Although the Nissan Qashqai wasn't the first family oriented SUV that we all love today, it was the first that broke the stereotype of an SUV. Gone were the days of a heavy 4x4 that was expensive to run, and in came the Nissan Qashqai, the automotive equivalent of when Apple introduced the iPhone back in 2007 - a marketing disrupting machine!
With a healthy amount of competition in the SUV market from rivals such as the Karoq, Q3, Ateca, XC40 and Sportage, the new Qashqai will present itself with a more aggressive look, a higher-tech interior and electric power.
In the current Nissan Qashqai, the entry-level 1.3L turbocharged petrol is the engine that is recommended as it comes packed with muscle and very good fuel economy.
And this is what you can expect in the 2021 version, well, it's an updated version with two outputs, a 138bhp & 155bhp, to be precise. Both of these will make use of the mild hybrid technology that you see in rival SUV's, such as the Sportage, to improve emissions and fuel economy, saving money for the occupant - what's not to like?
Unfortunately, for you diesel lovers, this engine type has been scrapped, and instead there will be a new e-Power version, which will use the 1.3L engine and an electric motor to produce a whopping 188bhp, nice.
Unlike a conventional hybrid system, which continuously switches between the cars engine and the electric motor, the e-Power system is a range extender designed to use the electric motor to drive the car at all times, with the engine being purely used to top up the batteries.
Using a battery pack that is similar in size to those fitted in pure electric cars, the e-Power system is said to provide the instant acceleration you expect in an EV, without the cars range being limited.
As with the Next Generation Nissan Juke, Nissan have shown to give a more menacing, aggressive, look to the exterior of their vehicles, and there is no exception with the Nissan Qashqai.
Going off the camouflaged images that we have all seen so far, it appears that the 2021 Nissan Qashqai will be getting slimmer LED headlights and an oversized grille that was in the concept model of the car back in 2019 (pictured right)
We also expect some of the tech, such as camera, replacing conventional door mirrors, to be an option on the high-end versions.
Inside, we should expect some improved material quality, plus a digital instrument panel, replacing the analogue dials, and at the very minimum, one centre touchscreen display.
What is certain is that the Nissan Qashqai will get Nissans ProPilot driver assistance package, which is able to accelerate/slow the car down in the designated lane on the motorway. Also, ProPilot can also read road traffic signs and use the data provided from the sat nav to ensure that you are going the designated speed for the area being driven in.
Around the back, we expect the Nissan Qashqai to have an extra 50L of storage space, great for those families that don't like to leave their home comforts behind when going on staycations away.
We expect the new Nissan Qashqai to go on sale in Spring 2021.