Nissan Qashqai Review 2024
Written by Andrew Brady
Quick overview
Pros
- Stylish new design means it stands out against other family SUVs
- New hybrid model is smooth and efficient
- Fold-flat rear seats and wide rear door openings
Cons
- Petrol engines aren't all that punchy
- Firm ride on 20-inch alloy wheels
- Most desirable models are expensive
Overall verdict on the Nissan Qashqai
"The latest updates to the Nissan Qashqai might appear fairly trivial. But they build on what was already an excellent family SUV - and we're sure that it'll continue to sell in huge numbers. The refreshed front-end design will be enough to tempt many buyers into the Nissan Qashqai, we reckon, while a new trim line-up and updated technology add to the appeal."
It feels like the third-generation Nissan Qashqai has barely been on sale for five minutes but, in a fast-moving marketplace, the brand can't afford to take the success of its family SUV for granted. That's why it's been given a nip-and-tuck for 2024, meaning it now looks more like the Nissan Ariya electric SUV and, crucially, stylish enough to make buyers think twice about the new Volkswagen Tiguan, Renault Rafale and Ford Kuga. Should this be your next family SUV? Read our Nissan Qashqai review to find out.
So, cosmetics aside, what's new for the updated Nissan Qashqai? One of the biggest changes is the upgraded technology. A 12.1-inch infotainment system is now standard across the Qashqai range, with most models coming with in-built Google technology. That means you can sign into your Google account through the car's central display and access your personalised Google Assistant and navigate to your own saved locations via Google Maps.
Clever features elsewhere in the updated Nissan Qashqai include an enhanced around-view monitor parking camera, that gives a bird’s eye view and now has an improved 3D function. There’s also an ‘invisible bonnet’ feature, that lets the driver see the position of the front wheels through the central screen.
The Nissan Qashqai model line-up now includes Acenta Premium, N-Connecta, N-Design, Tekna and Tekna+ trim levels, each with a pretty comprehensive list of standard equipment. We reckon the N-Design and Tekna models represent the best bang for your buck, although the Tekna+ is a desirable (if pricey) choice, if only for its quilted leather seats with massage function.
The engine offerings remain the same, with an array of options to suit pretty much any need (provided you don't want to buy a diesel Nissan Qashqai, anyway). The most affordable models come with a 1.3-litre petrol engine featuring fairly basic mild-hybrid tech and the choice of a manual or CVT automatic gearbox and two- or four-wheel drive.
If budget allows, though, we'd look for a Nissan Qashqai e-Power. This is basically a hybrid but, unlike most hybrids, there isn't a direct link between the petrol engine and the wheels. Instead, the engine acts as a generator for the electric motor. The advantage of this, says Nissan, is it acts more like an electric car - with instant acceleration and improved refinement over a conventional hybrid. As a stepping stone to an electric vehicle, it could be a good choice - especially as, unlike plug-in hybrid SUVs, the Qashqai e-Power doesn't need plugging in.
Talking of budget, prices for a new Nissan Qashqai now start from a smidgen over £30,000. It's not exactly a cheap family SUV but, if that's out of reach, don't stop reading just yet. The Qashqai's ubiquity means there are plenty on the used market and, as the latest changes are relatively minor, you're not going to miss out a great deal by hunting out a secondhand Nissan Qashqai.
Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Nissan Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Nissan Qashqais for sale. If you're looking for the older version, you need our used Nissan Qashqai (2013-2021) review.
Is the Nissan Qashqai right for you?
The Nissan Qashqai has long been a popular choice for family buyers, and it's now more versatile than ever. Its interior has been dragged up to date, with fresh technology and a posh finish that almost puts it in-line with much more expensive SUVs. As long as you don't care about an exciting driving experience, the Nissan Qashqai is a very competitive mainstream family SUV.
What other cars are similar to the Nissan Qashqai?
There are lots of excellent family SUV alternatives to the Nissan Qashqai. Top of the list is probably the latest Volkswagen Tiguan or Kia Sportage, while you may also wish to consider the all-electric Skoda Enyaq iV or Kia EV6. Buyers looking for a little more space might want to look at the Nissan X-Trail or Skoda Kodiaq, while premium competitors include the Volvo XC40 and BMW X1.
