THE NISSAN QASHQAI is known as the King of the Crossovers, because it’s the car that kicked off the crossover craze.
There are more than 2.5 million Qashqais on the road in Europe and since its launch in 2007, almost 35,000 have been registered in Ireland alone.
The family favourite is also the fastest-selling UK-built car in history, with one rolling off the production line every 62 seconds. So chances are you are already very familiar with the Qashqai.
But what makes this motor so popular? I set off in my test car to find out.
On first impressions, the overall look isn’t anything to get excited over. It isn’t exactly a head-turner and the same goes for the interior. It’s just a bit bland. There is a nice mix of soft leather, gloss black trim and leather, and it feels well put together – but it’s missing a bit of pizzazz.
On the plus side, it doesn’t come with an avalanche of buttons on the steering wheel or centre console and everything is easy to read and use. The touchscreen with sat-nav is again, really easy to use but there is a bit of lag and it does feel a little dated, especially on the graphics front.
However, the around-view monitor is great and really helps with manoeuvring in and out of awkward spaces.
There is a decent amount of storage space. The boot holds a good 430 litres and expands to 1,585 litres with the 60/40 rear seats folded. The seats fold easily enough to make an almost flat load area and there is no lip on the boot making it very easy to slide items in and out.
There is also under floor storage to hide items and a few storage hooks too. (The false floor is reversible so one side has carpet and the other washable plastic. Handy.)
In terms of room, you will get three adults in the back but it doesn’t feel as spacious back there as some of its rivals.
Up front it’s very comfortable and the driving position is nice and high giving you great visibility. The car is also really easy to get in and out of – good for people with a dodgy hip or back, like me.
Starting up that 110hp 1.5-litre diesel I was quite surprised at how loud it was. It wasn’t very well insulated and there was a bit of wind noise too when I was out on the motorway.
But the more I drove the Qashqai the more it did, eventually, win me over.
The Qashqai is very capable and easy to drive. It handles everything really well from long motorway drives to bumpy backroads to city streets. The suspension is very well set up for Irish roads and absorbs most things thrown at it.
The cruise control, speed limiter, hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and forward emergency braking all combine to make you feel safe on the road – and again, to make things that little bit easier when you are driving.
So after a week living with the Qashqai, I can really see its appeal. It has great visibility, is easy to get in and out of, easy to work all the controls and easy to drive. I’d say nervous drivers or those that don’t particularly like driving would feel quite comfortable behind the wheel of this car. It does away with any drama and gets you from A to B with ease… if not exactly style.
The test car was the two-wheel drive version powered by a 110hp 1.5-litre dci Euro6 diesel engine with a six-speed manual transmission in new SV Premium trim. It is priced at €30,770 but the Qashqai range starts from €25,620.
Is this the right car for you?
If you want a comfortable car with great safety features and road handling, then the Nissan Qashqai is the car for you.
If you a looking for a crossover with a bit more style then check out the Mazda CX-3 (RRP €20,995) or CX-5 (RRP €27,995). CX-3 is a bit smaller than the Qashqai and the CX-5 is a bit bigger but both offer very stylish looks and a gorgeous interior.
If you need a bigger boot and more space for passenger then the SEAT Ateca might do the trick. Its boot can hold 510 to 1,604 litres and it has plenty of headroom in the back for taller passengers. The legroom is a bit better too but not by that much. The Ateca is priced from €24,750.
On a bit of a budget? Then check out the Dacia Duster from €16,690. Got a bit more cash to spend? The check out the Volkswagen Tiguan from €29,085.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say