Nissan Qashqai
Aggregated reviews, user reviews, videos, photos and stats
- Good family car
- Big interior
- Decent running costs
- Some slow engines
- Several rivals are cheaper
- Getting on a little these days
Critics are fans of its SUV style looks, the decent practicality and its vast array of talents. However, some of its normal hatchback rivals are just as good as Nissan’s successful crossover, and the Qashqai can get a bit on the pricey side.
Interior
It’s starting to look a bit dated now, but the Qashqai’s cabin is built to a good standard, with a decent amount of soft touch materials and a generally robust feel. There are good levels of adjustment in the steering wheel and driver’s seat, so it’s easy to get comfortable up front.
The same story can be applied to the back, though there is a slight lack of headroom for taller passengers who have been consigned to the rear bench. The boot is, at 410 litres, certainly large and usefully accommodating for a car of this size but lagging behind rivals like the Skoda Yeti. Build quality is praised, and it's been designed for family living, so shouldn't fall apart when kids are in it!
Driving
Testers appear to be fairly pleased with the way the Qashqai drives. It won’t blow your mind when you take it down twisty roads, as there’s a fair bit of body roll, but the sharp and light steering means it’s a decent drive, and fairly easy to drive in town.
The suspension does a fine job of ironing out most of the imperfections in the road, and overall refinement appears to be very good indeed. There was a slight issue with rear visibility, due to some large rear pillars, but that problem is rectified on higher spec models, as they come with parking cameras. The latest '360' models, with cameras all around, make this even easier...
Engines
There’s a good range of petrol and diesel engines on offer, with varying power outputs and economy figures. The largest in the range, the 2.0 diesel and petrol units, come with the option of 4WD and an automatic gearbox, and are best suited to those who regularly drive a car laden with passengers or cargo.
However, most buyers will most likely only need the smaller 1.5 and 1.6 diesel engines, as they return very impressive fuel economy figures, especially the 1.6 diesel model. The 1.5 dCi is really efficient and gets great reviews, though the reviews of the new 1.6 dCi say that it's worth the extra money, as it's more powerful and cheaper to run. However both these engines have to be worked much harder than the larger engines in order to make good progress.
Value for money
The Qashqai range starts off at acceptable prices, and even the most basic models get a decent amount of equipment as standard. They’re also (larger engines aside) fairly economical to run, won't cost loads to tax, and are quite suitable for company cars.
However, it must be said that the top of the range models such as the 360 do cost a fair bit of money, and don’t offer many benefits over similarly sized and priced hatchbacks - or even other Qashqais. Residual values are good, but not as high as some of its premium rivals.
Other rivals, such as Kia and Hyundai in particular, also offer better warranties - 7 years as standard.
Worth noting
The more expensive cars in the range come with 4WD and the option of an automatic gearbox, whilst the lesser models have to make do with front-wheel drive and a five speed manual. However, the auto was seen by quite a few critics as a bit on the jerky side, and the 4WD doesn’t offer that many benefits over the normal car on the public road. The message? Stick with manual and two-wheel drive.
The Visia trim is the entry-level, the Acenta is next, then the 360 and finally the Tekna, which is the most expensive. The Acenta comes with air-con, cruise control and parking sensors, so should have all the kit you need. The 360 adds sat-nav, a panoramic sunroof and around-view cameras, and the Tekna adds leather seats.
There’s also a seven seater version called the Qashqai+2 on sale if you’re interested in the car, but would like the extra practicality of having a pair of extra chairs in the back.
Conclusion
Nissan hasn’t had to alter the Qashqai that much since its launch in 2007, which probably goes to show just how well sorted the original car was – it’s still one of the top crossovers on the market. Not only is it quite practical, but the Nissan is also fairly well priced and specified, has decent running costs and has plenty of appeal with the way it looks.
Overall, the Qashqai is an extremely capable overall car that covers almost all of the bases, and is very easy to recommend.
Key Details
- Price range:
- £16,895 - £27,650
- MPG:
- 36 - 62
- Date released:
- 2007
- Replacement due:
- 2014
- Model history:
- In early 2010 the Qashqai got a facelift. The biggest changes were to the styling of the front, new rear LED lights and a new 1.5 dCi engine. We’ve indicated which are the reviews of the new models. In Sept-11 Nissan made the 1.6 dCi more fuel efficient.
- Engine to go for:
- The new 1.5 dCi Pure Drive engine is extremely fuel-efficient and has just enough power
- Engine to avoid:
- The 2.0 petrol, unless you're towing heavy loads, as it's less economical than the better 2.0 dCi.
- Options to go for:
- The reversing camera will make parking a lot easier! The stop/start system works well and gets great reviews.
- Other variants:
- If you need to carry more people, then check out the Qashqai +2
- Engine naming:
- Engines badged ‘dCi’ are diesel engines
- Other:
- The Qashqai 360 trim was launched for the 2013 model. It comes with a lot of kit as standard, including an all-round view camera sustem, start-stop, sat-nav and part-leather seats. Externally you'll notice gloss black mirror caps and roof rails plus 18" black alloys.