Comfort and design: Nissan Qashqai interior
"The Nissan Qashqai has a big-car feel, with chunky front seats positioned high up to give you a feeling of superiority you just won't find with smaller SUVs."
That bulky vibe is aided by a meaty thick-rimmed steering wheel, a wide centre console and knobs that look like they could be controlled while wearing gloves. It's not trying to be a Land Rover, but the latest Nissan Qashqai isn't the last word in petite.
The front seats of the Nissan Qashqai are comfortable enough, while the Tekna+ model comes with fancy massage seats as standard. Our main takeaway is that these are (oddly) a bit noisy if you're driving without the stereo on. Overall, it's a nice place to sit with a significant uplift in quality over the old version.
There is no shortage of head- or legroom in the rear of the Qashqai, and more than the outgoing Qashqai. You also get two ISOFIX anchor points on the outer rear seats, which means choosing a child seat for your Qashqai should be a simple enough task.
Quality and finish
This is perhaps where the Nissan Qashqai's moved on the most compared to its predecessor. While the old car was unashamedly a bit low-rent in its approach (value-for-money, wipe-clean plastics and all that), the latest third-generation Nissan Qashqai is intending to tempt buyers away from more premium models. Certainly, our top-spec Tekna+ test car felt unashamedly posh, with quilted leather seats, contrast stitching and smooth wood-effect trim on the dashboard.
It's not faultless – there are some hard plastics low down in the cabin (the door bins, for example), and the rotary controls for the nav system feel a bit Fisher Price. Otherwise, it's just as impressive in terms of quality as the Peugeot 3008, though.
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Nissan Qashqai
The infotainment offering in the Nissan Qashqai has been updated a number of times over the car's lifespan. If you're after the most impressive, up-to-date technology, you'll need a 2024-on model in N-Connecta trim or above. This'll get you a 12.1-inch display with built-in Google services. Drivers can sign in to their personal Google account and source favourites and points of interest from the built-in Google Maps navigation. It also includes the Google Assistant and an array of apps from the Google Play Store.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard across the range, allowing you to access your phone apps on the move. N-Connecta models and above get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning there's no need to plug your phone in, while there's also a wireless phone charger to keep the battery topped up.
Early cars (from launch until mid-2022) were available with a smaller, more basic nine-inch display on the lower-grade models. We wouldn't recommend this, unless you have an aversion to technology - it's already looking pretty dated.
Space and practicality: Nissan Qashqai boot space
The dimensions of the Nissan Qashqai haven't changed a great deal over the older model, at just under 4.4m long and a touch over 1.8m wide. That means there's plenty of space in the front of the Qashqai, while it feels like quite a wide car, with a chunky centre console separating the driver and front-seat passenger. There’s a (slightly small) glove box in the centre console while the door bins aren’t the biggest we’ve seen.
There's plenty of room in the rear of the Qashqai, although expect complaints from whoever draws the short straw and has to sit in the middle. The middle seat is narrower than the outer seats, while there’s a lump in the middle of the floor, hindering foot space. The Citroen C5 Aircross, with its three individual rear seats, is a better choice if you regularly travel with a full complement of passengers in the back.
The rear doors open up to 85-degrees – not great in tight parking spaces, but perfect for strapping children in when space allows. ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats help here, too.
There’s 504 litres of boot space in the new Nissan Qashqai which, while not class-leading, is a fair-sized boot for loading with shopping or child paraphernalia. There’s a false boot floor that allows you to reduce the amount of lip, making loading bulky items easier. If you need more space, the rear seats of the Qashqai fold usefully flat, leaving up to 1593 litres of space.
Happily, we can also report that the e-Power hybrid model doesn't lose any boot space. Often with hybrids (particularly plug-ins) the boot shrinks or the underfloor storage is taken up by the hefty battery pack.
Handling and ride quality: What is the Nissan Qashqai like to drive?
"Nissan says it's tweaked the power steering setup to make it feel a bit more direct and agile. In truth, though, you'd still be better looking at the SEAT Ateca if you want a fun family SUV."
