Nissan Qashqai (2017-2020) Review & Prices

This second-generation Nissan Qashqai went on sale in 2014, following on from the original model that launched back in 2007. That car arguably started the craze for family-focused SUVs and, as such, sold in huge numbers.

The second-generation model replaced its predecessor’s frumpy styling with a much sharper appearance, some hugely impressive driver assistance technology and the same comfortable driving experience that characterised the old one.

As its popularity increased, so too did its competition. These days there are countless other family SUVs vying for buyers’ attention.

Nissan nailed the brief for a family SUV, offering a high driving position and comfortable ride, a practical cabin that’s suitable for families and a range of efficient engines that offer low running costs.

It’s slightly longer and wider, but despite having a slightly lower roofline there’s more headroom for both front and rear passengers.

The interior is generally quite spacious, with plenty of storage areas dotted around the car, and while the boot is a good shape to carry larger items it’s not as big as those of the Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson.

Although spacious, the interior is a pretty dull place to spend your time and the infotainment menus look more Sega Mega Drive than Sony PlayStation 5, despite being pretty intuitive to use.

Surprising, too, given the fact that elsewhere the technology is much more impressive. From the mid-range models you get 360-degree cameras, while automatic emergency braking is offered across the range. Peace of mind to add to the five-star safety test rating.

An update introduced in 2017 brought some minor changes to the exterior design, improved interior quality, updated infotainment and a new high-spec trim level.

At launch in 2014 there were two petrol and two diesel engines. The first petrol is a 1.2-litre unit making 115hp that’s paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and a 50mpg fuel economy figure. From October 2014, a CVT automatic was also available.

Next up is the 1.6-litre petrol, which gets a healthier 150hp yet retains the same 50mpg economy figure, making it the more appealing of the two.

If you spend most of your time at motorway speeds, one of the diesels could be a better choice. The 1.5-litre unit makes 110hp and returns just over 74mpg, while the 1.6-litre is most efficient in two-wheel drive manual guise, returning up to 64mpg. Automatic or four-wheel drive versions are also available for this engine, though not together.

The 2017 update saw this engine line-up continue, but another update in 2019 brought new engine and transmission options. A new 1.3-litre petrol engine with 160hp introduced a new DCT automatic transmission, which improved the driving experience over the CVT used before.

A 115hp 1.5-litre diesel was also added with a choice of manual and DCT gearboxes, while a 1.7-litre unit with 150hp had two- and four-wheel drive options with the manual, or a four-wheel drive CVT option. The latter was the least economical option so should only be chosen if you really need four-wheel drive and an auto.

Early models were offered in four core trim levels called Visia, Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna. Entry-level Acenta models came with most of the essentials, such as air conditioning and bluetooth connectivity, while cruise control is a nice extra to have as standard.

Upgrading to Acenta improves equipment levels a lot, adding auto air conditioning, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and a leather steering wheel, as well as getting bigger 17-inch alloy wheels. Acenta Premium is good to go for as it increases the 5.0-inch infotainment display to 7.0 inches, as well as getting a panoramic glass roof, rear-view camera and some extra driver assistance tech.

The mid-spec n-tec trim – later tweaked and called N-Connecta – received 18-inch alloy wheels, safety tech and front and rear parking sensors, while n-tec+ added a panoramic glass roof and roof rails.

Top-spec models were called Tekna and received 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, full leather heated seats and Safety Shield, which included a 360-degree camera, blind spot warning and moving object detection.

Tekna+ came with the 2017 update and was described as ‘the ultimate Qashqai’ by the firm. These models came with nappa leather upholstery and a BOSE sound system. The 2019 update brought a new N-Motion trim, bringing some silver exterior touches, LED headlights and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Only offered as a practical SUV, you get a pretty spacious cabin that makes it ideal for family life. You sit high in the driver’s seat which gives a good view of the world around you and feels safe and secure, while the tall shape makes it easy to get in and out of, as well as place items in the boot.

The boot itself has a nice boxy shape, so it’s easy to make the most of the 430 litres of space on offer, while the fold flat rear seats make it easy to load longer items, should you find yourself at a certain Swedish flat pack furniture store, for example. There are also plenty of storage spots throughout the cabin to keep loose items, too.

The interior is somewhat let down by its design and technology, though. It’s well put together and should hold up to a tough family life, but it looked dull and dated even when new, so hasn’t stood the test of time particularly well. This is particularly true of the infotainment, which is pretty small even with the larger 7.0-inch unit, while the graphics are decidedly old school.

