Car trim reviews

Nissan Qashqai Visia

The Nissan Qashqai Visia is an outstanding family car and a refreshing alternative to a conventional compact hatchback or SUV.

Owners Rating
Be the first to review

Nissan may now have the Pulsar hatchback to rival the Ford Focus or VW Golf, but fortune favoured the brave when they struck gold with the Qashqai back in 2007. It's about as long and as wide as the Golf, but has the high-riding looks of a 4x4. That means that it has the easy access and commanding driving position of the latter but the fuel economy and emissions of a regular hatchback.

The Visia is the entry level Qashqai, and is offered with a 1.2-litre petrol or 1.5-litre diesel engines. The engines are designed to offer a good balance between performance and economy. All engines are available with stop-start to help improve fuel consumption further, and all Visia models come with Bluetooth connectivity, electric heated door mirrors and a 5" touchscreen monitor as standard.

Good points

Spacious, easy to get in and out of, versatile and comfortable…the Qashqai has all the attributes of a sensible family car that doesn’t cost too much. It’s safe and reliable, too, although there have been a number of recalls in the past. Add a big, rectangular boot and solid build quality, and it’s no wonder it has sold in such numbers and spawned a host of copycat models from other manufacturers.To drive, it’s light, stable, safe and undemanding, with low running costs and respectable fuel consumption. The only worry is that resale values are a bit weak, largely because of the numbers sold. The petrol engines are Nissan’s, while the diesels have been adapted from Renault units.

Bad points

The interior trim, although solid and seemingly unbreakable, is not up to the quality of rivals such as the VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra, and Nissan as a brand, rather than the Qashqai as a car, does not have the most dynamic image. The result is that secondhand values are merely average, not least because of the numbers out there.Given the family connotations this car has, the rear isn't all that spacious in the grand scheme of things. It also doesn't help when rear visibility isn't great either, so we'd recommend speccing the Smart Vision pack which comes with parking sensors to help alleviate the issue.

What you get

  • Folding rear seats
  • Alarm
  • Passenger & Driver airbag
  • Front side airbags
  • Curtain airbags
  • Manual air conditioning
  • Height adjustable driver's seat
  • Front electric windows
  • Single CD player
  • AUX stereo input
  • Rear electric windows
  • Bluetooth

Recommended optional extras

  • Smart Vision pack

Our choice

The 1.2-litre petrol engine is suitable for most needs. The economical 1.5-litre diesel is a good choice if you travel long distances.

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Recommended

New Nissan Qashqai facelift spotted in testing
Nissan Qashqai facelift spy shot
News
3 Aug 2023

New Nissan Qashqai facelift spotted in testing

Nissan Qashqai SUV review
2021 Nissan Qashqai driving along road
In-depth reviews
1 Jun 2023

Nissan Qashqai SUV review

Have You Considered

Hyundai Santa Fe review – the best seven-seater?
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
In-depth reviews
28 Nov 2023

Hyundai Santa Fe review – the best seven-seater?

Renault Scenic review - class-leading range
Renault Scenic
In-depth reviews
28 Nov 2023

Renault Scenic review - class-leading range

Most Popular

New 2024 Porsche Panamera – new looks, interior, and Turbo E-Hybrid model
2024 Porsche Panamera front-quarter static view
News
24 Nov 2023

New 2024 Porsche Panamera – new looks, interior, and Turbo E-Hybrid model

Best new car deals 2023: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
24 Nov 2023

Best new car deals 2023: this week’s top car offers

Toyota Yaris Cross updated for 2024 – new tech, trim and hybrid option
Toyota Yaris Cross static front-quarter view
News
22 Nov 2023

Toyota Yaris Cross updated for 2024 – new tech, trim and hybrid option

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
20 Apr 2023

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
12 Apr 2023

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors 2022
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors 2022

Top 10 best electric cars 2023
The best electric cars 2023
Best cars
15 Nov 2023

Top 10 best electric cars 2023

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2023
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
17 May 2023

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2023

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2023
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
18 Aug 2023

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2023