Nissan Qashqai Review | CarsIreland.ie

Published on 22 March, 2017

The Nissan Qashqai has been a massive success for the brand since its release in 2007.

Overview

Nissan Qashqai Review

The Qashqai has been a huge car for Nissan ever since its release in 2007. It was one of the first cars to enter the crossover market and quickly became the biggest seller in that class. Because of that, this generation of the Qashqai is already a guaranteed success. That said, it still has an awful lot to live up to. It’s longer and wider than the outgoing model, yet lighter, giving it the edge in terms of efficiency. With some tweaks made to the appearance, it’s even better looking than before and definitely one of the best in its class in terms of design. The cabin has also undergone a makeover – everything looks and feels top quality, the central console looks fantastic, and there’s just as much passenger space as the outgoing model.

Space & Practicality 

★★★★☆

Trendy SUV image aside, the main draw for the Nissan Qashqai and its kind is the extra space and practicality it offers over a normal hatchback. The extra height means more headroom for all on board and a generous backseat allows you to carry five adults in comfort. The higher ride height also makes it very easy to get in and out of. Storage in the cabin is also well thought out – with several cup-holders, doorbins than can fit a large bottle of water and a central storage cubby. You also get extra boot space – this one measures in at 430 litres which is by no means the largest in the class anymore but is quite practically designed, with a handy false floor and a completely flat load area when you fold the backseats down.

Equipment & Safety

★★★★☆

Equipment levels are reasonably generous and all models get Bluetooth, Air conditioning and Cruise control as standard, although most will be tempted into the mid-spec SV spec which adds Alloy wheels, Dual Zone Climate Control and automatic lights and wipers. Top spec SV premium models like this one get DAB digital radio, additional safety features, keyless go and a reversing camera as part of the Connect 2 infotainment system. Some of the more impressive features in the optional safety pack include things like lane departure warning, road sign recognition and automatic high-beam adjustment, but even without all that – the Qashqai still scores the full five star rating on the NCAP crash test.

Performance & Running Costs

★★★★☆

There are 4 engines to choose from – a 1.2 or 1.4l petrol, or a 1.5 or 1.6l diesel. The 1.5l DCI in this test car is by far the most popular choice, offering some of the most impressive fuel economy in the class at 74 miles to the gallon. CO2 emissions of less than 100g make it one of the cheapest to tax too at just €180 a year. It’s a very easy, pleasant car to drive – that nice higher ride height gives you a great view of the road ahead and the suspension does a good job of ironing out any rough surface without any drama. That’s not at the expense of handling either and the Qashqai feels very car-like to drive, particularly around corners and bends where’s there’s very little of that roll you can sometimes associate with SUVs.

Reliability & Residuals

★★★★★

Reliability and strong resale values are two more areas you won’t need to worry about with the Nissan Qashqai. The constant demand for them on the used market means you’ll never struggle to get rid of it if you do decide to change. Nissan also has a great reputation for producing well-built and long-lasting vehicles that rarely give trouble when they’re looked after right.

Having said that, it's no longer the only show on the road and now faces some tough competition on the crossover market in the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

Interior Gallery

Facts & Figures

Sinead McCann

Sinéad is our resident car tester who has the unenviable (-ok, slightly enviable) task of reviewing all the latest new cars to hit the market. You can follow her on Twitter @smcani and on Instagram @whatshedrives