Nissan Qashqai+2

Reviews for the Nissan Qashqai+2 are generally positive - it’s as popular with the press as it is with the public, who buy Qashqais in huge numbers.

Interior

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the Qashqai+2 has the same number of seats as a regular Qashqai (five), ‘plus two’. This makes it perfect if you occasionally carry a couple of extra small children, but they certainly aren’t meant for adults. When not in use, they flip down with ease. The rest of the interior is more spacious, it’s comfortable and built well.

Driving

As a cross between a family car, SUV and a people-mover the Qashqai is no sports car, but still does a good job of whisking your family along in comfort with decent handling. There’s some body roll, but it’s not bad as taller vehicles go. Grip is also good.

Engines

The tiny Renault-sourced 1.5 dCi turbo diesel doesn’t sound like much of an engine for a large car, but although it’s not outright fast the critics say it’s up to the job. If you regularly carry heavier loads then the 2.0 petrol or 2.0 dCi diesel might be wiser choices, the diesel obviously the more economical of the two.

Value for money

The Qashqai+2 is relatively expensive to buy considering what you get in return over the regular car - two very occasional seats and more weight. The experts reckon the cheapest trim levels make the most sense, but a few recommend different cars altogether. Fuel economy is good though, and road tax relatively low.

Worth noting

Think long and hard how useful the extra seats will really be to you, as they do compromise the car’s performance and aren’t designed for anyone larger than a small child. Because of the weight penalty you’d also be better going for the larger engines, which then cost more to run.

The Qashqai+2 is a useful family car with good looks, decent running costs and a nice interior, but some other 7-seat rivals offer more space. Choose your Qashqai wisely…