Few cars can rightfully claim to have changed the motoring world as we know it, but Nissan’s Qashqai is one of them. A high-riding machine that’s the doyen of the school run, the Qashqai is a genuine motoring icon, its influence transformative to the contemporary car marketplace.
That’s a big statement to apply to what looks like a relatively humdrum family car, but before the Qashqai arrived there were no ‘crossovers’, or at least any that made any significant sales impact. The Qashqai made one heck of an impact, having chalked up more than five million sales since it was introduced in 2007, and rivals have been scrambling to catch up ever since. The magic formula for Nissan was that the Qashqai took off-roader-like sensibilities – that high-riding stance, shape and practicality – and applied them to the family hatchback marketplace when it came to ease of driving, pricing and running costs.
The Qashqai didn’t rival cars from the likes of Land Rover; instead, it went up against cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and any number of other small family hatchbacks, as well as estate cars and large family hatchbacks. Nissan actually ditched its Almera hatchback and Primera saloon in the UK to focus its family car sales entirely on the Qashqai.
A big gamble for Nissan, perhaps, but one that’s paid off, and completely transformed the family car marketplace. Cars from the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan to the Kia Sportage and Seat Ateca, and countless other crossovers and family SUVs, all owe their existence to the Qashqai.
Generations: 3
Nissan Qashqai mk3 (2021-)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Nissan Qashqai mk3
- Third-generation model is larger than the previous models
- Engine line-up includes a mild-hybrid petrol model with a choice of manual or CVT transmissions
- Several trim levels to choose from, including the limited Premiere Edition launch model
Although the Qashqai was very well established in the UK by 2021, it faced an ever-growing number of rivals from just about every mainstream manufacturer. So an all-new model was launched to take the fight to cars like the Peugeot 3008, Renault Kadjar, Seat Ateca, Hyundai Tucson and plenty more. It boasts fresh looks and eye-catching LED daytime running lights.
Power comes from a 1.3-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine, available with either 138bhp or 156bhp, and with a choice of six-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic. NIssan Qashqai E-Power models follow from 2022, which use a petrol engine to generate electricity to drive an electric motor, which then drives the wheels.
The trim line-up starts with the Visia, which is far from spartan thanks to LED headlights and rear parking sensors. The Acenta Premium adds 17-inch alloy wheels and an infotainment system with an 8.0-inch screen, plus DAB, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Qashqai N-Connecta trim has 18-inch alloys and a larger infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and front parking sensors, while the limited Premiere Edition has a clever head-up display that projects driving information onto the windscreen. It also has a panoramic glass roof and a wireless charging pad. Tekna models have 19-inch wheels and a hands-free tailgate, while the top-spec Tekna+ rides on 20-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tyres, and has quilted leather seats, as well as a Bose sound system.
The new Qashqai was given a warm response by reviewers, who particularly praised its strong safety credentials and the amount of technology it packs. For more engagement from the driver's seat, opt for a higher-spec model, which has more sophisticated rear suspension. It's particularly effective at settling the ride at motorway speeds.
Nissan Qashqai mk3 Review
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Nissan Qashqai mk2 (2014-2020)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Nissan Qashqai mk2
- Second-generation model was larger and loaded with safety features
- Built in the UK
- Facelifts and upgrades introduced in 2017 and 2018
By 2014 the big-selling original Qashqai had been around for seven years. A new one was needed, and duly arrived. The new Qashqai needed to do little but offer more of the same, only with improvements to economy, comfort, space and equipment levels. With imitation the sincerest form of flattery, the Qashqai no longer had the crossover marketplace to itself; competition was now coming from all corners of the marketplace, with rivals keen to tap in to Nissan’s successful crossover formula.
The second-generation Qashqai was again built in the UK, though its massive sales meant Nissan also produced it in other factories globally. Key changes centred around not just a new look, but the ever-present march of technology, chiefly infotainment, connectivity and safety. Naturally, a revised range of engines and transmissions were added, too.
The Qashqai was available with Nissan’s Safety Shield systems, including Forward Emergency Braking, Driver Attention Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Traffic Sign Recognition. The bolder styling added real visual appeal, while the interior quality improved, as did interior space. The seven-seat Qashqai+2 was ditched, though, with Nissan offering the bigger X-Trail to those who might need additional pews.
Trim lines remained familiar, with Visia, Acenta, N-Tec, N-Tec+ and Tekna forming the ladder of specification. Visia trim wanted for little, unless you want alloy wheels. Acenta added those, as well as a USB port, more speakers, dual-zone climate control and smart leather coverings on the steering wheel and gearknob. At the top of the range, the Tekna trim offered some real luxury, with Nappa leather upholstery.
The new car was enjoyable to drive and comfortable, too. The engine line-up followed the trend for downsized turbocharged engines, with the petrol offering being a 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 113bhp. Underlining diesel’s dominance in sales at the time, the diesel offering was wider, though only by an additional engine. The 1.5-litre dCi was carried over with 108bhp and a 1.6-litre version above that offered 128bhp, and was the only model with four-wheel drive. The CVT automatic, branded Xtronic, was available with either that more powerful diesel or the petrol engine. The rest of the range was fitted with six-speed manual gearboxes.
