If you Google the name Qashqai, up pops a wilfully exotic description. Unless I’ve misspelt it, it means “a semi-nomadic Turkic-speaking people living in mountainous Central and Southwest Iran.” To you and me, it’s the family living over the road at number 37. The things are everywhere and a proper success story for Sunderland, UK, where they’ve built the compact crossover SUV since Tony Blair was Prime Minister.
Almost the original of the species, I tested this SV Tech Mild Hybrid which gets a 1.3-litre hybrid petrol engine fitted with, amazingly, a manual gearbox. Remember those? There is also a CVT option available. The front-wheel drive Qashqai’s power output is modest at 138 hp, and it shows when accelerating from a standstill. It takes a disappointing amount of effort to spool up the turbo to reach decent speeds, and the clutch itself felt noticeably heavy. I found this a chore and suggest you choose the CVT option if you’re a family stuck in daily traffic.
Central to my test car’s dilemma was the lack of torque produced. The engine felt strained when I drove up steeper hills from a standstill. On more than one occasion, I had to downshift to first gear at low speeds even though my test vehicle weighed a fairly modest 1,385 kg, and the engine produced what I thought would be a sufficient 270 Nm of torque to eliminate the paucity of low-down grunt. Acceleration is 0–100 kph in 9.2–10.2 seconds.
The manual gearbox is decent, but a shorter throw would be preferable when engaging gears. It felt notchy when changing down from third to second gear. This is why manufacturers are now fitting automatic gearboxes as standard in family crossovers — which often means confined parking spaces and slow, traffic-light-to-traffic-light progress. Buying a new Qashqai? Try both gearbox options before you buy.
There is still much to recommend the Qashqai. It may not be the most spectacular small SUV when parked alongside new Chinese entrants hell-bent on showcasing more dazzling exteriors, but Nissan’s design is coherent and the car’s looks have evolved well over the generations. In the dark grey of my test car, it looks quite handsome since the facelift in 2024 — so top marks to the Nissan design team. The 19” Diamond Cut alloy wheels looked especially smart, but a set of optional Rimblades or Rimsavers would be an absolute must here to keep them unblemished.
The interior gets praise too. It’s business-like and Nissan wisely places all the controls just where they easily fall to hand. The quality has been improved, despite the door cards having a scratchy feel, but all the key areas are well screwed together and appear to be constructed for families — as any crossover SUV has a tough life.
Nissan’s software worked well and the touchscreen’s responses to all physical commands are instantaneous. Parking is aided by the Around View Monitor, and this function greatly helps street parking. Room and versatility are slightly above par, and there are several places for oddments when needed.
As standard, there are several charging ports in the cabin — 2 FR USB-C and 2 RR USB-C ports — with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Even the 12.3” display audio with six speakers sounds good. Too many manufacturers nowadays are installing cheap sound systems that wouldn’t have passed muster 5 years ago.
Nissan’s engineers know the crossover SUV business well. The Qashqai rides comfortably, and while it doesn’t encourage sporty driving, it feels well-engineered and comfortable for families not focused on driving fun. Wind noise suppression is excellent, and the engine is very quiet and requires little effort when tackling long distances. It’s just a shame the 1.3-litre mild hybrid engine let the overall impression down on this test. Otherwise, the Nissan Qashqai is a worthy family crossover SUV.
Rating: 3.5 Stars (CVT may get 4 Stars)
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Mark Gallivan – Motoring Journalist