Looked vaguely at a 'Squashie' to replace our Berlingo and pull a 1400kg caravan.

It failed some criteria or another but I can't remember which one.

Ended up with a Skoda Superb but now we're in different categories of vehicle.

I commend you for thinking about a Nissan as this model is built in the Uk so supporting British workers but if it’s true it has Renault underpinnings I would think twice ?

Thanks, all. Perhaps not a sufficient number of gushing plaudits for the Qashqai to justify moving my sights away from Mazda.

Budget not much more than 13k, auto would be nice but not essential, I'd prefer petrol or maybe even a hybrid but not attracted to diesel. Can't remember what else was asked, so I'll have to post, check back and edit...ah. Age wise, preferably no more than 5 years old

Edited by argybargy on 25/05/2025 at 21:29

Question this time, however, is about the Nissan Qashqai. There are loads about, and I really like the look of them. But that's all I know about the model at this point in time: how they look, although I did note that according to HJ reviews, the 2021 version improves significantly on what came before. Is the Qashqai a viable alternative to the CX3/ CX30, or not?

Thing is, even with the most (statistically) unreliable cars, you will always find folk who have had one with no issues, or know someone who has had one with no issues. One of my customers had a B-Max auto for nearly 10 years and had no problems with it!.

auto would be nice but not essential

Regarding auto, 1st, I had a look on Autotrader and while your budget will get into a CX30, there are no autos listed under £14k. As for an automatic Qashqai, I'm fairly certain one of these would have a DCT, i.e, same type of auto as your B-Max.

Another point regarding CX3/CX30, the CX3 is a completely different animal which, despite what the name implies, is actually based on the Mazda 2 rather than the 3. As such, while fine in the front and a decent boot volume (about the same as the Jazz), rear seat space is poor. They are decent wee cars otherwise, very reliable, and you definitely would get into an auto for your budget, but the youngest would be 2019. The CX30 is based on the Mazda 3, so while by no means the most spacious car of its type, is going to be fine for most.

But ultimately for me, between a CX30 and Qashqai, it would be the CX30 all day long. I seem to remember you being in the North Wales/Chester area, if that is the case, there is a CX30 on Autotrader not too far away in Whitechurch/Prees:

202505192569588

Dealer reviews very good at 4.9 out of 5 over 580 reviews.

I do also feel obliged to point out that the Honda Jazz (not including current model) is on of the most reliable cars available at any price. If you are keeping it serviced regular and treat the underside with something appropriate to keep rust at bay, there is no reason for it not to keep on proving reliable service for another decade.

But if you just want a change, fair do's

Thanks as always, BBD, for your very helpful input, and for flagging up that CX30. My niece bought one a few months ago and she loves it, though she paid upwards of 17k, perhaps because she lives in London.

I would consider another Jazz, though the latest hybrid model looks to my eyes smaller than the Mk2 that I have at present, and "shrinking interior space" is not where I want to be. I briefly considered the Mk 3 Jazz Sport which Honda marketed with upwards of 120 bhp, but to my mind that sporty styling looks wrong on such a car. So the other Jazz option is the slightly bigger standard Mk3, which has a couple of extra BHP and (I think) a longer wheelbase.

Having said all the above and given your comments about the CX3 perhaps I might be better looking at the CX30 after all.

By the way, any chance of issuing a warning before mentioning the...gulp.... B-Max auto? 7 years after getting rid of that car I'm still partially traumatised by the experience....

Edited by argybargy on 26/05/2025 at 21:40

. Is the Qashqai a viable alternative to the CX3/ CX30, or not?

Nissan Qashqai basically has Renault oily bits and you'd receive similar advice as you did with the Juke.

I had a Mazda CX30 as a courtesy car a few months ago, In some respects I liked it especially the fact it had knobs and buttons including a large control that cold be used to control the infotainment etc. It also had a great heads up display. What I didn't like was the 2.0 skyactive petrol engine, personally I found it gutless, you had to really rev to find any power. It was also rather "bingy bongy" trying to alert you it was about to crash when you were simply passing a parked car or spotting a speed limit sign somewhere stage left in a factory site of 5mph and the car then bitterly complaining. This could be the case with many other cars, so a good long test drive of any car is important - things have change since 2013.

