2026 Nissan Qashqai safety score slashed in latest ratings release alongside Suzuki e-Vitara, Cupra Leon, Audi A3 and Q3

The 2026 Nissan Qashqai has received a four-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety rating, a result that represents a step back from the five-star rating awarded to the model in 2017. The assessment applies to the updated Qashqai family SUV and highlights how changing safety protocols can affect the standing of established models even as vehicle technology continues to develop.

The Qashqai performed strongly in child occupant protection, recording a 91 per cent score. However, its overall result was weakened by lower scores in several other areas. Adult Protection was rated at 78 per cent, Vulnerable Road User Protection at 68 per cent and Safety Assist at 62 per cent.

ANCAP attributed a significant part of the Adult Protection result to the vehicle's front structure. In the frontal offset test, that structure presented a moderate risk to occupants of an oncoming vehicle. The result illustrates that contemporary safety ratings assess more than the protection provided to people inside the tested car, also considering the potential consequences for other road users in a crash.

The latest release places the Qashqai among a broader group of newly assessed vehicles. The incoming Suzuki e-Vitara also received a four-star rating, while the revamped Audi A3, Audi Q3 and updated Cupra Leon each earned five stars. The comparative results show the increasingly demanding nature of current testing, particularly across active safety and vulnerable-road-user categories.

• Overall ANCAP rating: four stars
• Child Protection: 91 per cent
• Adult Protection: 78 per cent
• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 68 per cent
• Safety Assist: 62 per cent

For prospective Qashqai owners, the rating is an important part of understanding the model's current safety position. The strong child-protection score is notable, but the lower adult-protection, vulnerable-user and safety-assistance results mean the vehicle should not be judged solely on its previous five-star history. ANCAP ratings are tied to the testing criteria and equipment applicable at the time of assessment, so older results are not always directly equivalent to newer ones.

Other highlights include Exterior colour: Blue.