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Rating 
SummaryRecommended. A new breed of small family car - as desirable as an SUV but without the downsides. |
ReviewAt first glance the Qashqai looks sleek, stylish and more imposing than a small family car has any right to. Some people will think Chelsea tractor, but this crossover's deceptively small - in fact, it's only 100mm longer than an average family hatchback and has a similar sized wheelbase. More than that, around three-quarters of Qashqai's are expected to be more fuel-efficient two-wheel drive models. Even other small(ish) SUVs like the Freelander dwarf the Qashqai when the two get up close. A familiarly lofty SUV driving position provides excellent, confidence-boosting vision when wafting through city traffic. That feeling is heightened by a clever interior design which, with high-set windows and a sprawling soft-touch dash, makes occupants feel as though they're sat comfortingly deep within the car. The drawback is somewhat restricted rear and side vision, caused by the large pillars and small back windows. Around town the Qashqai feels composed and quiet, even if the ride's a bit firm. But this SUV-hatch-mongrel can be driven with verve if need be, and when cornered hard our (front-wheel-drive only) test car felt safe and well-balanced, doing without the dramatic bodyroll that blights taller utility vehicles. Nissan claims the Qashqai handles like a sporty hatchback. That's not quite true - it gets upset by mid-corner bumps, for example, and falls short of the exceptional poise of the Ford Focus - but overall it is pretty agile. We tried the entry-level 1.6 litre petrol, the only Qashqai to come with five gears instead of six. It's not lifeless, but does need to be worked quite hard to generate real thrust. And four-wheel drive is only available with the 2.0 litre petrol or turbo diesel variants further up the range. Of course, doing without it and having the smaller engine means that - for the same money as an Astra - you end up with a spacious, stylish family mover that stays on the right side of the green lobby.
Breakdown
Styling  Could be more radical. Driving a small family car that looks like a politically-incorrect SUV may turn potential buyers off. Body coloured bumpers would have been nice, too. But overall the Qashqai is pretty classy, and it's not as bulky as most SUVs. |
Handling Impressively composed - and we were testing the front-wheel drive model. All-wheel drive versions are even better. Not as entertaining as a sports hatch but solid, safe and unflustered. |
Comfort A slightly firm urban ride can intrude, and the Qashqai could be more supple over bigger bumps, but it rarely turns uncomfortable. Both are suspension set-up sacrifices that benefit the handling. You won't get back-ache from the fully-adjustable seat - the four-way adjustable steering wheel helps - |
Quality & reliability Soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and doors provide an aura of quality, as do the padded cloth armrests on the doors. Fit and finish is fine, and nothing rattled, squeaked or fell off on this very early example. And Nissan has a strong reputation for quality. |
Performance With a modest 113bhp, the 1.6 litre petrol engine must be worked quite hard to perform briskly, but the Qashqai never feels sluggish with this entry-level unit. The 2.0 litre petrol or turbodiesel are better for motorway miles, and the 1.5dCi diesel makes a good all-rounder despite its modest size. |
Roominess The boot's wide enough, although not especially deep, but that's because it has a full-size spare wheel under the floor. Whilst the cabin feels roomy - particularly if you specify the panoramic sunroof - the rear is not as commodious as you might expect. The base of the back seat doesn't flip over t |
Running costs It's possible to average over 40mpg with the 1.6 litre petrol, and the 1.5 turbodiesel will manage more than that. Lower output engines mean the Qashqai costs less to insure compared with big thirsty SUVs. Reasonable CO2 emissions reduce company car tax in line with other family hatchbacks. |
Value for money Entry-level models are competitively priced in the small family car segment, rivalling the Astra, Golf and new Toyota Auris. And the Qashqai's an awful lot more car for your money than any of these. |
Stereo / Sat nav There's no sat nav on this model, but the dash-integrated six CD changer sounds fine and is easy to use. The optional bird-view sat nav is excellent. Wheel-mounted stereo controls are well thought out and a Bluetooth mobile phone hands-free is easy to set up and very useful. |
Comments
| From: |
kevvy gpDate: 28/05/2008 09:50:14 |
| Comment: |
bought one for the wife - but i take it out as often as i can over my sports roadster! a true beauty of a car, i can recommend it to new mums and funky families who enjoy an excellent blend of class, economy, style and practicality. no regrets, buy 1! |
| From: |
Blue BuddhaDate: 21/05/2007 14:12:55 |
| Comment: |
I've always driven Nissan's from the QX to the PATROL, however this model does the trick, so much so, I have just ordered one! A real sense of security, plush comfort, and of course as it's less common than your average motor, it turns heads if ego is a personal quality of yours. |
| From: |
Irfan AkramDate: 18/05/2007 07:42:31 |
| Comment: |
What a cool car. I think I should post it on my blog at http://www.pakcar.com |
| From: |
louis rixDate: 10/05/2007 22:31:03 |
| Comment: |
this is such a beautiful car that i can highly recommend to anyone looking for a small yet desirable family suv! |
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