Nissan Qashqai (2007 - 2013) 1.6 (117bhp) 360 5d (2013/63) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

The car has a high European safety rating and as such I think owning it shows I value my own and my family's safety whilst on the road. But it also has a high profile presence on the road and makes me look slightly affluent - which I certainly am not !!

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Family and friends really like the car - I've only ever had favourable comments since owning it.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I'm not sure. The consumption of the 1600cc petrol engine and the price of the annual road tax does put me off slightly from owning another Quashqai. But I would consider another one if Nissan bettered the CO2 emissions (and thus brought down the annual road tax fee) and improved the fuel economy of the 1600cc petrol version.

What are you likely to buy next?

Now having got used to the space and height of ride, I probably would look for another crossover vehicle - the Kia Sportage or similar.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£1,800

When did you buy the car?

August 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

Yes - I believe so. Part exchanged another car in the deal and got top book price for it. I also believe that we got the Quashqai 360 cheaper because the new model was on the cards for 2014 and they wanted to clear their stock of the existing models.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Needed extra room to carry a wheelchair.

What was the dealer like?

Excellent. Could not fault the dealer in any way. No quibble on part exchange price and very good in every respect of the sale.

What's it like to drive?

Feels very solid and safe on the road - gives a good height ride with excellent visibility and positive feel to the steering. But it is underpowered at 1600cc and on a steep incline I've had to drop into first gear on quite a few occasions. But on the level, the car responds well. The engine gets noisier when the revs increase and make it sound like it is struggling a bit. However it is not a sports coupe and is a good 'plodder' which suits my style of driving.

What's it like to park?

The parking is not too bad for such a big car - you are ably assisted by the 360 degree view cameras and dedicated front/rear views. It does have a good turning lock and it can, despite its size, get into tight spaces. Learning to trust the rear view camera and not look over your shoulder when reversing, does take a bit of getting used to.

Have you had any problems with the car?

No. There have been no faults since we have owned it. Now with 2000 miles on the clock and it is still performing flawlessly.

What's most practical about your car?

Practicality for me is the space. I am over 6 foot tall and have no discomfort as a passenger or as the driver. In fact, it is a very comfortable vehicle and also very quiet to ride in. We can have normal conversations at 70mph which was not possible in the previous vehicle we owned.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The Bluetooth link-up to my mobile phone (an Apple IPhone 5) for both ease of hands-free mobile use and also playing back music from the IPhone. And of course, the cruise control which is so easy to set, use and cancel.