3 minute read
Our cars: Nissan Qashqai
Nissan Qashqai
FINALREPORT Practical SUV is let down by comfort over long distances
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Pete Baiden
Pete _ Baiden@autovia.co.uk @PeteBaiden
MAYBE I’ m just getting old. I am, in fact, now the wrong side of 40, but does that explain why I always feel so tired when I take our Nissan Qashqai on a long journey? I don ’t ache when I get out of bed and I can still keep up with my son when he goes to rugby training, but I’ m often hobbling about like a geriatric and complaining of a stiff back whenever I spend an extended amount of time in the driver ’ s seat.
One of the Nissan ’ s last jobs on our fleet was ferrying the family on a trip to the Forest of Dean for my wife ’ s birthday. It’ s a drive of just under three hours, but really highlighted the car ’ s shortcomings. I find the ride too firm, and the seats a little too uncomfortable. I’ ve tried various different seat positions to try to get it right, but nothing seems to work. Even the massaging seats on our top- spec Tekna+ don ’t do the job, because they feel little better than being kicked in the back by one of the children.
I always think the sign of a good car is finishing a long trip as fresh as when you started it. I once drove an Audi A6 through the night to Wroclaw in Poland. On arrival, I genuinely hopped out without any problems, although I did admittedly stop a few times en route. It was just a lovely car to cruise in, but the Qashqai doesn ’t have that feeling. Now, while the A6 obviously isn ’t a rival, many of the other Auto Express fleet cars I’ ve had, such as the SsangYong Korando and SEAT Tarraco, can be considered as such, and they never left me with an aching back.
But the Forest of Dean trip emphasised what the Qashqai does well, too. It’ s a very practical car. It may not be class leading in any one area, but it’ s not weak in any either. It’ s a good all-rounder and easily has enough space to transport a small family and their luggage. We loaded the boot with bags, coats, shoes and bedding, and there was plenty of extra space if we needed it.
Plus, if we wanted more room we could have taken the false floor out to increase the capacity. In fact, the split-level boot is a great selling point: it’ s useful to have a flat loading area with no lip – especially when having to regularly lift a buggy in and out.
I’ ve mentioned before how much I love the fact the rear doors open to 85 degrees, which means the kids can climb in and out without having to be lifted, and there ’ s
Running costs
35.1mpg (on test) £90 fill-up/£165 or 35% tax
Practicality
Boot (seats up/down) 504/1,441 litres
plenty space in the rear of the cabin so it doesn ’t feel claustrophobic.
But as good as the Qashqai is at coping with family life, most of the things I like can be had on a much lower-spec model. Our Tekna+ is packed with kit, but costs £38,815. That’ s more than £12,000 extra over the £26,045 entry-level Visia, which would ride far better on its smaller 17-inch wheels.
That’ s the problem Nissan has created itself. After spending the best part of a year with the car, I’ ve realised that, by attempting to make it more premium, Nissan has moved the Qashqai away from what it does best. Buyers are not necessarily going to be interested in leather seats that kids will quickly ruin, or large alloy wheels that will be scratched at the first sight of a kerb.
Overall, I think it makes much more sense to save some money and stick to a lower-spec model; it’ll end up being a far better family workhorse.
Talking points
Pete is concerned about kerbing our Qashqai’s 20-inch alloys, but has no complaints about the 504-litre boot that swallows his family’s luggage
