is up by 30.8 per cent so far this year.
The ageing Mitsubishi ASX is leading the segment for sales on 7846 units, followed by the Mazda CX-3 with 6946, and Subaru’s XV which is up by 144 per cent to 5931 units.
Following the Qashqai is Honda’s HR-V in fifth with 5003 sales, while Hyundai’s Kona is also chasing the top sellers in sixth spot with 4986 sales.
2018 Nissan Qashqai pricing*
| ST | $26,490 |
| ST (a) | $28,990 |
| ST-L (a) | $32,990 |
| Ti (a) | $37,990 |
*Excludes on-road costs