Personally I'm now hooked on cars with Toyota hybrid running gear - suits my driving style and the modern gubbins isn't so in your face. If your are coming from a Jazz how about looking at a Yaris Cross?

Or how about another Honda Jazz?

Yes, as i said above ( and thanks for your comments about the CX30 courtesy car) I would consider another Jazz, though I was hoping for a bit more power without having to compromise on appearance. For now I'll keep a foot in both camps and focus on Mazda, meantime keeping my eye out for another Jazz, if the mileage and age is right.

Edited by argybargy on 26/05/2025 at 21:39

My mother has a Mk III Jazz which replaced her Mk II. It’s a much nicer wee car all round in my opinion. It’s more spacious and it rides much better than the previous model. Engines are simple and there’s nothing complex to go wrong or scare off local garages from offering servicing and repairs. It’ll be much cheaper than the current hybrid models and the Mazda. They’re not so great for longer distance runs, but compared to what you have now they’re a step up.

Thanks again. I have taken this Mk2 Jazz on a couple of longish runs and its coped pretty well. It overtakes safely on country routes if you give yourself plenty of road, and keeps up on the motorways. Road noise can get a bit wearing and SWMBO often complains about the effect that the hardish suspension has on her back, but we cope. If the newer models are any better in that regard then that's definitely a bonus.

Would you consider electric Argy?. If you were to say a £14k budget, there is a lot of tempting cars with a (quoted) range of 200+ miles out there as young as 2024...........

I briefly considered the Mk 3 Jazz Sport which Honda marketed with upwards of 120 bhp, but to my mind that sporty styling looks wrong on such a car. So the other Jazz option is the slightly bigger standard Mk3, which has a couple of extra BHP and (I think) a longer wheelbase.

Yeah its a shame Honda decided to only the 1.5 (130bhp) engine to the Jazz in sport trim, but even if that wasn't the case, it still wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. With peak torque coming in at 4600rpm, it is very much a "traditional" Honda engine, i.e, needs a heavy right foot to get the best out of it!

We had a 3rd gen Jazz 1.3 with the CVT. Brilliant car in most respects and i didn't find its performance lacking (but then i was prepared to use the revs necessary to access what it could give!), not really a car for relaxed travel at the 70mph limit though. The peaky nature of the engine (peak torque was 5k rpm!) and the CVT's long legged ratios meant the least sign of a hill would send the revs flaring (dramatically so on a steeper hills) if you wanted to maintain the speed.

The car we had most recently was a Hyundai Bayon 1.0 turbo (120BHP) DCT. The engine on that was pretty much the polar opposite of the Jazz with plenty of torque at low revs (peak torque ran from 1500-4000rpm). It would lope along at 70mph pulling a relaxed 2500rpm. But i found the auto transmission hard to like, it was OK just trundling along, but if you wanted a shift on it never seemed to do what i wanted to and didn't seem to be well matched to the engine (out of all the automatic cars i've driven, the CVT on the Jazz was unquestionably the best match of engine and transmission, and doing what i wanted it to)

Edited by badbusdriver on 27/05/2025 at 18:41

.....trusted 2013 Honda Jazz. Its now 7 years since she arrived,.... she is getting a bit long in the tooth.

It's a machine. As construction workers and farmers know, hours of use, of which mileage is a rough guide, is more important than age. Assuming average annual mileage of c. 8000 and careful maintenance and corrosion prevention, a modern car should last at least 20yrs. As usual, the recommendations so far are the usual mainly Asian suspects. When we needed a replacement for our 19yr old Focus (which lasted another two years with our son) in 2019 we chose a last-of -the-line Mk1 Peugeot 2008 130 with EAT6 - a reliable user-friendly Aisin autobox. We would either choose the same again or consider a BYD EV and use our solar panels to charge it when the FIT contract runs out.

Many thanks. The Jazz is now 12 years old and soon to become the oldest car we've ever owned, equalling my very first which was a 1976 Ford Escort that I purchased in 1987 and sold two years later. Mechanically it has been looked after but no corrosion protection has ever been applied, and that's where I think the problems will occur, when they do. I feel as if its time for an upgrade in performance and ride quality, and there's not much I can do maintenance wise to enhance either of those factors.