Used Nissan Qashqai buying guide (2014-present)

July 07, 2017 by carwow staff

The Nissan Qashqai is a great family car thanks to its comfy driving experience, spacious cabin and low running costs. It was facelifted in early 2017, so there are some great deals on used versions.

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What is it?

The Qashqai is a great family car, combining the running costs of a family hatchback with the extra space and lofty driving position of an SUV. It’s comfortable on the road and easy to drive, while optional four-wheel drive brings extra peace of mind if you live in rural areas.

Nissan Qashqai 2017 facelift

A facelifted Qashqai was revealed at the beginning of 2017. The new model featured more angular headlights with LED lighting signatures and a more prominent grille and angular bumper design than the previous model. The interior boasts a redesigned steering wheel with easier-to-use thumb controllers and new graphics for the infotainment system.

What engine should I get?

If you’re planning on covering a lot of miles in your Qashqai, opt for one of the two diesel engines available. The frugal 1.5-litre unit is pleasantly responsive in use and can return up to 70mpg – impressive for an SUV. If you’re after a four-wheel drive or an auto gearbox, these are only available on the more powerful 1.6-litre – even with the auto, it returns an impressive 62mpg.

Those covering medium mileages or who drive more in town will be better suited by 1.2-litre petrol that returns a claimed 48mpg – it’s smooth and fairly hushed in normal driving. The other petrol choice is a more powerful 1.6-litre turbo unit that feels pleasantly strong if not genuinely fast.

Used Nissan Qashqai running costs and insurance

The smaller 1.5-litre diesel only emits 99g/km of CO2 so incurs no road tax if it was registered before April 2017. The Qashqai is relatively inexpensive to service and parts won’t cost as much as some rivals. Insurance will be fairly affordable – entry-level 1.2-litre petrol models equipped with the optional Smart Vision safety pack fall into insurance group 13, mid-range models sit in groups 15-17 and highly specced diesel models sit in groups 19-21.

Should I buy a used or new Nissan Qashqai?

Buying a used Qashqai has its benefits – it’s generally cheaper than buying a new model and, because dealers have stock cars readily available, you can drive away on the same day. There are benefits to picking a new model, however, such as the fact that new cars tend to be offered with better finance packages and that you can pick your exact colour, trim and spec before buying. For more information, check out our explainer of the pros and cons of new vs used cars.

Can I get a pre-reg Nissan Qashqai?

Dealers will have a range of Nissan Qashqais pre-registered and ready-to-go on their forecourts. Models that are pre-registered will have first been registered by the dealer to help them meet their targets and are usually cheaper than an equivalent brand new version. While they’re essentially new cars, you’ll technically be the second owner if you purchase one.

Used Nissan Qashqai problems and what to look out for

Reliability is one of the Qashqai’s strong suits – there has only been one recall in the car’s lifetime to fix an issue with models fitted with a tow bar. Many of the Qashqai’s major components have been tried and tested in a range of other Nissan and Renault products with little fault so should provide years of good service.

A handful of owners have reported the car’s rear shock absorbers failing. Owners describe hearing a rattling noise or the vehicle not moving as it should over bumpy roads so, when test-driving a stock car, listen out for any odd noises coming from the rear – especially when driving over bumpy roads.

Some have reported issues with the engine’s turbo – resulting in a loss of power and worse fuel economy than expected. This issue can be identified by driving the car or by a whistling noise coming from the engine or blue/black smoke coming from the exhaust. If affected, the car’s turbo will need replacing, although this will be covered if your car is still in its warranty period.

Used Nissan Qashqai warranty and servicing

Nissan’s three-year/60,000 warranty begins once the car was first registered and, crucially for used buyers, is transferable between owners so nearly new examples will still have lots of warranty left. Servicing intervals for petrol Qashqais are every 12,400 miles and every 18,600 miles for diesels.

What options should I look out for?

When searching for a used Qashqai, here are a few packages and optional extras to look out for:

Smart Vision Pack – this safety pack adds Traffic Sign Recognition, High Beam Assist – a feature that automatically dims your high beam when it senses oncoming traffic – Lane Departure Warning, Forward Emergency Braking and Front and rear parking sensors
Tech Pack – adds a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sat nav, DAB digital radio and a colour rear-view camera
Comfort Pack – adds a panoramic glass roof and satin silver roof rails
Premium Pack – includes rear privacy glass, 18-inch alloy wheels and electric automatic folding door mirrors
Heat Pack – adds heated front seats and a heated windscreen

Nissan Qashqai history

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