Nissan Qashqai Review 2024

Nissan was there right at the start of the family SUV craze with the Qashqai, but the previous model lost ground to talented rivals towards the end of its life. Happily, as our Nissan Qashqai review will explain, the latest model is a greatly improved car with enhanced practicality, comfort and cabin quality, as well as efficient engine options. 

The family SUV sector is bursting at the seams with talented and desirable models, but the third-generation Nissan Qashqai is now right up there with the best again. It excels in terms of practicality and comfort, with a bigger boot and lots of useful touches all around the cabin.

Ride comfort is much better than the old Qashqai (2014 - 2021), too, while the fit and finish of the cabin also feels more upmarket. A greater distance between the front and rear wheels translates to more space for rear-seat passengers, while the rear doors open a full 85 degrees. That’s a very neat party trick, especially if you regularly have to strap a little one into a car seat. 

As well as being more spacious than before, the new Nissan Qashqai is also considerably classier inside. The cabin of the old model was slightly depressing, with lots of dark-coloured materials and sub-par plastics. The new one is now on a par with the brilliant Peugeot 3008 and Mazda CX-5, if not quite at the same level as premium German competition. 

Further key rivals include the excellent Skoda Karoq, the well equipped Ford Kuga and the recently updated (and much better) Vauxhall Grandland. There’s also the Hyundai Tucson and its Korean stablemate, the Kia Sportage, both of which are among our favourite mainstream SUVs. 

There’s a range of trim levels to choose from, starting off with the rather basic Visia model. We’d recommend looking for an Acenta Premium at the very least (standard kit includes 17-inch alloys, an eight-inch media system and a rear-view camera), while the N-Connecta adds desirable features like 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a nine-inch media system.

The high-spec Tekna is loaded with kit, including 19-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display system and a panoramic sunroof, while the top-of-the-range Tekna+ builds on this with 20-inch alloys, a Bose sound system and quilted leather seats with massage function (in the front). No one needs their family crossover to be that well-equipped and, priced upwards of £34,000, you'd have to really want a lavishly kitted out Qashqai.

Engine choices include a revamped version of the old 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol, now with 12v mild-hybrid technology in order to improve economy. It’s a decent engine, if not a remarkable one, while it’s a sign of the times that there is no diesel version offered any more. However, from 2022 you can get the Qashqai with a hybrid option, badged e-Power.

This uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine as a generator for the electric motor and battery, without a direct line between the combustion engine and the wheels. It’s a smooth and refined system that makes the car feel a bit like an EV most of the time, and it costs an awful lot less than rival plug-in hybrids. 

The latest Qashqai is leagues ahead of the old model when it comes to comfort and quality. It’s a versatile SUV, too, with its larger boot and clever storage compartments making it apt for family car buyers who need an affordable but upmarket SUV. Just avoid models with 20-inch wheels, as these make the ride quality rather harsh on rough roads. 

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar's Nissan Qashqai review. 

The Nissan Qashqai is a family car through and through – and it’s absolutely loaded with clever ideas to make your life easier. For a start, the rear doors open 85 degrees.

That sounds like a car park door ding waiting to happen, but it makes getting in and out of the back seats much easier. Anyone who’s tried to strap a child into a car seat with limited room will also appreciate this.

There are plenty of handy storage features inside, while Isofix points are fitted to the outer rear seats. The interior feels light and airy, with a good view out of the side windows for those in the back. Sportier alternatives sometimes feel a bit claustrophobic back there, so this is something to consider if you plan to use the rear seats regularly.

Unlike the Citroen C5 Aircross (with its three individual rear seats), the middle seat passenger might find it a little cramped compared to those on the outer seats. And the Qashqai is strictly a five-seater – look at the Nissan X-Trail if you need seven seats.

With 504 litres of luggage space, the Qashqai’s boot isn’t quite as spacious as the Peugeot 3008 or Skoda Karoq on paper. It’s very usable, though, while a false floor reduces the lip and makes access easier. Higher-spec models come with an electric tailgate, too, and the rear seats fold completely flat. The e-Power hybrid model doesn’t lose any boot space either, which is good.

