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Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DiG-T MH Visia 5dr Review

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Best small SUV

Best family car

Best small electric car

Best luxury car

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This is our favourite Qashqai engine because it’s cheaper than the DIG-T 158 and has almost as much low-rev pull, so it's not that much slower (0-62mph takes a respectable 10.2sec). Officially, it averages around 44mpg.


1.3 DiG-T MH

Hatchback

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

QASHQAI

Visia trim is the cheapest option but it's not exceptionally well equipped. It comes with LED headlights, rear parking sensors, manual air conditioning, 17in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a four-speaker stereo and one USB socket. It does come with lots of safety kit, including automatic emergency braking, a driver tiredness alert, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and e-Call emergency response. If you can, jump up a grade to get a better infotainment system and more features. 

Visia

1.3 DiG-T MH Visia 5dr

13-dig-t-mh-visia-5dr

Front seatbelt pretensioners + load limiters

One touch front and rear electric windows with remote opening and closing

Traffic sign recognition with legal speed adjustment

Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors with LED turn indicator

Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai is a strong contender in the family SUV class, although it doesn't quite beat the all-round package offered by the Skoda Karoq and Kia Sportage. We reckon the middle of the range N-Connecta 140 trim is where the best value lies because the cheaper trims (especially Visia) are stingily equipped and range-topping models are rather pricey.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

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Car of the Year Awards 2023 >>

Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DiG-T MH Visia 5dr Review

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