Launched in 2006, the Nissan Qashqai is known for its practical and economical value. Comfy and affordable, the Nissan Qashqai offers quality interiors with plenty of space and upmarket 4X4 styling, giving it a light and airy feel and great visibility.
It is the general consensus that the Nissan Qashqai is a great all-rounder. With powerful but economical engines, the new Nissan Qashqai is a pleasant mix between a Land Rover Freelander and a hatchback, making it an excellent choice of family car.
The Nissan Qashqai does of course still face competition from the likes of the Skoda Yeti or the Volkswagon Golf for space and costs, however its range of new technology keeps it in the running. While it may not be the most exciting car to ride, you will certainly feel safe behind the wheel and be able to enjoy the better handling and suspension the newer models of the Nissan Qashqai have to offer.
Driving and Performance:
The diesel engines of the Nissan Qashqai provide you with a quick, smooth and powerful drive no matter the road type. Better still, both the diesel and the petrol engines are quiet with road and wind noise being relatively suppressed. This may be less so in the diesel 1.6-litre but this model comes with a highly responsive, well-weighted Xtronic CVT automatic gearbox, that helps make speed change and lane transitions that much smoother.
The Nissan Qashqai comes equipped with a range of new high quality technology designed to increase the safety and improve handling of its cars for instance the Chassis Control system, which does just this. Body Motion Control automatically applies light pressure to the brakes to control movement over bumpy roads and the electronic assisted steering helps making turns feel easy and responsive.
That said, because of the strong and reliable suspension that comes with the Nissan Qashqai, you might notice increased body movement when you push the car due to the height of its tyres. The car tends to feel a little more jumpy over consistently bumpy surfaces too, as the brakes and dampers attempt to balance this out smoothly.
Overall though, the Nissan Qashqai is a stable, accurate and preditable car to drive, even at speed. The powerful engines mean that you can easily carry a carload of luggage or family members, and afford running costs at the same time.
MPG, Running costs & emissions:
In terms of initial affordability, the Nissan Qashqai sits above competitors like its equivalent Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, but is more likely to hold its value so resale further down the line should make an investment in this car beneficial.
Probably the most popular and economical model of the Nissan Qashqai is the 1.5-litre diesel engine, which may not be very quick, but does reach 74.3mpg and emits only 99g/km of CO2, which means you pay no road tax. The 1.6-litre diesel is also is also relatively efficient, doing 65.7mpg and emitting 115g/km of CO2, but comes with a lot more kit and is therefore more expensive.
However, something to look forward to is the release of the 1.6 DIG-T with 163PS, a new higher-powered petrol model in September this year. Providing even better performance, low emissions and great fuel efficiency, this new Nissan Qashqai promises to be an exciting development for Nissan.
Design:
The Nissan Qashqai has managed to maintain the size and chunkiness of its predecessors but at the same time sharpen it up. The exterior of the new Nissan Qashqai has an air of class, sporting a chrome grille and LED taillights but the strong and sturdy look and feel of the Qashqais we know still shines through.
On the inside, the Nissan Qashqai might have lost its chunky look, but the dashboard has evolved into a more up-market and simple layout. Shiny with soft-touch plastics laid across it, the dashboard is easy to use and can come with a touchscreen in more expensive models.
Practicality-wise, the more recent versions of the Nissan Qashqai come with more than enough space to suit occupants of all sizes. The boot is large and the back seats are easily foldable to create even more room. Alternatively, the boot can also be divided into 2 to avoid anything rolling around.
The amount of space inside adds to the comfort provided by the excellent suspension in the Nissan Qashqai for both driver and passengers. All models come equipped with standard Bluetooth connectivity, air-conditioning and cruise control but if you want something a bit more high-tech, then go for the Acenta Premium model. It offers a range of features such as an impressive reversing camera, panoramic glass roof and additional kit to increase the car’s safety; the only downfall being that these extras will cost you.
Safety:
Nissan knows that the Nissan Qashqai is a popular family car, and has designed and implemented a number of safety features to meet the requirements of this.
The Nissan Safety Shield system is affordable and available in both the Visa and Acenta models of the Nissan Qashqai range, offering all the security and reliability you need in a family car. Although not all features are available with every model, the pack can include collision avoidance, lane departure warning, drowsiness detection, blindspot warning, traffic sign recognition and reverse parking cameras.
All of this and more (such as 6 airbags, stability control and emergency brake assist) helped the Nissan Qashqai achieve the maximum 5 star rating from the experts at the Euro NCAP crash tests. These tests also confirmed this range as an excellent choice for young families as it scored highly in both driver and child protection score.