Nissan Qashqai Review

Performance4/5

The Qashqai comes with 4 engine choices; 2 petrol and 2 diesel. The diesel engines on the whole are the better options, the 2.0-litre in particular provides some rather satisfying pace, but the 1.5 still provides more nip than you'd imagine for a small capacity diesel. If you have an aversion to diesel engines then its best to plump for 2.0 litre petrol, which is a nicely refined engine with plenty of pull. The 1.6 is not an awful engine, but you do need to work it pretty hard to get the best out of it.

Handling4/5

Nissan should be very proud of their work on the Qashqai's handling. It could easily have been a wallowy car, with its high 4x4 styled sides but this is far from the case. It has an excellent suspension which means despite its size it feels under control in even the tightest of corners. The suspension coupled with the Qashqai's chunky tyres mean that it can handle most off-road terrain as well. There is a 4x4 option available with the 2.0 litre options, but while this improves the Qashqai's handling on slippery surfaces, it is worth noting that is not a car designed for any serious off-roading

Exterior4/5

The Qashqai was a bit of a new animal when it first came out; 4x4 looks in what was essentially a hatchback. This could have made the Qashqai an odd looking thing, but Nissan's sleek styling mean that it has a stature on the road that many cars in its class can not lay claim to.

Interior3.5/5

For a car that considers itself to be a versatile creature, the lack of manoeuvrability from the seats is a tad on the disappointing side, there is just the standard 60/40 split and the seats don't fold flat. The boot has a 410 litre capacity, which is pretty middle of the road for the class and the space in the cock pit is of the same nature - good, but not breath-taking. Having said all this they have designed the space well and there are plenty of little cubby holes for use and a feeling of quality over the whole of the interior.

Equipment4/5

Even at its most basic the Qashqai is a well equipped car. The entry level Visia comes with air con, alloy wheels, a CD player, electric windows all around and a Bluetooth system so you can connect your phone. If you opt for the next level up, the Acenta, your CD player comes with a CD changer, you get dual zone climate control, bigger alloys as well as automatic wipers and headlamps and a parking sensor. N-Tec, gets you Sat-Nav and a panoramic sunroof, and if you go all out and get the top of the range Tekna you are rewarded with heated leather seats and a seven speaker stereo system.

Safety5/5

It's hard to disagree with the Qashqai's 5 star Euro NCAP rating. When first released it achieved a record high score for adult occupant protection and it's easy to see why: driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags come as standard. Active front head restraints minimise the risk of whiplash if hit from behind. Stability control and ABS with brake assist all add to the Qashqai's excellent safety package.

Buying & Owning4/5

The Qashqai is competitively priced in the market, and maintains its price pretty well. The new model has improved its fuel efficiency, with the entry level diesel doing 55.3mpg. On the reliability front there have been a few recalls to fix steering issues but this was on the older model and there have yet to be any reports of similar faults on the new version. In general though the Qashqai has proved a very reliable car and it comes with a 3 year or 60000 mile warranty.

Reviewed by cars2buy