Nissan Qashqai Review (2013-2020)

Sharper looking, the second generation Qashqai was a distinct improvement on the car it replaced in a number of other ways, too. The first car’s rather plasticky interior was replaced with one that used higher-grade materials for a much posher feel, and the second generation Qashqai offered better practicality than before, too, an essential factor for any family car. That was down to having a good bit more room in the passenger compartment, a smidge more boot space and some clever touches to make life that little bit easier.

For example, two removable ‘upper boot floor’ panels give the luggage area lots of extra versatility. They create a flat boot floor when the rear (60/40) seats are folded, and they allow valuables to be stored beneath them out of sight. You can even position one of them vertically to create a small compartment that prevents bags of shopping from sliding around too much. Simple enough, but it's a really handy feature.

Unlike the original Qashqai, though, there’s no Qashqai+2 variant, so the second generation car is not available with the option of seven seats, meaning those who need capacity for more than five people will have to look elsewhere.

The new car also offered improved driving dynamics, with a more comfortable ride at all speeds, improved rolling refinement and handing that was significantly less roly-poly in bends. It’s worth hunting out a model with smaller wheels, though, because the bigger 19-inch items that are standard on higher-end cars make the ride a bit more jiggly.

A range of economical turbocharged petrol and diesel engines were offered. Initially, petrol choices included a 1.2 with 113bhp and a 1.6 with 161bhp, although the former was a bit gutless and the latter was a bit expensive. Diesel buyers had the choice of a 108bhp 1.5 and a 128bhp 1.6, and the entry-level option was the pick of the pair as it was cheaper to buy, more economical and delivered more-than-adequate performance and refinement.

A CVT automatic transmission was an option for models with the 1.6-litre petrol engine, and some higher spec versions were available with four-wheel drive to give them the traction that went with their SUV-esque styling. However, the vast majority of Qashqais are front-wheel drive and use a manual gearbox.

The news got better for petrol fans towards the end of 2018, when the existing petrol engines were replaced by a pair of 1.3-litre turbo units with 138bhp and 158bhp. Both came with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but the latter was also available with a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic. These were an improvement over the engines they replaced, with easier, more muscular performance and improved economy. Meanwhile, the entry-level diesel was fettled to provide slightly more power but stayed essentially the same, while the 1.6 diesel was replaced by a 1.7-litre unit with 148bhp, although the lower-powered version was still the pick even then.

More standard equipment was provided, too, with even entry-level models getting air-con and cruise control, although it’s worth upgrading to our favoured Acenta Premium trim for its alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, leather steering wheel and upgraded infotainment system, complete with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, DAB radio and satnav. Plus, of course, you get the elevated seating position for that true SUV feel, and good visibility in all directions.

It was a huge seller, the second generation Qashqai, the best-selling car of its type no less, so there are plenty of examples to choose from on the used market. Whatever your budget, you should be able to find a car to suit your tastes.

If you buy a used Nissan Qashqai, you largely avoid the car's biggest running cost: depreciation. We’ve heard of one owner who bought an N-Tec- model as a new car for £24,000, and less than a year (and 5,000 miles) later, was told it was worth £16,000… ouch! On the other hand, he did remark that he regularly got 67mpg.

Good fuel economy is a feature of all the Qashqai's engines, with official consumption figures on the happy side of 50mpg, while the 1.5 dCi turbodiesel claims to give 74mpg: not many owners get as much as that, but some do. With subdued drinking habits come rewards from the exchequer, with annual VED charges from £0 to £150 at most.

Some owners report that the Qashqai is heavy on tyres, with the front pair possibly needing replacement after only 10,000 miles. Nissan’s own fixed price servicing packages don’t sound so bad at £189 for a minor service on a petrol model and £209 for a diesel, but weighing against that is the recommendation that the Qashqai should be serviced every 12 months. On the plus side, you do get a year’s worth of European roadside assistance thrown in for free.

The Qashqai uses an eco-friendly air-conditioning gas that is more prone to leakage than previous varieties and can need replacing inside of two years. At £250 for re-gassing, it’s much dearer than conventional air-con gas.

Rear parking sensors suffer from water ingress and then randomly beep out warnings when you’re on the move, while rear-view cameras sometimes display images unbidden. An early recall concerned optional tow bars detaching, and on cars produced between 2013 and September 2016, the right rear wheelarch liner could deform, and in extreme cases, chafe through the brake fluid lines. And talking of brakes, the emergency braking system would sometimes cease to function.

Many owners complained of batteries that would mysteriously (to the dealers, at least) drain their charge completely within a mere few days, while the stop/start function on some cars gave up the ghost early in their lives. Air-conditioning pumps and condensers are reported to fail, and early satnavs were prone to cutting out or freezing. The inability of the Nissan Connect infotainment system to actually connect to mobile phones also vexed some owners, as did creaking suspension and steering when the car was cold.

Of some consequence are the number of complaints about the CVT automatic gearbox, which could fail completely inside of 20,000 miles, and then require replacement or refurbishment. A new one costs about £6,000, so ensure the one you’re looking at isn’t sloppy or making a grinding sound if it’s outside of warranty. And remote locking key fobs are occasionally not recognised by the Qashqai’s security system, making it hard to gain entry to your own car without the help of a national breakdown organisation.

The 1.5 dCi engine has gained a little notoriety for a flat-spot at around 1,750-2,000rpm, leaving you with scarily feeble acceleration when, for example, entering a roundabout or pulling out into stream of fast-moving traffic.