The Nissan Qashqai measures 4425mm long, 1835mm wide and 1625mm high – a bit shorter than something like the Ford Kuga. 

The Qashqai isn’t quite in the same league as a Mercedes-Benz GLA for a high-end feel, but the top-spec Tekna+ with its quilted leather seats, contrast stitching and soft-touch dashboard is certainly comparable with the Mazda CX-30.

Only when you start poking around will you start to find slightly cheaper-feeling materials (the plasticky knobs on the media system, for example), but nothing that's unacceptable in a family SUV at this price point.

Of course, more affordable models will perhaps feel a bit more basic, so you’ll have to be prepared to splash the cash if you want a premium vibe to your interior.

Acenta Premium models and above get a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. It’s eight inches at that level, but rises to nine inches from N-Connecta spec. 

While its graphics might not look as sharp as you’d find elsewhere, it does at least have actual shortcut buttons to important features. There are separate climate control buttons, too, so you don’t have to navigate through the infotainment menus just to adjust the temperature.

In 2022 Nissan upgraded the Qashqai’s infotainment, with a larger 12-inch widescreen display available. Not only does it look nicer, it’s also quicker to respond and comes with Amazon Alexa voice recognition functions. 

High-spec models also feature a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. This looks pretty swish and it can be customised to your liking.

Nissan also boasts that its 10.8-inch head-up display (standard on Tekna grade upwards) is the biggest in its class. Bearing in mind that this projects information on to the windscreen in front of the driver’s eyeline, we’re not convinced that bigger is better in this case.

With the e-Power hybrid, as well as the newly uprated infotainment, you get bespoke views in the digital instruments to show the power sources and battery charge level. 

At the time of writing, prices start from around just over £27,000 for the basic Nissan Qashqai Visia model but, in reality, you’ll be wanting to spend at least £29,720 on the Acenta Premium.

That’s with the lower powered DIG-T 140 petrol engine – the 158PS unit is priced over £30,000, while adding the automatic gearbox brings the starting price over £32,000.

It’s surprisingly easy to spend a lot of money on a Qashqai. Tekna grade starts from just over £33,000, while you’ll spend upwards of £37,900 on a top-spec Tekna+. Go for the top-spec model with four-wheel drive and you’ll be looking in the region of £42,000.

Happily, the e-Power hybrid is more affordable than you might think. Many rivals such as the Peugeot 3008 command several thousand pounds more than a normal petrol model because they’re plug-in hybrid, while the less battery-heavy system in the Qashqai starts at around £34,000 – only £2,000 more than a 158PS petrol model with an automatic gearbox, and just over £200 more than the four-wheel drive version.

Bear in mind it’ll also hold its value better than the petrols, and it’s a shrewd buy. 

Mild-hybrid tech means the fuel economy figures for the 1.3-litre petrol engine are impressive. Paired with the manual gearbox, it’ll officially return up to 44.8mpg, rising to 45.6mpg with the auto gearbox. The 4x4 model sees this drop to 40.9mpg.

The e-Power hybrid model manages a combined economy figure of 54.3mpg. That's up there with what the old Qashqai’s diesels would do, and beats a number of full hybrid SUV rivals.

While it’s nowhere near what a plug-in hybrid will achieve officially, it’ll do that whether in town or on a longer journey. With the latter, a plug-in will run out of battery fairly quickly and become a lot less efficient. 

Nissan says it’s tried to make its Qashqai a bit sportier than before, and it’s certainly a bit more eager to change direction. It’s not as composed as a SEAT Ateca, but it feels safe and reassuring to drive with plenty of grip on offer.

It’s easy to drive around town, helped by the genuinely high seating position (not something you can take for granted in all SUVs). There’s a rear view camera standard across the range, while N-Connecta models and above get a 360-degree Around View Monitor. This makes parking a doddle.

Nissan has developed a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension for models with 20-inch wheels (the rest of the range gets a torsion-beam set-up).

