Heads up: The all new Nissan Qashqai is on our shores, and it's raring to charge back into the field with a more premium disposition.

The second generation model was already far sharper looking than its predecessor, but the latest one takes things a few notches higher with its 'floating roof' and single character lines running along both sides of the body. The rear, in particular, is a decidedly angular affair.

While the Qashqai retains Nissan's prevailing V-motion grille, it also differentiates itself from the models most recently introduced to Singapore (such as the Note e-Power) with its mirrored boomerang LED lights.

If you think the current car looks bigger, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you - it's grown slightly in all directions, and its wheelbase now measures 2,665mm, up from 2,646mm previously. Boot space, meanwhile, has also gone up by over 70 litres to clock in at 504 litres, thanks to some clever designing by Nissan's team.

What you shouldn't be fooled by, though, is what those large wheel arches and all that plastic cladding appear to suggest. This soft-roader feels most at home on tarmac and in the city, and as with the previous two generations, both of the variants we'll be getting (more about that later) are front-wheel driven. 

Also well-suited for driving on tarmac and in the city is the Qashqai's newfound electrification. The crossover is now driven by a turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol engine with assistance from a 12V lithium-ion battery - for better refinement in start-stop traffic, and to aid both torque and fuel consumption. 

The apparent diminutiveness of this engine displacement may throw you off slightly at first, but thanks to the one-two knockout punch of its turbocharged engine and mild hybrid system, power is actually up to 156bhp and 270Nm of peak torque - significant bumps over even the previous gen's 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine. It remains unclear when, or if, the e-Power drivetrain will reach us.

The impressive upgrades then carry on into the interior.

Those that haven't yet taken to the era of tablet-only infotainment will be delighted with the new dashboard, which is clean, modern and solidly put together, while also retaining a good number of intuitive knobs and buttons (including, thankfully, those for climate control). The central TFT infotainment screen can naturally be operated by touch for those who so prefer.

The larger dimensions we mentioned earlier aren't just for show either. On the inside, comfort for occupants is now even better than before, thanks to increased knee room for rear passengers (by 28mm), as well as increased headroom from front to rear (by 15mm).

Back to the two trim levels: On the entry-level Premium variant, you'll already enjoy a great deal of features such as dual-zone climate control, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity (operable through the 8.0-inch infotainment screen) and rain sensing wipers. 18-inch alloy wheels and diamond-pleated black Nappa leather upholstery complete the Qashqai's upmarket demeanour. 

Standard too are six airbags, all-round parking sensors, and advanced safety features from Nissan Intelligent Mobility (the marque's suite of advanced driving tech) such as cruise control, Intelligent Driver Alertness and a 360-degree camera to help you with parking and tight spaces. 

Apart from gaining a full-length panoramic sunroof, the first thing you'll notice when stepping up to the Prestige variant is that it rides on larger 19-inch wheels. For the first time ever on a Qashqai, you'll even get a hands-free powered tailgate. 

The driver is also treated to an all-round tech-rooted driving experience through a 12.3-inch full-digital instrument cluster that allows toggling between different displays, as well as a 10.8-inch head-up display which seamlessly integrates directions from the car's sat-nav. The central TFT infotainment screen has also been upsized to 9.0-inch, while offering Wireless Apple CarPlay.

Safety features are served full-course in the Prestige variant too, with the inclusion of lane departure and blindspot monitoring warnings, as well as adaptive LED headlights.

The all new Nissan Qashqai is now available for pre-launch booking, as well as for preview at Nissan showrooms, with special launch prices starting at $171,800 for the Premium variant.

Tan Chong Motor has also announced that it is rewarding existing Qashqai-owners who trade in their car with a further Loyalty Discount of $2,000. Interested customers may get in touch via the Nissan Singapore Facebook page for more details. 

*Prestige variant pictured in photos.