√2023 Nissan Qashqai scores five-star ANCAP safety rating

The new Nissan Qashqai has received two of ANCAP’s best results on record for its safety assistance technology and child occupant protection.

The 2023 Nissan Qashqai has received a five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) ahead of its arrival in local showrooms later this year.

Applicable to all four variants of Nissan’s small SUV, the Qashqai’s five-star safety rating comes with one of the highest scores for its Safety Assist technology and Child Occupant Protection since ANCAP implemented new procedures in 2020.

The Nissan Qashqai recorded results of 91 per cent in Adult Occupant Protection, 93 per cent in Child Occupant Protection, 74 per cent in Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 97 per cent in Safety Assist technology.

The 2023 Nissan Qashqai’s 97 per cent Safety Assist result is the second-highest highest recorded under ANCAP’s latest criteria – behind the Tesla Model Y electric SUV (98 per cent).

Full marks were recorded for the new Nissan Qashqai’s occupant status, lane support and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) junction assist systems, although minor penalties were applied to its speed assistance and AEB car-to-car systems.

The Nissan Qashqai’s 93 per cent Child Occupant Protection is equal to the highest scores recorded by ANCAP, matching the 2023 Ford Ranger ute and Ford Everest SUV.

Perfect scores were recorded across the dynamic side test and restraint installation tests, with the Qashqai dropping a minor number of marks for its dynamic front test and on-board safety features.

A 91 per cent result for the Nissan Qashqai’s Adult Occupant Protection was awarded thanks to its full points across the side impact, oblique pole and far side impact tests.

The small SUV was issued a minor penalty of 1.54 points due to its “moderate risk to occupants of an oncoming vehicle in the MPDB (frontal offset) test”, while chest protection of the rear passengers was marked as marginal.

In the Vulnerable Road User Protection category, ANCAP said the Qashqai’s bonnet provided good or adequate protection to the head of a struck pedestrian, however its stiff windscreen pillars resulted in marginal or poor results.

ANCAP noted the Nissan Qashqai’s 3.36 point penalty for upper leg impacts – the only test where the small SUV scored less than half the available points.