More information, a brief history and our verdict on the Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai is a mid-size family SUV that is similar to cars such as the Skoda Karoq, Vauxhall Grandland and Kia Sportage. 

It sits above the Nissan Juke compact SUV, and below the seven-seat X-Trail large SUV. It’s also one of Britain’s most popular new or used cars for sale, desirable because it’s spacious, well-equipped, decent to drive and keenly priced whether you’re buying or leasing. 

The Nissan Qashqais is considered the original affordable family SUV. It first went on sale back in 2007, as Nissan thought a family hatchback with a raised-up SUV-style body would be more desirable. It was a bit of a gamble, but one that paid off as the company sold its three millionth Qashqai in 2018. 

With huge global appeal, it’s no surprise that rival carmakers followed the Nissan Qashqai’s lead, with the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan the first rivals to emerge. The second-generation Qashqai went on sale in 2014, with the third generation arriving in 2021. 

Even today, with so many rivals, the Nissan Qashqai is a very competitive (and competitively-priced) family SUV. If you’re buying new then you’ll be able to choose from petrol and e-Power hybrid versions, while used Nissan Qashqais are also available with economical diesel engines. 

Nissan Qashqai models, trims, specs, engine sizes and more

The Nissan Qashqai has room for five people, but the most recent versions aren’t available as seven-seaters. For that, you’ll want to check out the Nissan X-Trail. 

There are plenty of versions to choose from, whether your looking to buy or lease a new Nissan Qashqai or find a used one. The latest version on sale can be had with five trim levels, from the most affordable Visia model to the fully-loaded Tekna + 

The majority of used Nissan Qashqais are fitted with diesel engines, but like many new cars the latest model is petrol-only. A petrol hybrid e-Power model will soon be added to the range. These are the specs and details of the Qashqai’s engines: 

• Nissan Qashqai DiG-T 140 petrol: The entry-level engine in the new Nissan Qashqai is a 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol with a 140PS output. It goes from 0-60mph in 10.6 seconds, with claimed fuel economy of 44.8mpg combined. This version has a six-speed manual gearbox only. 

• Nissan Qashqai DiG-T 158 petrol: the most powerful pure petrol Qashqai is the DiG-T 158. With a 158PS output from a higher-tune 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, it drops the 0-62mph time down to 9.5 seconds. This engine can be had with a manual gearbox and two-wheel drive, where it’ll do 45mpg combined, or as a four-wheel drive Xtronic automatic, which can do 40mpg combined. 

• Nissan Qashqai e-Power hybrid: Unlike some of the Qashqai’s rivals, the e-Power hybrid doesn’t need to be plugged in. It’s a self-charging hybrid, meaning it uses a 1.3-litre petrol engine to power the electric motor and battery, rather than the engine powering the wheels. The layout means it’ll achieve 53.3mpg combined.

Nissan Qashqai features as standard & optional extras

The Nissan Qashqai is most affordable in Visia spec, but standard equipment is limited. It’s the only version not to have a touchscreen media system, with a basic DAB radio featuring Bluetooth. It does also get LED lights all-round, adaptive cruise control, 17in alloys and a full suite of driver assists and safety features, however. 

Stepping up to the Nissan Qashqai Acenta Premium brings an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual-zone climate control, a rear-view camera and keyless entry. It’s much more popular than the base Visia. 

The mid-spec Nissan Qashqai N-Connecta looks a bit more upmarket, with 18in alloy wheels, privacy glass and interior ambient lighting. You also get a full 360-degree parking camera system, front parking sensors and a larger nine-inch touchscreen, which gets wireless Apple CarPlay

The top-spec versions of the Nissan Qashqai are called Tekna and Tekna+. Tekna gets 19in alloy wheels, the Drive Assist system for semi-autonomous driving, a head-up display, adaptive LED headlights and a hands-free tailgate. There’s also leather seats and a panoramic sunroof. 

Tekna+ adds to that equipment list with 20in alloy wheels, special quilted leather, massaging electric seats, a Bose premium sound system and an intelligent key.

The Nissan Qashqai’s exterior dimensions are:

• Length: 4425mm
• Width: 1838mm
• Height: 1635mm
• Ground clearance: 180mm