Summary
The Nissan Qashqai is a medium-sized SUV/crossover, built here in the UK at Nissan’s Sunderland plant. It is the UK’s biggest-selling British-built car, and one of the top-selling cars in the country.
This model is the second-generation Qashqai, which was launched in 2014 with a facelift in 2017 and further updates in the second half of 2018. Production ended in 2021 with an all-new replacement reaching UK roads in the summer of that year.
The Nissan Qashqai scored plenty of good reviews from various UK media sources throughout its life, but in its later years it was largely eclipsed by a huge number of similar models from rival manufacturers that were just as good – if not better – in many areas.
In August 2020, Which? magazine publicly called for the Qashqai to be recalled for a battery problem that affected more than one in five owners surveyed, and led to the Qashqai to be dubbed the car with the highest breakdown rate in its annual car owner survey.
Key specifications
Body style: Medium SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £19,995 on-road
Launched: Winter 2014
Last updated: Autumn 2018
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
“Great all-around visibility paired with finely-tuned steering means it’s easy to get around even the tightest of streets, ideal for a car that’s likely to spend the majority of its lifetime in the urban jungle.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Nissan Qashqai has been a consistent feature at the top end of sales charts for years now, and this all-round package was improved further by an update in 2017 and a range of new engines and gearboxes in 2019. That said, rivals offer strong competition in this class.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: 1.3-litre DIG-T 160 Tekna manual
Score: 8 / 10
“While some welcome infotainment upgrades keep the Qashqai competitive, the SEAT Ateca is more engaging to drive and the Skoda Karoq has the edge on practicality.”
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Model reviewed: 1.3-litre DIG-T 140hp Tekna
Score: 9 / 10
“The Nissan Qashqai remains wildly popular and rightly so. It manages to be fun and comfortable behind the wheel while having all of the sensible practicality and features expected of a family SUV. The SEAT Ateca still has the edge, but it’s a very very close call.”
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Car
Score: 8 / 10
“Nissan knows its target buyer extremely well and has created just the car that the great British public will lap up.”
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Carbuyer
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Nissan Qashqai is a practical SUV with the running costs of a hatchback, and a facelift has only increased its appeal.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Nissan Qashqai is a small family SUV that’s comfortable to drive and cheap to run. It’s far from the most practical SUV on sale, though, and doesn’t feel particularly special inside.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre diesel manual 115 Tekna
“A worthy update to a very successful model. The new diesel will appeal for emissions and performance, and the infotainment updates banish a previous weakness of the Qashqai.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
“As good as it’s ever been, the Nissan Qashqai remains a worthy car. It’s a close call between it and the SEAT Ateca.”
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Honest John
Score: 6 / 10
“The cabin feels somewhat old compared to the Qashqai’s newer rivals, while the infotainment looks distinctly aftermarket with blocky graphics, slow screen changes and a confusing menu layout. The low set of the infotainment screen also makes it difficult to read when on the move.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7.8 / 10
“Popular crossover is packed with equipment, but feeling dated”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 1.3-litre turbo petrol
“Beefed-up Nissan Qashqai with 160hp 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine will feel more purposeful and is more efficient for long runs.”
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“It’s safe and stylish and reliable and reasonably cheap to run. And it keeps 40,000 Brits in jobs. But it’s just not very exciting.”
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The Sunday Times
Score: 6 / 10
“Overall it’s quiet and the suspension does a decent job of smoothing out potholed roads, but it’s a tight squeeze with three children aboard, and the boot is surprisingly small.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.3-litre petrol manual N-Connecta
Score: 8 / 10
“The class leadership has moved on, but the Qashqai remains one of the best of the rest, and an amiable, easy-going way to transport your family. These new petrol engines suit it well, and arrive just in time to provide a worthwhile alternative as diesel’s popularity continues to dwindle.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“One of Britain’s best-selling cars, the Nissan Qashqai is quiety, comfy and homemade, too.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8 / 10
“If you choose wisely it’s one of the more comfortable cars in the class, and the 138bhp 1.3-litre petrol engine really impresses.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: February 2014
Date expired: January 2021
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 88%
Child protection: 83%
Vulnerable road users: 69%
Safety assist: 79%
Note on safety rating
The Qashqai was assessed by Euro NCAP in 2014 and awarded a five-star rating. This rating expired in January 2021, as it no longer met the requirements for a five-star score. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used Nissan Qashqai to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
Model tested: 1.3-litre petrol manual 140hp
Overall score: 2 stars
Date tested: November 2020
Read the full Green NCAP review
Energy Efficiency Index: 4.5 / 10
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 313
Average repair cost: £786.64
Last updated: October 2022
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
As of October 2022, the Nissan Qashqai has a reliability rating that is bang-on average, according to warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner MotorEasy. This score applies collectively to this second-generation Qashqai as well as the newer (2021 onwards) and older (pre-2014) generations.
Average repair costs for the Qashqai are reasonably high, at nearly £800. This is considerably more than the price of a used car warranty, which is worth keeping in mind if you are considering a used Qashqai. Gearbox problems are partiularly expensive to fix, at an average repair of £2,200, while engine repairs are also quite costly at an average repair cost of about £1,200.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Nissan Qashqai has received
2020
- Auto Trader Awards – Best Car for City Driving
2016
- What Car? Awards – Best Small SUV
2015
- Auto Express Awards – Crossover of the Year
- What Car? Awards – Best Small SUV
2014
- What Car? Awards – Car of the Year
- Auto Express Awards – Crossover of the Year
- Tow Car Awards – Tow Car of the Year + 1,400-1,549kg caravan category
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Nissan Qashqai, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën C5 Aircross | Ford Kuga | Honda CR-V | Hyundai Tucson | Jeep Compass | Kia Sportage | Mazda CX-5 | MG HS | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | Peugeot 3008 | Renault Kadjar | SEAT Ateca | Skoda Karoq | SsangYong Korando | Subaru XV | Suzuki S-Cross | Toyota C-HR | Vauxhall Grandland X | Volkswagen Tiguan
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