[AD] Nissan Qashqai review: is it the right family car for you?

I was loaned a Nissan Qashqai to try out the purpose of this review, but was not compensated financially. As always all opinions are my own.

I’ve driven several Nissan Qashqais and have always had a soft spot for them. My mother has had several over the last 10 years or so, and when we were road-tripping around the USA we basically lived in a Qashqai for six months.

So when Nissan got in touch to see if I wanted to try out their new model, I quickly said yes – it would be perfect for our small family to use during October half-term. As it happened though, we ended up having to self-isolate over the half term, so we weren’t able to use the car at all. Luckily Nissan were very flexible, and gave me another go at test-driving it, and this time we made it count!

First impressions

Looks-wise the new Qashqai hasn’t changed dramatically from earlier models. It’s still bigger than a regular car but not as cumbersome as an SUV – I think it’s a good solution for families looking for a car that works for both the city and country. And I speak as someone who has negotiated a Qashqai around the narrow streets of Lisbon many times without incident. The car has nice, clean lines without any super quirky features that I often find off-putting.

On the inside

I find the Qashqai a very comfortable car to drive. It’s spacious enough for a family (without feeling like a spaceship!) and the boot size is excellent considering the overall car size. The car we tested had stylish leather seats, in dark grey with matching colour stitching. The speakers were Bose and the sound quality was fantastic. It would have been perfect if had been someone else except my 9-year old choosing the music.

The dashboard has had a big makeover since I last drove a Qashqai – there were improved dashboard controls and safety features (such as 4-camera sensors), sturdy and quality wheel controls and a touch-screen. It took about 10 minutes to master everything and then we were off to the forest for a photoshoot!

How does the Nissan Qashqai drive?

The drive is where I found the biggest improvement – it’s miles ahead of previous models – much quieter and smoother with heightened road awareness in the dashboard, and you just feel very safe and in control. I really like that when you drive a Qashqai you’re basically in a car, but with great visibility thanks to its height, and the space you’ll find in bigger vehicles.

Is the Nissan Qashqai a good family car?

I’m probably a bit biased as I’ve driven them so much in the past, and have always really liked them, but I do think it’s a great car for a family of 3-5. In my experience the Qashqai is quite economical, super comfortable and always feels really safe. I really enjoyed the drive, and as always I found it easy to manoeuvre both in winding and narrow country lanes and in a busy city environment.

Any negatives?

I really like the car’s sense of space, but found that the back was a bit snug. You probably wouldn’t be able to fit in three car-seats, or three older children/adults in the back with enough room. 

Overall

As a driver it was all very comfortable and easy – I like the Qashqai’s simplicity as I personally don’t need my car to look like a spaceship and prefer a feel of quality over quirky features. It does everything you’ll need it to do, and does it very well – a safe, spacious and economical family car. I think it’s great for if you want a sturdy car good for the city and day-trips out, but you don’t want one of those massive SUV-type vehicles.