As a result, it’s simply firm rather than bone-shakingly uncomfortable on uneven road surfaces, but we’d still steer clear. The 17- or 18-inch wheels fitted to the mid-range models strike a sweet spot in terms of ride comfort and handling. 

The e-Power hybrid model weighs around 200kg more than the standard petrol variant. That sounds like a lot, but in reality it doesn’t make a noticeable difference to the way the Qashqai rides and handles. 

You may have seen the TV ads – the Nissan Qashqai has been electrified. In the first instance, that means the old 1.3-litre petrol engine has been updated with a 12v mild-hybrid system.

In plain English, that means it turns the engine off a fraction of a second earlier as it rolls to a stop, plus there’s a small power boost when accelerating.

It’s nothing special, but it does the job with adequate acceleration and acceptable noise levels. Buyers get a choice between a six-speed manual or CVT automatic gearbox.

Surprisingly, we actually prefer the latter in the Qashqai. It’s civilised for a CVT, and the car feels a bit sprightlier than with the manual gearbox – the latter also has a bit of a notchy shift.

Only time will tell whether Nissan’s reputation for making unreliable CVT transmissions continues to be justified.

If you want a properly efficient Qashqai, don’t expect to see a diesel arriving in showrooms. There is, however, the e-Power hybrid model, which offers diesel-like official economy and the ability to run in electric-only mode for short distances. 

Unlike some hybrids, where both engine and battery power reaches the wheels via a CVT gearbox, the e-Power system uses the three-cylinder petrol engine as a generator to provide power for the electric motors and charge the battery. 

Basically, it means that when you’re cruising around town it feels much like an electric car. It’ll only actually do a couple of miles on electric power before the engine fires up, but when it does it’s impressively smooth and quiet. Only when you mash your foot on the throttle does it make itself known, but it’s definitely quieter than a Toyota RAV4 hybrid.

It also offers better performance than the pure petrol Qashqai thanks to 190PS and 300Nm of torque, yet it’s also more efficient. For that reason it would be our pick of the range. 

Euro NCAP awarded the Qashqai five stars when it crash tested it in 2021, with a strong 91 per cent for adult and child protection.

It’s fully loaded with technology to help you avoid a collision in the first instance. Highlights include an automatic emergency braking system, capable of detecting other vehicles and pedestrians and bringing the car to a stop if required. Best of all, such features are standard across the range.

There’s also a range of airbags, including a new central airbag between the driver and front passenger.

Depending on which version of the Qashqai you choose, it will tow between 1000kg to 1800kg. The four-wheel-drive Xtronic models have the highest braked tow weighting. You can check your car’s tow weight on a plate or sticker on the vehicle (usually found inside the driver’s doorframe).

Standard equipment on the entry-level Nissan Qashqai Visia includes front and rear LED lights, intelligent cruise control and rear parking sensors.

The Nissan Qashqai Acenta Premium adds 17-inch alloy wheels (or 18-inchers on e-Power models), an eight-inch media display (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), rear-view camera and dual-zone air conditioning.

The mid-range Nissan Qashqai N-Connecta features 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital cockpit and a nine-inch media system. Nissan’s Around View Monitor 360-degree camera is standard, as well as front parking sensors and interior ambient lighting.

The launch special Premiere Edition comes with generous kit levels as standard. Highlights include Nissan’s ProPilot (with Drive Assist) system, a 12.3-inch digital TFT instrument cluster, a 10.8-inch head-up display, 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof and a wireless charging pad.

The Nissan Qashqai Tekna is similarly well-equipped, with highlights including 19-inch alloy wheels, ProPilot with Navi-Link or Drive Assist, a 10.8-inch head-up display, adaptive LED headlights, a powered tailgate and wireless charging pad.

The Nissan Qashqai Tekna+ tops the range with 20-inch alloy wheels, quilted leather seats (with massage function in the front), Advanced i-Key (with driver seat and exterior mirror memory), Bose sound system and tilting mirrors on reverse.