2017 would see Nissan upgrade the Qashqai, with a top-line trim grade called Tekna+, and new adaptive driver aids bundled under Nissan’s ProPilot branding. A few subtle design and quality upgrades were also made inside and out.
In 2018, a new 1.3-litre petrol engine replaced the 1.2-litre unit, and it was offered in 138bhp and 158bhp guises. The new petrol engines wear the DIG-T 140 or DIG-T 160 badges and are offered with a DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) automatic, which is a big improvement over the CVT. The DCT would be offered with the diesel choice from 2019, when the 1.6-litre diesel was increased in capacity to a 1.7-litre choice, with 148bhp. This increased the towing capacity up to 2,000kg.
Nissan also upgraded its NissanConnect system in 2018, adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 3D mapping on the satnav system and voice recognition, as well as an improved touchscreen.
Nissan Qashqai mk2 Review
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Nissan Qashqai mk1 (2007-2014)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Nissan Qashqai mk1
- Styled in Japan and the US, built in the UK
- Initial apathy from journalists wasn't mirrored by an enthusiastic public
- Facelifted in 2010 and tweaks to engines in 2011
Unveiled as a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2004, the Nissan Qashqai concept wasn’t initially well received among the motoring press. Nissan’s take on the market was far more insightful than the sometimes-blinkered automotive media, though, having spotted a shift in customer tastes and recognising that a new car like the Qashqai would suit them perfectly.
The production of the new Nissan Qashqai was a joint effort. The outside was styled by the Nissan's Global Design Centre in Japan, while the interior was designed by Nissan’s US design team. Refinements were made to the styling by Nissan’s European designers. The development of the car, built on an entirely new engineering platform, was by Nissan’s European Technical Centre in Britain, as Nissan recognised Europe as a key market for its new crossover model. The brief was simply to take a traditional SUV and make it more affordable, agile and compact.
That’s exactly what Nissan achieved with the Qashqai. It had the higher seating position, larger wheels and taller suspension of an SUV, but a cabin engineered to feel like you were sitting in it, rather than on it. The eventual production car would make its debut in 2006 at the Paris Motor Show. It went on sale in February 2007 and found 100,000 buyers in its first year of sales, 18,000 of them in the UK.
Despite the SUV-lite looks, the majority of Qashqais thundering down Nissan’s Sunderland production line were front-wheel drive. A four-wheel-drive system was offered, but few buyers needed or picked it. The engine line-up echoed that of the family hatchbacks it rivalled, with a 113bhp 1.6-litre petrol, 138bhp 2.0-litre petrol and a pair of diesels in 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre capacities with 105bhp and 147bhp, respectively. Nissan worked hard to deliver hatchback-like MPG and CO2 emissions, and achieved it rather well. Five-speed or six-speed manual transmissions were offered depending on model, and there was also the option of a CVT automatic transmission.
On the road, it eschewed traditional ponderous SUV norms, instead feeling more like an agile - if rather tall - hatchback. The specification of multi-link rear suspension helped, and it was specifically tuned to suit the UK's uniquely challenging tarmac. The Qashqai Visia grade represented the entry-level to the range, with standard equipment highlights including 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity and air-conditioning, as well as electrically-adjusted and heated door mirrors and tilt- and telescopic steering wheel adjustment. Acenta trim sat above that, adding things like rain-sensing wipers, cruise control and dual-zone climate control. The NIssan Qashqai Tekna above that gained leather, heated seats and a panoramic glass roof, as well as Xenon headlights.
Standard safety equipment was good, although electronic stability control was only standard on the 2.0-litre cars. Still, the Qashqai scored a maximum five-star result in the Euro NCAP safety tests. Adding to the Qashqai’s level of practicality, Nissan added the seven-seat Qashqai+2 in 2008, with an extended wheelbase and a longer rear roof area to allow a pair of additional rear seats. That third row seats stowed flat under the floor when they weren’t in use, increasing boot space.
The Qashqai was given a facelift in 2010, with Nissan having sold 1.2 million Qashqais in Europe since its launch. The refreshed Qashqai gave the front and rear lights a new look, and added smarter instrumentation and materials inside. N-Tec trim joined the grades, as did a Visia Pure Drive model, which used the 1.5 dCi turbodiesel and had a CO2 figure of just 129g/km, as well as improved fuel economy. Around the time of the facelift, Nissan also offered its Around View Monitor 360 parking camera technology as an option instead of regular rear parking sensors and rear view camera. The company was so pleased with this tech that it renamed the N-Tec trim as 360 in celebration.
The engine and transmission line-up remained relatively unchanged for the facelift, save for the usual economy and emissions improvements, while electronic stability control (ESC) now featured as standard across all models. In 2011 Nissan made a minor revision to the diesel engine choice, with the 148bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel dropped in favour of a lower powered 127bhp 1.6-litre unit. That drop in power didn’t effect performance much, but helped improve MPG and emissions.