NISSAN - QUASHQAI

 

Nissan Qashqai

If three-bedrooms is big enough for you, but you like a good view and easy access, you’d buy a flat with a lift. In the same way, if a family hatchback is the right sort of size for you, but you’d rather sit a little higher for easier access and visibility, then the Nissan Qashqai should be on your list of test drives.

It offers good space for a family, plenty of advanced safety kit and – as a bonus – it’s one of the most comfortable small SUVs to drive.

The latest generation of Nissan Qashqai has been with us since 2013, but Nissan gave it a few visual tweaks in 2018 to help it keep pace with the likes of the VW Tiguan, Kia Sportage and hyundai tucson . It’s nice, but not quite enough to draw attention away from the eye-catching Peugeot 3008.

Sadly it’s a similar story inside, where the Qashqai’s cabin feels a bit old-hat. There’s nothing wrong with its sensibly laid out dashboard and soft-touch plastics, but it lacks the wow-factor of the Peugeot’s avant-garde interior. The same goes for the Nissan’s infotainment system – it covers all the important bases but feels more like a hand-me-down original iPhone than a box-fresh iPhone 12.

At least you’ll have somewhere comfortable to sit while you fiddle about with the system’s rather crowded menus. Every Nissan Qashqai comes with a height-adjustable driver’s seat as standard and there’s just enough space in the back for a six-foot-tall passenger to sit behind and equally lofty driver. A Kia Sportage is better for carrying three adults abreast, however.

Acenta Premium

The Nissan Qashqai in Acenta Premium guise comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, automatic headlights and front and rear parking sensors. You also get an upgraded infotainment system with smartphone mirroring and satellite navigation, alongside lane-departure warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

N-Connecta

N-Connecta models are the pick of the Qashqai range. They come with the same basic equipment as Acenta versions – including adjustable lumbar support and height-adjustable front seats – but add a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation as standard alongside 18-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors, a 360-degree surround-view camera system and tinted rear windows.

N-Motion

The N-Motion special edition of the nissan qashqai  integrates the Nissan Intelligence Mobility system. This gives you parking cameras that can generate a 360-degree view of the car’s surroundings, automatic emergency braking and blind spot warnings. There is also a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatible and has built-in navigation and voice recognition.

Engine capacity 1.2L , 1.3L petrol