Used Nissan Qashqai long-term test: report 5
For many years, the Qashqai was the go-to car in the family SUV sector. Can a used one convince us it's still worth a look? We've got four months to find out...
The car 2018 Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 140 N-Connecta
Run by Mark Pearson, used cars editor
Why it’s here To find out if buying a used family SUV makes good financial sense, and to see if the venerable Qashqai is still a viable alternative to its younger competitors
Needs to Inject a bit of interest into suburban motoring, and cope admirably with a variety of uses, including daily commuting, motorway journeys, school runs and family life
Price when new £24,000 Price when new with all options £25,025 Value on arrival £19,995 Mileage 5605 Official economy 53.2mpg Test economy 39mpg CO2 emissions 121g/km 0-62mph 10.5sec Top speed 120mph Power 138bhp Insurance group 15E Options Blade Silver metallic paint (£575), Panoramic glass roof (£450)
21 August – It's not how you start, it's how you finish
Working on the principle that a poor workman always blames his tools, I’ve been reluctant to mention a problem I’ve been having with the mega-efficient stop-start system on the Nissan Qashqai. However, when a colleague borrowed the car recently and reported the same findings, it confirmed that I might not be entirely to blame.
You see, there are times in traffic when the stop-start starts to stop just as you’re putting your foot on the clutch in order to move off, and there’s then the agonising delay of those precious seconds while you hold the clutch down waiting for the engine to start again, with the traffic behind you wondering why you’re not moving off.
What’s odd is that I don’t recall having this problem with any of the many other cars I've driven for this job, but my only conclusion can be that it's just a question of unlucky timing. In truth, it’s not a fault of either the car or me, it seems. We’re both just doing what we should be doing, the Qashqai perhaps with more zeal, though.
Interestingly, a recent test we carried out on this very car to analyse the fuel saved by the stop-start system resulted in a saving of just 0.3mpg. With the stop-start on, it managed 49.3mpg; over the exact same mixed-use route without it, it returned 49.0mpg. There is, of course, the option, via a button near the steering wheel, to turn off the stop-start completely, should you find it too intrusive or even not worth the bother
To be fair, though, fuel economy doesn’t seem to be a problem, because the Qashqai is averaging a respectable 39mpg in my hands. Indeed, problems are few, full stop. A recent trip to central London showed off its excellent visibility in traffic, and its surround-view parking camera and reasonable dimensions made finding a parking space in busy Knightsbridge easier than anticipated.
Once the shopping was completed, the Qashqai revealed not only the real ace up its sleeve but also my favourite feature of the whole car. It’s not that the boot is large, well-shaped or easily accessible (although it is all of those things), it’s the usefulness of being able to lift up half the boot floor to act as a solid divider, the resulting panel then acting as a support for your shopping.
Really, the ability to drive home from the supermarket with a half-filled boot without anything falling over as soon as you touch the brake or turn the wheel is to me worth at least 20mph in top speed, or even 10mpg worth of fuel economy. I love it. Well done, Qashqai.
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