Nissan Qashqai review

Driving position

Hop into the new Qashqai’s driving seat and it’ll feel quite a bit like the old model, in the best possible way. 

You sit nice and high off the road with plenty of adjustment in the seat to suit your preferred position. 

It also carries over a very similar steering wheel, which we think is one of the best you can find in a modern SUV.  

The thickness is spot on and is far better than that of the MINI Countryman, which feels far too thick to hold. 

Tech and features

While the exterior has definitely had a refresh, with a look inspired by Japanese armour, it’s inside where we noticed the biggest changes. 

The main and most exciting upgrade is the 12.3-inch infotainment screen. It now has Google technology, so anyone who uses a smartphone will be familiar with the interface. 

Handily, the in-built maps software just runs on Google Maps – something a lot of us use on a daily basis. If you thought that was cool, why not give ‘Hey Google’ a go where you can ask it to change the cabin temperature and other hands-free tasks. 

As you look down the centre console, you’ll notice actual physical switches and buttons – a rarity in today’s car design, but something we applaud Nissan for keeping. 

Engines and power

Unlike most new car generations, the 2024 Qashqai keeps the engines from the previous generation. This means the top-spec engine is a 1.5-litre hybrid petrol engine with a twist. 

Nissan's ePower basically uses the petrol engine as a massive generator to keep the 2.1kWh battery topped up. This makes it feel like an electric car to drive. 

You get a smooth delivery of the 184hp, along with one-pedal driving. Around town, it’s the best thing since sliced bread – slowing the car down while using regenerative braking to pump extra juice back into the battery. 

In our automatic press car, we found that the regen worked okay going uphill, but a treat going down through south Portugal’s mountainous roads. 

Handling and ride comfort

We have to admit, the roads along Faro’s coast are far superior to what we have in the UK, so our handling impressions may be slightly skewed. But even if it was a smart move by Nissan to send us to a sunny location, the Qashqai rode beautifully for a near-two-tonne SUV. 

Unlike some of its rivals, it doesn’t pretend to be a sports car either and instead really leans into what a family car should be: comfortable. 

Light steering controls and alovely ride is exactly what you’d hope for.  

It’s not the plushest SUV on the market and some Citroens do a better job of ironing out bumps in the road, but for the price, it’s hard to beat. 

Boot space

If you’re buying a Qashqai, the chances are you have a family who require a decent-sized boot for pushchairs, shopping and whatever latest thing the kids can’t live without.  

The boot measures in at 504 litres, which puts it above the Ford Kuga and Mercedes GLA, but below other rivals like the Kia Sportage and VW Tiguan. 

Fold down the rear seats and this space grows to a staggering 1,600 litres, which is ideal for trips to the tip or moving house. 

You also get a spilt boot floor which gives you underfloor storage for fragile items such as eggs, or if you want to hide any valuables.  

And the audiophiles among us who go for the 10-speaker Premium Bose sound system will find the subwoofer under the lowest floor panel.  

Rear seats

Hop in the rear seats and space is as you’d expect – substantial. 

You get two ISOFIX child seat points and two USB-C charge ports back there to cover both adult and child passengers. 

However, if the driver and front passenger have their seats too low, it can be tricky to slide your feet under them, making it a little cramped. 

But other than that, leg and headroom is perfect for most people, unless you’re really tall, in which case most smaller cars probably aren’t for you anyway. This is when a Range Rover or Skoda Kodiaq comes into its own. 

Storage solutions

Throughout the cabin there are some nifty storage compartments such as the ceiling-mounted sunglasses holder, deep centre console and well-sized door bins. 

It's the same story in the back with good door bins and seat pockets for those sneaky road trip sweet packets. 

Safety

Nissan doesn’t mess about when it comes to safety. There’s a reason the Qashqai scored five out of five stars for safety from Euro NCAP test in 2021, even under the new stricter testing rules. 

This is thanks partly due to onboard safety tech such as rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot intervention, forward collision warning and lane intervention systems.  

As standard, you also get adaptive cruise control and rear parking sensors. 

Fuel economy

As we touched on above, the Qashqai is more electric-powered than it is petrol, which aids its overall fuel economy, giving you a claimed 54mpg. 

The 190hp 1.5-litre engine is by far the best one to have, but Nissan also offers slightly less powerful 140hp and 160hp versions, offering a claimed 44.8mpg, which drops to 40.9mpg on 4x4 models. 

Reliability

If you know cars, and even if you don’t, Nissans are some of the most dependable cars on our roads.  

Thanks to solid engineering and stellar build quality, you’d be hard-pressed to do better. 

Every new Qashqai comes with a standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty, while the hybrid powertrain components get a separate five-year/60,000-mile warranty. 

Insurance groups

No matter your financial situation, it’s always nice to shave as much as possible off the cost of life’s unavoidable essentials such as car insurance. 

Luckily, the Nissan Qashqai (2021 onwards) sits in between insurance groups 11 and 32, which is on the lower end for cars of its class.