Nissan Qashqai review

The Nissan Qashqai is a handsome, easy-driving family SUV. It has a more luxurious interior than before, but its boot still isn’t the largest

Is the Nissan Qashqai a good car?

We reckon the Nissan Qashqai is the car equivalent of the Beatles. It wasn’t the first SUV-shaped car to come along, but by mixing a perched driving position with a compact, boxy exterior the British-built Nissan became an instant, platinum-certified smash hit. Countless imitators such as the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan were quick to follow in its wake.

Now there’s a new model out, and it marches to that same, incredibly popular beat – albeit with a coupe of important updates. Looks-wise, it gets a redesigned front-end with a larger, and more prominent V-shaped grille. Snazzy 20-inch alloys make their debut on range-topping models, while creased bodywork and sharp new LED headlights have also been added to the mix.

Its cabin – which used to be a pretty dull, boring place to spend time – has been revamped too. Higher-spec models get plenty of upmarket upholstery, as well as some nifty trim material. It’s a far smarter-looking environment than it was before.

There’s also an impressively modern infotainment set-up with two screens, one 12-inch driver’s display and one 9-inch touchscreen in the middle. We still prefer the 3008, but we think the Qashqai’s interior has definitely moved up the charts compared with the old model.

There’s plenty of space up front, but more importantly there’s lots of room in the back for passengers. The doors open nice and wide as well, so getting in and out is really easy. The boot is fairly large, but alternatives such as the Volkswagen Tiguan have more storage space back here. Still, it makes for a practical, well-rounded family car.

The new Qashqai looks modern but is still recognisable as the iconic model it has evolved from. I really like the look of it. I’d definitely get the 156hp model, though.

You can choose from two 1.3-litre petrol engines with either 138hp or 156hp – both of which have mild-hybrid assistance for a small boost in fuel efficiency. If you go for the latter, you have the option of an automatic CVT gearbox and even four-wheel drive – but the default is a six-speed manual gearbox. In the future there will be a 187hp electric hybrid model, too.

It costs a bit more, but we’d go for the 156hp model with two-wheel drive and the CVT gearbox. It gets a useful boost in performance, is smooth and easy to drive around town, and fuel economy doesn’t really take a hit at all.

Safety has always been a big deal for Nissan, and the new Qashqai continues that trend. The hi-tech ProPilot safety tech is available here and one key feature is Navi-link, which is an advanced type of autonomous cruise control that can slow the car to a stop and move away again in busy motorway traffic.

That said, it’s worth highlighting that Navi-link is only available on CVT-equipped models. Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and blind spot assist are included as standard across the range, while manual cars get a basic adaptive cruise control set up right out of the box.

It’s not much fun to drive but the new Qashqai is comfortable over bumps and light steering and good visibility means it’s really easy to drive round town and to park. There’s a bit of tyre roar on the motorway if you go for those eye-catching 20-inch alloys, but at a cruise it’s impressively relaxing. Just be aware that the CVT model can be a bit loud when you really put your foot down.

But all in all, the new Qashqai is a big improvement over the previous model. Ultimately it’s not dramatically different, but a good deal of small changes combine to make this an even better car than before.

It costs from around £27,000, which is par for the course when it comes to family SUVs. So if the new Nissan Qashqai sounds like it’s right up your street, head on over to our deals page to see how much you can save through carwow.
Read More https://www.carwow.co.uk/nissan/qashqai#gref


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