The Nissan Qashqai continues to be a popular choice in the compact SUV segment, offering a range of trims to suit various preferences and budgets. Let’s explore the key differences between the premium and basic trims of the Nissan Qashqai, helping potential buyers make an informed decision. 

Exterior Design and Wheels

The Nissan Qashqai showcases a bold and modern design across all trim levels, but there are notable differences between the premium and basic trims:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Standard LED headlights and taillights
• Body-coloured door mirrors and handles

Tekna+ (Premium):

• Larger 20-inch alloy wheels with a unique design
• Advanced LED headlights with adaptive driving beam
• Chrome accents on door handles and window surrounds
• Panoramic glass roof (optional on some markets)

The premium trim elevates the Qashqai appearance with larger wheels and additional chrome accents, giving it a more upscale and sophisticated look.

Interior Quality and Materials

Interior quality is one area where the premium trim truly stands out:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• Black cloth upholstery
• Standard plastic interior trim
• Manual adjustable seats

Tekna+ (Premium):

• Premium leather upholstery with a quilted design
• Soft-touch materials on the dashboard and door panels
• Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function
• Ambient interior lighting with customizable colours

The Tekna+ trim offers a significantly more luxurious interior experience, with high-quality materials and additional comfort features that elevate the cabin’s overall feel.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Both trims offer modern infotainment systems, but the premium trim includes several upgrades:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• 6-speaker audio system
• Bluetooth connectivity

Tekna+ (Premium):

• Larger 12.3-inch high-definition touchscreen
• Nissan Connect Services with built-in navigation
• Premium Bose sound system with 10 speakers
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless smartphone charging pad

The premium trim provides a more immersive and technologically advanced infotainment experience, with a larger screen and additional features that enhance connectivity and entertainment options.

Safety Features and Driver Assistance

Nissan has equipped the Qashqai with a comprehensive suite of safety features, but the premium trim offers additional advanced technologies:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• Intelligent Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection
• Lane Departure Warning
• ntelligent Lane Intervention
• Rear parking sensors
• Rearview camera

Tekna+ (Premium):

• ProPILOT with Navi-link (advanced adaptive cruise control)
• 360-degree Around View Monitor
• Moving Object Detection
• Blind Spot Intervention
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Intelligent Driver Alertness
• Traffic Sign Recognition

The Tekna+ trim provides a more comprehensive safety package, with advanced driver assistance features that offer enhanced peace of mind and convenience, especially during long journeys or in challenging driving conditions.

Powertrain Options

The Nissan Qashqai offers different powertrain options, with some variations between the basic and premium trims:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• 1.3-liter DiG-T mild-hybrid petrol engine
• 138 horsepower (103 kW) or 156 horsepower (116 kW) versions
• 6-speed manual transmission or CVT automatic

Tekna+ (Premium):

• 1.3-liter DiG-T mild-hybrid petrol engine with 156 horsepower (116 kW)
• CVT automatic transmission as standard
• Optional e-POWER hybrid system with 187 horsepower (140 kW) electric motor

The premium trim offers more powerful engine options and the innovative e-POWER hybrid system, which provides electric vehicle-like driving characteristics with the convenience of a petrol engine acting as a generator.

Comfort and Convenience Features

The Tekna+ trim significantly enhances the comfort and convenience aspects of the Qashqai:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• Manual air conditioning
• Standard rear seats
• Manually adjustable steering wheel

Tekna+ (Premium):

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated front and rear seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Power-adjustable steering column
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror

These additional features in the premium trim create a more luxurious and comfortable environment for both driver and passengers, especially in varying weather conditions.

Suspension and Driving Dynamics

While both trims offer a comfortable ride, the premium trim includes enhancements to the suspension system:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• Standard suspension setup
• Front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam

Tekna+ (Premium):

• Multi-link rear suspension (on some powertrain configurations)
• Adaptive dampers (optional in some markets)
• Improved noise insulation for a quieter cabin

These upgrades in the Tekna+ trim result in a more refined ride quality, better handling characteristics, and improved comfort, especially on longer journeys or rough road surfaces.

Exterior Lighting

Lighting technology is another area where the premium trim stands out:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• LED headlights and daytime running lights
• Standard fog lights

Tekna+ (Premium):

• Adaptive LED headlights with auto-leveling
• LED fog lights with cornering function
• Signature LED daytime running lights
• Dynamic turn signals

The advanced lighting features in the Tekna+ trim enhance the vehicle’s appearance and provide improved visibility and safety in various driving conditions.

Cargo Space and Practicality

Both trims offer practical storage solutions, but the premium trim includes some additional features:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• 504 liters of boot space with rear seats up
• 60/40 split-folding rear seats

Tekna+ (Premium):

• Flexible cargo floor system
• Additional under-floor storage compartments
• Luggage board system for versatile storage options

While the basic cargo capacity remains the same across trims, the premium trim offers more versatile and customizable storage solutions to accommodate various needs.

Technology and Connectivity

The Tekna+ trim includes several advanced technology features not found in the basic trim:

Acenta Premium (Basic):

• Standard USB ports
• Basic trip computer

Tekna+ (Premium):

• Head-up display
• Fully digital 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster
• Multiple USB-A and USB-C ports
• Customizable driver profiles
• Remote vehicle monitoring and control via smartphone app

These additional tech features in the premium trim create a more connected and personalized driving experience, keeping the driver informed and in control.

2024 Nissan Qashqai: Quality and Innovatiion

The Nissan Qashqai offers a significant contrast between its premium Tekna+ and basic Acenta Premium trims. While the Acenta Premium provides a well-equipped and comfortable compact SUV experience, the Tekna+ elevates the Qashqai to a near-luxury level with its advanced features, superior materials, and enhanced technology.

The premium trim justifies its higher price tag with a more powerful engine option, advanced safety features, luxurious interior appointments, and cutting-edge technology. However, the basic trim still offers a compelling package for those seeking a reliable and stylish compact SUV without all the bells and whistles.

Ultimately, the choice between the premium and basic trims of the Nissan Qashqai will depend on individual preferences, budget considerations, and desired features. Both trims uphold the Nissan reputation for quality and innovation, ensuring that you’ll be driving a capable and modern compact SUV whichever version you choose.