Nissan Qashqai vs Lexus RX

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Nissan Qashqai Discontinued model
Nissan Qashqai in South Africa

Nissan Qashqai

1.3 Tekna CVT Petrol CVT Discontinued model
ZAR 545,000 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 270 Nm ⛽ 17 km/l
VS
Lexus RX in South Africa

Lexus RX

RX 350 F SPORT Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,642,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 11.5 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Nissan Qashqai vs Lexus RX: the short answer

RX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Qashqai remains close.

Recorded price context Qashqai: last listed from ZAR 495,000 · RX: current from ZAR 1,516,500

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Qashqai RX
Maximum Power Qashqai110 kW RX205 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque Qashqai270 Nm RX430 Nm
Engine Size Qashqai1332 cc RX2400 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Qashqai17 km/l RX11.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Qashqai180 mm RX185 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for Nissan Qashqai 1.3 Tekna CVT

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Qashqai

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

RX

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Qashqai

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

RX

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Qashqai RX
Model Introduced Year 2007 2023
Facelift History Latest generation redesign improved styling and tech Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices
Tare Mass Kg 1450 kg 1895-2005 kg
Generation Not confirmed Fifth-generation Lexus RX luxury SUV
Facelift Launched Since Not confirmed Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec Qashqai RX
Length 4425 mm 4890 mm
Width 1835 mm 1920 mm
Height 1625 mm 1695 mm
Wheelbase 2665 mm 2850 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 180 mm 185 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l 67.5 l
Boot/Cargo Space 504 l 612 l
Kerb Weight 1450 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1980 kg 2590 kg
Towing Capacity 1800 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors Not confirmed 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not confirmed 5.9 m

In depth: how these cars differ

This Qashqai and RX comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Qashqai 53 vs RX 85.

Efficiency index: Qashqai 65 vs RX 46.

Safety-equipment index: Qashqai 87 vs RX 93.

Practicality index: Qashqai 68 vs RX 75.

Ownership-cover index: Qashqai 42 vs RX not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

RX leads by 13 points

RX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Qashqai remains close.

Evidence leader 77 /100
Lead 13 points
Data 70% source coverage
77
#1 Evidence leader

RX

70% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 85
Efficiency 46
Safety 93
Practicality 75
Leads by 13 points
64
#2

Qashqai

87% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Ownership 42
Performance 53
Efficiency 65
Safety 87
Practicality 68
Ownership 42
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance RX +32 Efficiency Qashqai +19 Safety RX +6 Practicality RX +7

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

RX

Performance 85/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 75/100

Qashqai

Performance 53/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 42/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Lexus RX leads the specification evidence index with 77 pts vs 64 pts for Qashqai

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, RX leads. However, Qashqai may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Qashqai vs RX questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.