Used Nissan Qashqai 2021-present review

As a family SUV that's often dubbed the 'cashcow' due to its sales success, the Nissan Qashqai needs little to no introduction. Getting started, all you need to know is that this review focuses on the latest (and arguably greatest) generation.

Two 1.3-litre petrol engines (138bhp or 156bhp) kick off the range, and both have a little bit of mild hybrid assistance. They're followed by the e-Power engine, which looks to blur the lines between petrol and electric cars.

How so? Well, the e-Power setup is unusual because its 187bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine doesn't actually drive the wheels. It powers a generator, producing electricity that's sent to a motor that propels the car along. The 0-62mph sprint takes a swift 7.9sec, beating the 138bhp petrol's 10.1sec effort and the 156bhp's 9.5sec result.

• Looking for an older car? Read our 2014-2021 Qashqai and 2007-2013 Qashqai used buying guides

The two petrols are a bit languid if the revs are below about 1500rpm, so there’s a pause between pressing the accelerator and any acceleration arriving. They’ll still get you to motorway speeds capably if you drop a gear or two and put the pedal to the metal. The e-Power car is the one to go for if performance is a priority, not only because it's the quickest to 60mph, but also because its electric power is instantaneous.

The entry-level trim is named Visia. From new, it gets a 7in infotainment system, front and rear LED lights, adaptive cruise control and rear parking sensors as standard. The trim that follows is Acenta Premium, which gains 17in alloy wheels, 8in infotainment with built-in sat-nav and wired smartphone mirroring, rear-view camera and dual-zone air conditioning.

N-Connecta models have 18in wheels, as well as privacy glass and front parking sensors. The infotainment system also grows to 9in and gains wireless Apple CarPlay. Towards the top end, we have Tekna and its standard-from-new 10.8in digital instrument cluster. It will get you adaptive LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, and wireless phone-charging. It also features 19in wheels.

The most luxurious trim, Tekna+, ups that to 20in wheels. It has quilted leather front seats with a massage function and gets an uprated Bose sound system.

Keep those wheel sizes in mind, by the way, because they have a big impact on ride comfort. On the 18in ones, you shouldn't have many complaints. The suspension deals with scruffy surfaces at low speeds very well.

However, if having the utmost comfort is important to you, we’d suggest avoiding the 19in and 20in wheels. With those larger wheels fitted, the Qashqai doesn't smooth over bumps particularly well, leading to some fidgeting on faster roads.

We should add that if you opt for a Tekna+ car or any four-wheel-drive version, you get more sophisticated suspension that helps to mitigate the effect of larger wheels.

On twisty roads, we were left craving a slightly better sense of connection with the front wheels for added confidence. That would be helped by a bit more initial steering weight and the wheel returning naturally to centre more positively on the way out of faster corners. The light steering works well around town, though.

While there's more body lean than some rivals have to deal with, the Qashqai isn't wallowy. Plus, there's a healthy reserve of grip to depend on.

Inside, the driving position is superb. The driver's seat is plush and it lines up well with the pedals and the height and reach adjustable steering wheel. You feel as though you’re sitting higher up from the road than you do in a conventional hatchback, and even some SUV rivals. The dashboard includes chunky controls for the air conditioning that are easy to find while you’re driving.

Infotainment isn’t a strength of the Qashqai, but neither is it a reason not to buy one. As with other Nissans the graphics look as though they could be from an old arcade game – especially the sat-nav maps – and the operating system isn’t the most intuitive or responsive.

On the other hand, interior build quality feels strong. Stitched faux-leather panels on the dashboard and doors give the ambience a welcome lift, while most of the knobs, buttons and switches on the dashboard feel well-engineered.

There’s decent space for adults in the front, with more than enough head room for six-footers to sit in comfort. The rear seats are reasonably roomy by class standards. There's good head room (especially if you avoid versions with a panoramic roof) and a fair amount of knee room for the two outer passengers. A couple of six-footers will fit just fine.

The Nissan Qashqai boot will take a handy tally of seven carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf. For the class, this is slightly subpar, but not by much.

If you're interested in finding a used Qashqai or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

At the time of writing, you'll need a budget of at least £22,000 to buy a 2021 or 2022 Qashqai. Unfortunately, used 2023 and e-Power cars are about as expensive as new ones right now.

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MPG

The 138bhp or 156bhp petrol engines share the same official 44.8mpg average. The e-Power variant raises that figure to 53.3mpg.

Road tax

Currently, you'll pay £180 per year for a petrol car and £170 for a hybrid one.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups range from 12 to 26. Nissan sells fixed price service plans, starting at £459 (and that includes two services).

Entry-level trims are stingy on kit, so we'd seek out a mid-range N-Connecta car. The 138bhp petrol engine is your cheapest option and we believe it's the one to choose. You only get a minor bump in pace with the 157bhp unit and, as we've mentioned, the e-Power variant is currently too expensive to be our go-to.

Our favourite Nissan Qashqai: N-Connecta 1.3 DIG-T 140

Key rivals include the smart Peugeot 3008, the fun-to-drive Seat Ateca and the generally excellent Kia Sportage and Skoda Karoq. If you fancy something of a similar size yet of a more premium nature, consider the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40.

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If you're interested in finding a used Qashqai or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.