Overview

You’re asked to picture in your mind a typical family car – we’d wager you’d visualise a Nissan Qashqai. Back in 2006, the original version was launched and revolutionised its market sector. In a stroke, it rendered traditional hatchbacks obsolete by replacing them with a ruggedised crossover that we all know and love today as the family SUV.

Since then, buyers flocked to the Qashqai in droves and rivals raced to launch their own facsimiles. Meanwhile, four million Qashqais have been sold in more than 100 countries worldwide, everyone has a Qashqai clone out, and the SUV has become the default style of family car – and deservedly, Nissan’s entrant still jostles for the top spot in the UK’s new car sales charts.

Because the Qashqai no longer has the market to itself, Nissan’s working hard to keep it looking attractive. The firm facelifted the car in 2024, reworking its styling, updating its interior and revamping its tech to keep it competitive with newer rivals such as Volkswagen Tiguan and Renault Austral.

The current Qashqai is available with a choice of three engines – a 1.3-litre four-cylinder mild hybrid petrol engine with either 140hp or 158hp or Nissan’s unusual E-Power hybrid system. This latter powertrain uses a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine solely as a generator to produce power for an electric motor that drives the car.

Mild hybrid Qashqais are available with either a manual or automatic gearbox, with the latter being optionally available with four-wheel drive. The E-Power system is automatic only, as it operates essentially like an electric car.

The Qashqai is available in five specifications, starting with the Acenta Premium. Prices start from £30,135, for which you get 17-inch alloys, black cloth upholstery, two-zone air conditioning, a 12.3-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The range walks through Nissan’s N-Connecta, N-Design and Tekna specifications before arriving at the flagship Tekna+. The upgrades include 20-inch alloy wheels, massaging front seats, a 10-speaker Bose stereo and more sophisticated multi-link suspension at the rear.

Over the next few pages, we’ll review each aspect of the Nissan Qashqai, breaking down its practicality, interior quality, technology, driving experience and running costs before offering our final verdict on the car. If you’re curious about how reached our verdict, make sure to check out our how we test cars explainer page for a rundown of our process.

Watch our Nissan Qashqai video review