Nissan Qashqai review

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The spacious and comfortable Nissan Qashqai is one of our favourite family cars, thanks to its affordable price and large interior. Dan Powell test drives the latest third generation model.

Ten Second Review

Affordable, spacious and easy to drive, the Nissan Qashqai is a well-rounded SUV that provides excellent practicality and value. Most versions are well-equipped as standard, while Nissan's impressive e-Power hybrid powertrain should deliver low running costs. Factor in the bold styling and comfy interior and it's easy to see why the Qashqai is the UK's best-selling SUV. 

Background

The Nissan Qashqai is the car the jump-started the UK's obsession with SUVs. Over four million have been sold since the first Qashqai (2007 - 2010) was launched and since then it’s generated dozens of rivals.

Over the years, Nissan has evolved its big-selling SUV to stay ahead of the Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage and Skoda Karoq. In 2021, the third-generation Qashqai arrived with more space, lower running costs and a much-improved interior. A petrol hybrid powertrain was added to the model line-up in 2022, offering car buyers a compromise between the flexibility of a petrol engine and refinement of an EV (electric vehicle).  

In 2024, the Qashqai's boosted its family-SUV credentials with a thorough mid-life update which includes new styling, improved comfort and built-in smart tech (Google Maps, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant).

Driving Experience

The Nissan Qashqai is a relaxing and refined medium-size SUV that prioritises composure and comfort over razor sharp road handling. This means it isn’t quite as rewarding to drive as the Ford Kuga or SEAT Ateca; however, the Qashqai is very easy to use with responsive steering, excellent visibility and competent corning abilities.

The Qashqai trumps its rivals on refinement, with low road and wind noise. This means the cabin is usually a quiet and serene place to while away the motorway miles. What’s more, if you opt for 17- or 18-inch wheels, the Qashqai’s suspension happily irons out most lumps and bumps in the road.

You can specify the Qashqai with a 1.3-litre DIG-T petrol mild hybrid or a 1.5-litre petrol e-Power hybrid. Most buyers opt for the e-Power model, owing to the fact it's a full hybrid with the 1.5 petrol engine acting as a generator for the battery and an electric motor driving the front wheels. Official fuel consumption for the e-Power peaks at 54mpg.

Available with 140 or 190PS, the e-Power version of the Qashqai is refined and smooth to drive. The electric motor uses regenerative braking to recover energy and top up the 1.94kWh lithium-ion battery, with the electric motor running on pure electricity whenever possible at speeds of 30mph or less. 

The three-cylinder turbocharged 1.3 DIG-T petrol returns 40-45mpg, depending on which version you choose. You get the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT Xtronic automatic, while power outputs range from 140 to 158PS. The 1.3 petrol is the only version of the Qashqai to get the option of four-wheel drive.

Design and Build

The Nissan Qashqai covers most of the important family car touch points when it comes to design, useability and space.  

Most versions provide 504 litres of boot space with the rear seats up. You get a false floor, which means you can raise the loading lip to make it easier to load bulky objects into the back of the Qashqai. The rear seats also fold flat, providing up to 1447 litres of storage.

All versions of the third generation Qashqai get some form of touchscreen infotainment. However, as part of the 2024 mid-life update, Nissan added a 12-inch screen with built-in Google tech to N-Connecta trim and above. This allows the driver to sign in with their personal Google Account and access Google Maps with free over the air updates. You also get Google Assistant which enables the driver to use voice control for the vehicle’s ventilation, route settings or hands-free phone calls.

Cabin space is generous, with room for up to five adults. The seats are wide and supportive, which makes them well suited for long trips. Most versions of the Qashqai get electronically adjustable lumbar support, while high-spec models add leather seats with massage functions. 

Interior quality is good, with everything feeling like it's been assembled with a sense of longevity. The dashboard also features physical buttons, switches and dials for audio, ventilation and navigation controls.

Market and Model

Since its mid-life refresh in 2024, the Qashqai is offered with five trim levels: Acenta Premium, N-Connecta, N-Design Tekna and Tekna+. Prices start from just over £30,000 for the base 'Acenta Premium' trim and rise to £40,000+ for the range-topping Tekna+.

All versions of the third generation Qashqai get some form of touchscreen infotainment. However, as part of the 2024 mid-life update, Nissan added a 12-inch screen with built-in Google tech to N-Connecta trim and above. This allows the driver to sign in with their personal Google Account, access Google Maps and share their favourite destinations and routes from their account.  

For most buyers, the mid-spec N-Connecta provides everything you’ll need from a family SUV with automatic LED headlights, parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels and 12-inch touchscreen infotainment with built-in Google tech. 

N-Design adds sharper styling with two body-colour lower bumpers, two-tone paint, LED sequential turn lights and 20-inch alloy wheels. However, while the Qashqai N-Design is pleasing to the eye, the larger wheels do make the ride quality notably firmer.

Tekna+ also includes 20-inch alloy wheels but feature multi-link suspension to offset the firmer ride quality. You also get leather front seats with a massage function, Bose sound system and electric tailgate.

Cost of Ownership

If you are looking for a family friendly SUV with affordable running costs then the Qashqai e-Power will be appealing, with advertised fuel economy peaking at 53.4mpg.

That said, a high spec version of the Qashqai in Tekna+ trim with the e-Power will cost over £43,000. If you are looking for a value-focussed medium-size SUV then we’d recommend getting the hybrid model in N-Connecta spec.

The front-wheel drive version of the DIG-T petrol mild hybrid returns 44.1–44.8mpg, while the addition of Xtronic all-wheel drive lowers official fuel consumption to 40.4-40.9mpg.

Summary

The Nissan Qashqai is a strong family SUV package, thanks to its low running costs and spacious interior. The styling is also bold, while standard equipment levels accross the model line-up generous. 

The e-Power hybrid provides good refinement, performance and fuel economy. However, for buyers who want a Qashqai that offers maximum value, the cheaper DIG-T engine is probably the best choice.