Turning on the headlights
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It’s not overstating things to say the Nissan Qashqai is one of the most significant cars of the past 25 years. Originally launched in 2006, its popularity virtually kicked off the current trend for SUVs taking over from regular hatchbacks and saloons as the family cars of choice.
The Qasqhai is now in its third generation, the most recent model being launched in 2021, and Nissan has only built on its strengths in that time. It’s currently sold with a range of petrol and hybrid engines but diesel is also available in older models. Good build quality, fine driving dynamics, frugal powerplants and a spacious interior all justify its popularity - and it’s easy to find on the used market as a result.
The Nissan Qashqai’s huge popularity isn’t without merit - it’s one of the best family SUVs you can buy, and that’s just as true when buying a used model as it is for new buyers. It gets all the basics right, from economy to practicality to being easy to drive and well-built.
There’s a wide range of engines available. More recently, that engine range has been primarily petrol and hybrid-based, but the market is full of older diesel models that still make a lot of sense provided your driving isn’t exclusively urban. Turbocharging on both diesel and petrol engines though mean all have a decent level of pep, though the e-Power hybrid is the pick for both performance and economy.
The e-Power is smoothest too, but all Qashqais are comfortable and refined. They ride well, handling urban bumps and potholes and feeling settled on the motorway too. There are some SUVs that are better to drive, but the Qashqai doesn’t get anything especially wrong either - it’s a neat and tidy handler. Interior space meanwhile is well up to the job of family life, and a boot of more than 500 litres should suit most buyers too.
If you’re not quite sold on the Qashqai but like its size and utility, then you’re spoiled for choice with alternatives. The Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Kuga, Peugeot 3008, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Skoda Karoq are all very worthy options, each with its own mix of talents, better in some ways than the Qashqai and not quite there in others. And if you like the Qashqai but need more room, consider the seven-seat Nissan X-Trail.
As an all-rounder the full hybrid e-Power is the best pick of the Qashqai range. It’ll cost you a little more to buy than the turbocharged 1.3-litre pair, but its promise of more than 50mpg, and its brisk performance and smooth driving feel are all worth paying extra for. If you can’t quite stretch to the hybrid, then the 158PS engine with the automatic would be our next choice. Entry-level Visia trim doesn’t have quite enough kit for our tastes, so in terms of specification, N-Connecta has a good level of equipment without the extra cost of Tekna or Tekna+.
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The Qashqai range comprises five trim levels, with a similar walk up the range to other Nissan models - you get Visia at the bottom of the range and Tekna+ at the top. Equipment and engine choice improves the further up the range you go.
The Nissan Qashqai’s dimensions are:
The Nissan Qashqai’s boot size is:
Mild hybrid tech on the 1.3-litre engines give the Qashqai a £10 annual tax saving as it counts as an ‘alternative fuel vehicle’, which means a bill of £180 per year - the same you’ll pay for the full hybrid e-Power model.|
The Qashqai range starts at insurance group 11, which is for the 140PS engine in Visia trim. Acenta Premium steps up to groups 12-17, and Tekna+ at the top of the range can be found in groups 16-19. For comparison, the Skoda Karoq range is found in groups 10-26.
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What is the average mileage for Nissan Qashqai ?
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How many Nissan Qashqai cars are available for sale?
2143