Want something a bit smarter? The Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan and Peugeot 3008 all feel a bit fancier inside. And if you need seven seats the Nissan X-Trail would be a better starting point, as this option was not carried over from the first generation Qashqai, which had a Qashqai+2 seven-seater.

Despite its SUV shape the Qashqai is pretty easy to drive around town, thanks to good visibility that helps to shrink its size around you. The driver assistance tech on offer also helps on trims that have it, making it easier to park in tight spots in particular.

It’s one of the most comfortable family SUVs too, both in town and out on the open road. The suspension does a good job of ironing out poorly maintained roads, and even larger potholes won’t make the whole car judder.

In 2018, ProPilot was launched for the Qashqai. Available as an extra on Tekna and Tekna+ at first, before rolling out to all trims with automatic gearboxes in 2019, it’s essentially an advanced cruise control system. It can keep the car in lane, and speed up and slow down in traffic – all you have to do is keep your hands on the wheel.

While the Nissan Qashqai has won plenty of awards for being a value for money, practical family SUV, it hasn’t proved to be particularly reliable. Early cars in particular have scored poorly in owner satisfaction surveys, and although reviews improved after the 2017 facelift, it’s still far from the top of the table. It seems there’s little difference between petrol and diesel engines, either.

On 2014-2016 cars there were problems with faulty batteries that needed replacing regularly. When buying a car from this period, check through the service history for any sign that this is the case.

The 1.2-litre petrol engine does have a tendency to use more oil that you’d expect, so plan to add this to your running costs. Meanwhile, the parking sensors have a tendency to let water in, which can make them beep when they shouldn’t and not beep when they should, so be sure to test them if looking at a car with them fitted.

Finally, the air conditioning unit can require re-gassing more often than is typical, which isn’t particularly cheap, so give that a blast when testing a potential purchase.

Recalls are a result of a car manufacturer or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) spotting an issue. They’re pretty common and can be for anything from a minor electrical issue to a major mechanical fault.

They should have been remedied already, at cost to the car maker, but you can check with your local dealer to find out if your car has anything outstanding.

You can read more about recalls in this handy guide, or continue reading to see what affects the second-generation Nissan Qashqai.

A recall affecting nearly 30,000 Nissan models, including Qashqais built between September 2015 and March 2018, related to child lock door switches that could fail.

Another issue affected over 10,000 cars built between June and November 2018. This saw a radiator part replaced as it was susceptible to failure.

Over 25,000 cars built between September 2013 and May 2016 could see the rear wheel arch rub on a brake hose at high speed. In extreme cases this could wear a hole in the hose and cause brake fluid to leak.

About 7,000 Nissans built between April 2014 and May 2016 could see the rear oxygen sensor fail and the driver not receive a warning. Reprogramming the software would fix the issue.

One of the key recalls for the Qashqai affects over 40,000 cars built between July 2013 and October 2014. Cars fitted with a tow bar could see this detach as the bolts are likely to come loose, so a replacement should have been fitted.

All of these issues should have been fixed by the time you’re looking at a prospective purchase, but just make sure that’s actually the case.

Safety and security

The second-generation Nissan Qashqai was tested by Euro NCAP when it went on sale in 2014 and received the full five stars. It scored 88% for adult occupant protection and 83% for children.

There are various driver assistance technologies in the Qashqai, with the highlights included in a Safety Shield package. This includes automatic emergency braking, driver attention alert, lane departure warning, blind spot warning and more.

Those who want semi-autonomous driving tech can find ProPilot in some cars built from 2018. This makes long motorway journeys less taxing, but still requires hands on the steering wheel at all times.

The family SUV market is one of the most hotly contested in the industry. That’s good news for buyers, because it means there are a huge variety of cars to choose from a wide range of car manufacturers.

The Kia Sportage is a great value option, and the seven-year warranty that came when new is transferred to new owners, too, so you benefit from any years left.

Mazda’s CX-5 has a stylish appearance and a smart cabin, as well as being good to drive, while the Ford Kuga represents great value for money and shouldn’t be too costly if you need to repair it.

Opt for the Renault Kadjar and you have a mechanically similar SUV to the Qashqai as Renault and Nissan are closely related, but you typically get more for your money with the Renault on the used market. Other options include the Toyota RAV4, SEAT Ateca, Peugeot 3008 and Honda CR-V, while the Volkswagen Tiguan is a slightly more upmarket option.

Looking to buy a used Nissan Qashqai? You can check out the latest stock from a network of trusted dealers right here on carwow. And if you need to sell your old car first, we can help with that too.