Nissan QASHQAI hatchback

Drive

The Qashqai's suspension is set up for comfort. The chunky tyres and a soft ride mean that it easily absorbs bumps and rough roads, but the steering isn't quite as accurate as that of rival hatchbacks like the Ford Focus. That said, the Qashqai is easy to drive around town and the light steering makes it easy to manoeuvre into parking spaces. Four-wheel-drive versions can cope with light off-road work, but they're not really designed for tackling mountains – Nissan offers the Pathfinder for that!

Comfort

There's plenty of room in the cabin and the well-designed seats make the Qashqai one of the most comfortable family cars available. The tall suspension ensures that the car is very easy to get in and out of – the seat squab is at hip height, so you can simply slide behind the wheel. A panoramic glass roof is optional on Acenta models and it's standard on Tekna and n-tec models. This lets loads of light into the interior and makes it a pleasant place to sit. Road and wind noise are acceptable, so the car makes a good long-distance cruiser.

Reliability

Nissan has a strong reputation for reliability, and the build quality inside the Qashqai is excellent, so you can buy with confidence. However, the model has been subject to several recalls in the past for problems with the steering, stalling engines and fuel leaks. All cars get traction control and front, passenger and side airbags.

Practicality

The 410-litre boot is larger than that of most family hatchbacks like the Ford Focus, which has a 385-litre boot, but it's trumped by the likes of the Honda Civic hatchback (485 litres) and the Hyundai ix35 crossover with 591 litres. The boot itself is wide and long, so loading is easy. Like most conventional hatchbacks, the rear seats fold down and split 60/40. 

Value for money

The Qashqai's list prices are very competitive, so it's excellent value for money - and a genuine alternative to more obvious family hatchbacks like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. The only downside is the Qashqai's huge popularity, which means that it's a common sight on our roads. This will have a negative impact on how much you’ll get for your car when you come to sell it on, too.

Running costs

The 1.5 dCi diesels are very cheap to run - the cleanest and most efficient version is the Pure Drive, which averages 57.6mpg, although you’ll pay a premium for this model. The standard car with the same engine can still muster 55.3mpg, though. Even the thirstiest 2.0-litre petrol engines still return fuel economy in the late thirties, which is competitive with most rivals.