Nissan QASHQAI 2.0 dCi Tekna 4WD Auto 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Qashqai’s 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder, 16V diesel engine produces 148 bhp with torque figures stand at 236 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm. This translates into a top speed of 117 mph, while 0-62 mph arrives in 11.0 seconds. This makes it the most powerful engine in the range but it is also the less efficient and this is likely to be a major concern for buyers.

The strong suspension deals easily with bumpy and uneven surfaces, resulting in a smooth and comfortable ride. There is a fair amount of body lean through corners, but the steering offers plenty of feel. The engine is refined and noise levels are kept to a minimum, becomming audible but not excessive at speed.

The Qashqai has a well-crafted exterior but inside the cabin the plastics are a little cheap and detract away from the otherwise high build quality. The dashboard is clear and well-organised. The steering wheel adjusts for both height and reach, and the driver’s seat alters for height and offers good support. The elevated driving position delivers excellent front visibility.

All Qashqais are generously kitted out, with this model benefitting from the greatest range of equipment. Entry-level Visia models come with alloy wheels, four electric windows, electric mirrors, a CD player and Bluetooth connectivity whilst the Acenta trim adds climate control, a CD changer, parking sensors, cruise control, and automatic headlamps and wipers to this.

The n-tec cars get sat-nav and a panoramic sunroof but the top of the range Tekna models have full leather upholstery, xenon headlights and a reversing camera.

A metallic paintfinish for the exterior is available at additional cost.

The Qashqai seats four comfortably but room is tight with five people. The rear headroom does not match some rivals but the boot is large with a 410 litre capacity with the seats up and 860 litre capacity when the seats are down.

The car features impressive safety kit that includes six airbags, stability control and active front head restraints to reduce whiplash. The car comes with an immobiliser to deter thieves. Reliability should not be an issue, Nissan have an impeccable record in this department. The Qashqai finished in the top 40 overall in the 2011 JD Power customer satisfaction survey.

The car also comes with a three-year warranty for 60,000 miles.

The Tekna is priced at £27,095, which whilst considerably cheaper than the Volvo XC60 is expensive compared to other models in the range. All Qashqais are well-equipped but the price of the higher trim levels is not always justified and buyers should considered the Acenta or Visia trims instead as these offer better value for money.

That said, with strong reliability levels and resale values across the range any model is a fairly good investment for families. However, this model is plagued by high running costs and this can be a problem for families and budget-conscious motorists. The car comes under the high-cost road tax band I, thanks to carbon emissions of 184 g/km, and also incurs some of the highest insurance premiums of the range under price bracket 24.