Nissan’s Australian Qashqai range has been struck by several changes that won’t impress prospective customers. A price rise has hit every grade of the marque’s small SUV in addition to the flagship N-Design model being withdrawn from the lineup down under – and on top of that, some specifications have been scaled back.

All the remaining model grades – the ST-L, Ti and Ti-L e-Power – have been hit with a $210 price rise that widens the gap to Nissan’s competitors. They’ll also be losing some features due to the specs shake-up.

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The entry-level ST-L will now set you back $45,850 before on-roads, leaving it at a noticeable disadvantage to two of its competitors, Toyota’s Corolla Cross ($37,440) and the Hyundai Kona Hybrid ($36,950). While the ST-L will now get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and new-look dashboard trim, it loses its power lumbar support for the driver’s seat and the wireless phone charger. The adjustability of the front passenger seat is reduced as well.

The spec changes mean the Ti and Ti-L will no longer have adaptive headlights and front sequential indicator lights, and the leather on the steering wheels is being downgraded to a leather-like synthetic material. 

Part of the N-Design’s DNA remains in the form of the 20-inch alloy wheels, which are now coming to the Ti-L, but that is offset by the loss of the Platinum exterior paint option and black roof headlining. The Ti is also losing its dynamic rear indicators.

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The Qashqai range went hybrid-only down under earlier this year and there’s no change to that powertrain. It features a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that generates electricity for the 140kW, 311Nm electric motor. Improvements to the e-Power system have given it a rating of just 4.1L/100km, which beats the Corolla Cross and is just a fraction above the Kona Hybrid, which doesn’t have as much grunt.

New of the pricing and specs changes comes with the Qashqai needing a major lift in sales, which crashed from January to July – a drop of almost 75 per cent compared to the same period last year.