We already know the new third-generation Nissan Qashqai is inbound but its parent company is doing one of those 'drip-feed' news releases in the months leading up to the car's launch - so now we've got full details on what the interior of this oh-so-important C-segment newcomer will be like.
High-quality materials
Nissan starts by talking about the seats, which feature a new, 3D diamond-quilted Nappa leather which takes 25 days to produce and more than an hour to stitch, while included on higher-spec models is a massage function with three programme modes for the front-seat occupants. Then the whole cabin features white ambient lighting, while the carmaker says it has paid attention to the ergonomic and aesthetic quality of the switchgear and buttons in the Qashqai's interior. Automatic models have a smaller gear selector on a redesigned centre console, while 4WD variants have a drive-mode switch with a matte-chrome ring and piano-black finish.
Infotainment is handled by the latest version of Nissan Connect, which is presented on a nine-inch touchscreen which is said to be of a higher resolution than the display it replaces. There's in-car WiFi for up to seven devices, while the system is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay - the latter of these capable of being connected to in a wireless manner. Audio is handled by a Bose Premium ten-speaker sound system plus Bose's Acoustimass bass box in the boot. In front of the driver, as 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster is drafted in and can be augmented with a 10.8-inch Head-Up Display above, this information projected onto the windscreen in the driver's line of vision. Meanwhile, charging for onboard devices comes in various forms - there's a large pad in the centre storage unit for wireless smartphones, capable of handling up to the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and running at 15W (said to be among the most powerful in the Qashqai's segment), while USB-A and USB-C ports are dotted about the cabin.
Nissan is also keen to talk about the practicalities of the new Qashqai Mk3. A wider windscreen viewing angle, thinner A-pillars at the front and side mirrors mounted on the doors, instead of on said A-pillars, reduce visibility blind spots, while the crossover's longer wheelbase means there is 608mm of rear-kneeroom, a figure up by 28mm compared to the outgoing Mk2. Front and rear headroom are both up by 15mm, while the front seats are said to offer a greater range of adjustment than before and therefore they can accommodate a 'wider array of physiques'. There's the option to have the steering wheel heated for the colder months (or just if you like a heated steering wheel at any point of the year, we suppose), while at the back a powered, hands-free tailgate gives access to a boot that has more than 74 litres of overall capacity, thanks to a cargo-bay floor which is lower by 20mm.
'Sets the standard'
Matthew Weaver, vice-president for Nissan Design Europe, said: "The new Nissan Qashqai is the perfect intersection of expressive design and customer expectation. Their needs inform our focus and our bold statements meet their highest expectations. With this next-generation model, we have elevated the Qashqai to a new level in offering a premium yet practical, luxurious yet accessible, and advanced yet usable environment that will set the standard for others to follow."