THE 2020 Qashqai Ti is Nissan’s most captivating contribution to the small-SUV category since the range was released in 2014. In its first major overhaul since 2017, the range topper is not only competitively priced, but also includes a host of features.
There’s no sacrificing a kidney to get them here either, with a long list of standard inclusions making the Qashqai Ti a super impressive offering. It’s a big step up from the 2020 Nissan Qashqai N-Sport, which we’ve reviewed previously, too.
So if you’re looking to buy a Qashqai, we’re going to tell you exactly why the keys to this car belong in your hands.
Firstly, you’ll notice the exterior styling and lines of the Ti are not much different to the rest of the range. Almost everything is identical apart from the 19-inch alloy wheels and the addition of the panoramic glass roof.
The exception to that is the N-Sport we already mentioned, which had colour matched lips, skirts, arches and unique 19-inch wheels. Regardless, all of the goodies you’re looking for are inside the car.
Included in this latest update to the entire range is the updated infotainment unit, now with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The unit itself does look a tad small due to the bulky facia, and the low resolution screen gives it that dated look and feel.
But with a 6-speaker sound system, voice recognition and digital radio, the Ti can pump out the tunes with style and aplomb. Storage in the Ti is excellent too, with 430-litres of boot space (1,598 with seats down), plus an array of storage compartments and slots.
There’s also two 12V sockets and a USB port, however the rear seat occupants suffer from a lack of air conditioning vents. The rest of the interior is commendable though, with the Nissan D-shaped steering wheel one of our favourites in the segment.
The Nappa leather front and rear seats (with heaters in the front), and that single pane glass roof are excellent. Sure, it doesn’t open, but it does provide an unobstructed view of the beautiful stars while you’re cruising at night.
This can be very distracting, so we recommend you park the car before reclining your seat and gazing skywards.
One of the other perks of the top-spec model is the more advanced autonomous emergency braking system, which now detects more obstacles across a higher speed range.
But it doesn’t end there, also included is an array of other features such as key-less entry and push-button start, folding side mirrors and an anti-glare rear view mirror, conveniences that make it just so much better than the mid-spec model.
Other safety features which afford this car its 5-star ANCAP safety rating includes rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, blind spot warning, intelligent parking assist and two ISOFIX anchor points with three top tethers.
Unfortunately, the engine and drive train in the Ti is identical to the rest of the Qashqai range.
It’s a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated inline 4-cylinder petrol engine paired to a CVT (continuously variable transmission) gearbox making 106kW of power and 200Nm of torque at both front wheels.
While it’s not the most powerful engine around, it delivers power well, with minimal hesitation, and the CVT is quick enough to decide which gear it wants to be in. Don’t expect to be getting ahead of traffic without destroying your fuel economy though.
Nissan claims 6.9-litres/100km but we could only manage an 8.6, which is still reasonable. The driveability of the Ti is surprisingly excellent though, despite lacking in power on paper.
The Ti holds the road well, even around corners when driving spiritedly. Regardless of the fact the Qashqai runs a fairly low profile tyre (255/45/19 on an SUV), it is almost like a cloud, even over bumps and potholes.
The front seats are luxurious and the rear seats can fit two adults comfortably. Priced at $38,490 excluding on-road costs, which is an extra $4,490 on top of the mid-spec ST-L and $3,490 on top of the limited-run N-Sport, we can’t argue with the price point.
For the amount of car and convenience you’ll get with it, it’s great value, so much so that we’re disappointed we don’t have our own sitting at home. Nissan also offers a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty and capped price servicing.
Our test vehicle was provided by Nissan Australia. To find out more about the 2020 Nissan Qashqai Ti, contact your local Nissan dealer. Pictures courtesy of J_Hui Design/Photography.
