ONES WE FOUND
Well equipped Reasonably ef cient Re ned and comfortable Poor reliability record Dated infotainment Ride suffers on 19in wheels
The Qashqai feels very spacious, though, with plenty of head and leg room front and rear, even for tall adults. The boot is large and easily accessible, with space for a folded baby buggy or a travel cot and a few overnight bags. The Qashqai’s highly practical nature is backed up by a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, although this was achieved way back in 2014.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Prices start at about £6000 for earlier examples with a higher mileage and £7000 for lowermileage cars. You’ll find decent 2016 models for between £8000 and £10,000, while upwards of £11,000 is needed for post-facelift 2017 versions. Post-2019 cars will set you back at least £13,000.
Opt for the 1.5-litre diesel and you could see nearly 50mpg in daily use. Indeed, the postfacelift 1.5 diesel returns an official 53.3mpg in the latest WLTP tests, while the best-performing petrol in later cars is the 1.3 140 with 41.5mpg. The old 1.6 diesel is almost as efficient in normal driving and costs just £30 per year to tax, while the older petrol engines return 35-40mpg in regular driving and cost £120 (for the 1.2) or £140 (for the 1.6) to tax. Qashqais registered after April 2017 will all pay a flat rate of annual car tax, currently £150.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR? 2014
Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dci Acenta, 48,000 miles, £6995
2016
Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dci Tekna, 30,000 miles, £10,500
2019
Nissan Qashqai 1.3 140 DIG-T Acenta Premium, 3000 miles, £16,995
The Qashqai is a very popular choice with families, so look out for scratches and scrapes where bulky items such as bikes and baby buggies have been lifted in and out of the boot. Mechanically, the 1.5 diesel models will need a new cambelt every five years or 75,000 miles; all other engines use a timing chain. Some owners of the 1.2 petrol have found that this engine consumes an excessive amount of oil, so check the level to make sure it isn’t low. There have also been reported problems with rattling timing chains and the stop-start system not working as it should.
Unfortunately, the Qashqai has a poor reputation for reliability. In our latest survey, 47% of secondgeneration diesel models and 46% of petrol versions had problems. A high volume of electrical faults was largely to blame, but there were other problems, too, all of which means the Qashqai puts a serious dent in Nissan’s reputation for making reliable cars. Nissan as a brand finished a disappointing 27th out of 31 manufacturers.
WHICH ONE SHOULD I BUY?
If you’re buying a pre-2019 Qashqai, we’d recommend opting for the 1.5 diesel, particularly if you regularly drive on the motorway. However, if you can stretch to a current model, our favourite is the 1.3 140 petrol, which blends smoothness and refinement with reasonable economy. The good-value Acenta Premium trim level gets our nod, too; it’s well equipped, giving you dual-zone climate control, alloy wheels and a pleasant-feeling leather steering wheel.