There's plenty of grip, at least, and it doesn't roll about in the corners too much. Nissan even offers a 4x4 version, which could be a sensible choice if you're expecting to lug a caravan across muddy fields. You'll be in the minority, though – just 2% of buyers are expected to tick the 4WD box.
Fitting oversized alloy wheels with rubber-band tyres is never a good thing for ride quality. That’s why, on models fitted with 20-inch alloy wheels, Nissan has fitted a more advanced rear suspension setup. As a result, it’s not bone-shakingly brittle, but it’s still firmer than we think is really necessary for a family SUV. Happily models with 17- or 18-inch wheels have a noticeably smoother and more comfortable ride - the Qashqai is on a par with the Skoda Karoq in that respect.
The Qashqai e-Power hybrid weighs about 200kg more than the equivalent petrol model. That might sound like quite a bit, but in reality it doesn't make much of a difference to the way the Qashqai goes down the road.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Nissan Qashqai?
The Nissan Qashqai was initially launched with a 1.3-litre petrol engine, available with 140PS or 158PS, both with 12-volt mild-hybrid technology. This provides a small performance boost, while the engine can turn off sooner as you coast to a halt in traffic.
The lower-powered Qashqai is only offered with a manual gearbox, while the more powerful motor can be paired with a manual or Xtronic CVT automatic gearbox. We've sampled the new Qashqai with the 158PS engine with both the manual and automatic gearbox. It's got quite a narrow torque band, which means you have to be proactive in changing gear in order to build speed. That's quite typical with small turbocharged engines like this, though.
The manual gear change has a slightly springy action but is adequate, with easy operation and a light clutch. If you're happy to splash the cash, the automatic gearbox suits a car like the Qashqai and will take a lot of the pain out of day-to-day driving. The Xtronic responds quickly and, surprisingly, the engine feels considerably sprightlier with it. Acceleration to 62mph takes 9.2 seconds, compared to 9.5 seconds with the manual gearbox.
In mid-2022 Nissan launched a hybrid version of the Qashqai, badged the Nissan Qashqai e-Power. It uses the petrol engine as a generator with no direct connection to the wheels - the engine instead powers electric motors and charges the battery. It means when you're mooching around town the Qashqai feels very similar to an electric car - smooth, all-but-silent and with no gearchanges to disrupt your progress.
Even when the engine fires into life, you'll only really know about it by the icon appearing in the digital dials. It only makes itself heard (and felt) when you ask for full power, but it manages to keep the revs at a civilised level, unlike rival hybrids such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. You also get decent performance - it's noticeably faster than the petrol engines, managing 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.
Refinement and noise levels
As well as upsetting ride quality, the largest 20-inch alloy wheels aren't great for refinement. There's a considerable amount of road noise, although models with smaller wheels (and higher-profile tyres) do better on that score.
Wind noise is acceptable on the Qashqai, though – it's certainly no worse than most mainstream SUVs of this size, although don't expect it to be as hushed as premium alternatives. The 1.3-litre petrol engine is fairly quiet until you really start working it hard, at which point it predictably becomes a bit thrashy. Don't be fooled by the mild-hybrid element – you're not going to be running around under electric power alone.
The e-Power model, meanwhile, will run on electric power, but only for a couple of miles when the petrol engine kicks back in to charge up the battery again. Happily, the engine is so refined that you'll barely notice it.
Safety equipment: How safe is the Nissan Qashqai?
The Nissan Qashqai was given a maximum five-star crash safety score when it was assessed by Euro NCAP, which included a strong 91% protection for both adults and children.
Nissan's driver-assist technology makes it pretty difficult to have a crash in a Qashqai (not that we'd recommend trying it out). And, best of all, it's standard across the range. Highlights include automatic emergency braking, which can monitor your surroundings and detect other vehicles and pedestrians, applying the brakes if required to help avoid or reduce the severity of a collision.
Rear automatic braking is standard, too – the car will automatically brake if there's a bollard you haven't noticed when reversing, for example. Nissan Qashqai Tekna models and above get adaptive driving beam tech, which splits the high beam into 12 segments, automatically turning some of them off to avoid dazzling oncoming motorists. It's a really nifty feature.