Nissan Qashqai User Reviews
I got mine when in 2007 and bought the 1.6. I would get the diesel as it is more powerful and the 1.6 felt slow
- By Julia Golding
We replaced the Shogun we had with a Qashqai and its such a better car. The Qashqai is smooth, comfortable and far cheaper to refill. In the snow it worked perfectly. Never broken down on us so far.
Only downsides are the 18inch wheels which are very easy to scrape on kerbs and that the heater is slow to make the car warm.
- By Tom Shardlow
I got a Qashqai 2nd hand in Summer 2010. It's made a good family car, all 3 kids can fit in and there is lots of room for our bags when we go on holiday. The engine does lot of miles for the diesel we put it and isn't very noisy.
I would go for the panoramic sunroof if I could, as the black interior feels a bit dark sometimes. A good car for sure.
- By Vicky Jenner
Really happy with our car generally, but a bit let down by the engine. The 1.5 Diesel we have is noisy and to be honest a bit too slow for my liking. We test drove the bigger diesel, but didn't actually drive the one we ordered, because the dealer didn't have one to test.
Apart from the engine, everything is good. Nothing broken down under warranty (except for a puncture), lots of space for the whole family and the interior doesn't look too worn out, even though we've had it for over a year now.
Good car, just don't get this engine.
- By Aidan Martin, who owns this car
ive got the 1.5 dci n-tec+ dec 2011 brand new .i must say that the build of the car is excellent and the 360 degree camera is very usefull for easy parking ,but the miles per gallon lets it down,i looked at the figures before i bought the car and i was expecting 45-55 as stated-im very lucky if i get 32 mpg around town and 40.1 on the motorway.im so diappointed we are going to change it and its only 4mths old. ive contacted nissan and they said the figures they give on the cars they sell are as a guild only! no help what so ever..
- By mrs jennings, who owns this car
I was looking for a new company car with 7 seat capability and plumped for the Qashquai+2 nTec (having previoulsy driven an S-Max 1.8 Zetec). I ordered the 2.0 dCi but was fortunate to actually have the 1.6 dCi deleivered (Nov 2011) as an alternative which means lower personal tax and better fuel economy, with no real loss of performance. It does everything well and features like the built-in sat nav and the phone connection are really good. My only complaint is that the front screen demister doesn’t extend across the full width of the windscreen and it takes ages to clear (and I really miss the heated front screen on the S-Max). Apart from that I am really pleased and will definitely consider the new model planned for 2014 when I come to change it.
- By Neal Hill, who owns this car
What a shame! We bought a brand new Qashqai Tekna, top of the range, taking delivery in June 2011. Since then I have not stopped singing its praises, performance, economy, sound system, reversing cam. In early January 2013 we got a puncture. It was cold, raining and dusk. I quickly flipped open the rear door, lifted the mat and there it was - NOTHING! No spare, no Jack, no wheel brace, NOTHING! All there was, was what they call an “instant mobility” kit. Ahaaa! Sounds good. Turns out it’s about as useful as a chocolate fireguard! This comprises of a compressor pump that plugs into the cigarette lighter and a bottle of what looks like PVA glue that pumps in along with the air, magically sealing the hole and getting you home, although it does state you are supposed to locate the offending penetrating article and remove it first. Not the easiest of tasks in failing light with the tyre flat as a pancake and NO JACK! When the bit was eventually taken out of the tyre, you could see daylight through the rubber! We have 3 years roadside recovery though and after hours wait the RAC turn up and have a big air compressor on board which they promptly attach to the valve and pump and the tyre just stays flat They then call out a low loader which after about an hour 20 mins arrives, winches the Qashqai on and takes me home. On my drive, I now have the car, which cannot be moved and still no jack to get the tyre off! Happy days! I won’t bore you with the details in overcoming this situation, but eventually got mobile after a lot of running around. Total time spent, probably in the region of 10 hours from start to mobility. Evidently it seems they stopped putting a spare in about 2 years ago. Nobody mentioned this at the showroom when buying. Thank the Lord we were not far from home and still in guarantee, also that none of our young grandchildren were in the car, as often is the case. I have bought now, from Glyn Hopkin, a space saver wheel and jack kit for just under £200 which they state cannot be fitted to the Tekna due to the sub-woofer in the back. It can. They are wrong! I can now change a wheel and get home in a few minutes. Have a look in your boot before you venture on that trip. It used to be illegal not to carry a spare. Now it’s OK evidently if you have a bottle of PVA and a little pump instead. They tell me that 80% of cars are now sold like this. I think next time I buy, the first question I will ask is what’s in the boot? Other than all this unwarranted grief, I’d have given a 9 or 10/10
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MSN review
Helpful video review of the Qashqai. They talk about what it's like to drive, the running costs and what equipment it comes with. Video by MSN Cars.
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WhatCar review
What Car? Give their opinions on the new, facelifted Qashqai. Very useful review on this latest edition.
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Promo video
TV advert for the Nissan Qashqai.
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Nissan Qashqai Video Review
Carbuyer take a look at the Qashqai and give their verdict on it.