While there's the usual myriad of airbags, there's also a clever new central airbag between the driver and front passenger. This is to prevent you from bashing into one another in a collision.
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Nissan Qashqai cost to run?
"The 1.3-litre petrol engine paired with the manual gearbox officially returns up to 45.0mpg in official WLTP fuel economy tests, while the 4x4 model returns 40.0mpg."
These figures are comparable to rivals although, as ever, will depend on factors like your driving style in the real world. If you want a really efficient Qashqai, best stump up for the e-Power hybrid as there is no diesel option.
On the WLTP cycle the e-Power will do 53.3mpg combined. That's about what you'd get (if not better) than a diesel SUV, but with better refinement and smoother running. Although you don't get triple-digit official economy like you would in a plug-in hybrid, the Qashqai will manage that on a long drive, whereas plug-ins run out of battery power after 30-50 miles or so, and become a lot less efficient.
Nissan Qashqai reliability and warranty
Nissan as a brand has a fairly good reputation for reliability, although it scored a middling 9.04 out of 10 for reliability in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.
The old Qashqai was plagued with issues with the CVT transmission, while manual models had a tendency to pop out of gear (particularly in reverse). Hopefully Nissan will have worked on the long-term reliability of its new Qashqai - certainly, we've heard of very few issues so far,
Nissan Qashqai insurance groups and costs
The lower-powered 140PS Qashqai will be the cheapest to insure, with entry-level models sitting in group 11. The more powerful engine and manual gearbox is in group 17, while the automatic transmission places it in group 15. The e-Power hybrid sits between groups 24 to 26, depending on equipment grade.
Depending on factors like your postcode, age and driving experience, you might find the difference in costs is minimal - it's worth shopping around for car insurance quotes, though.
Nissan Qashqai price
"Like most things in life, the Nissan Qashqai is gradually creeping up in price. You'll now pay more than £30,000 for the cheapest model, while you can easily spend more than £40,000 on some of the more desirable variants."
The good news, though, is the Qashqai is one of the nation's best-selling new cars, so there's a lot of choice when shopping on the used car market. Around £17,000 is enough to get you into an Acenta Premium-trimmed car with one of the entry-level powertrains. You'll need a budget of at least £22,000 for an e-Power model.
The latest facelifted Nissan Qashqai is yet to hit the used market in any great number. Nissan says its residual values are stronger than before, so you might find it more difficult to get a bargain on the used market - although we'd expect to see some tempting deals on pre-registered models sooner or later. The improved residuals might see stronger finance offers on a new one, too.
Trim levels and standard equipment
The range starts with the Nissan Qashqai Acenta Premium, which comes with an impressive amount of standard kit for an entry-level car. Highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch infotainment display (with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a rear-view camera and automatic dual-zone climate control.
An extra couple of grand buys a Nissan Qashqai N-Connecta, which adds some desirable features - including stylish 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels on the outside and, on the inside, a leather steering wheel, NissanConnect navigation with Google-built in as well as an array of Google Automotive Services (including Google Maps with live traffic, Google Assistant and Google Play Store). The N-Connecta also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a wireless phone charger will keep your battery topped up.
New for 2024 is the Nissan Qashqai N-Design, which has a more sporty appearance than other models in the range. Highlights include 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, body-coloured lower bumpers, two-tone paints and LED sequential turn lights.
Sitting alongside the N-Design in the trim hierarchy is the Nissan Qashqai Tekna, with its 19-inch diamond-cut alloys, gloss black bumpers, hands-free tailgate, heated front seats and steering wheel, as well as ProPilot Assist self-driving technology.
Topping the range is the Nissan Qashqai Tekna+. This is pretty luxurious as far as family SUVs go: spec highlights include 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, quilted leather seats (with massage function in the front) and a Bose sound system.
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
How much does a Nissan Qashqai cost?
What's the best Nissan Qashqai model to choose?
Which Nissan Qashqai is the most efficient?
Get our latest advice, news and offers
Keep me updated by email with the latest advice, news and offers from heycar.
By submitting you agree to our privacy policy
