Item: Used Nissan Qashqai 2014 - present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Unlike the first generation of Qashqai, the model reviewed here isn’t available as a +2 seven seater. If that’s what you’re after, you’ll need to look at a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/x-trail/4x4/review/n51">Nissan X-Trail</a> instead.

Or if you prefer to buy a used car with the reassurance of a long manufacturer warranty, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/used-review/n17426">Kia Sportage</a> is an alternative to the Qashqai. It’s not as good to drive as the Nissan, but is spacious and well equipped, and comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty from new. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/used-review/n17892">Hyundai Tucson</a> – with its five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty – is also worth considering for the same reason, although with both of these warranties, it’s worth making sure you’re happy with what’s covered in the later years, as cover can reduce.

The mechanically similar <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/kadjar/hatchback/used-review/n802">Renault Kadjar</a> is another very credible Qashqai rival as well as being slightly cheaper to buy. If you need something that’s more powerful and slightly larger on the inside, have a look at the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/review/n19">Mazda CX-5</a>.

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If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/nissan/qashqai?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Qashqai</a>, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Tow bar might&nbsp;detach</h3>

There’s a risk that the bolted joints fixing the tow bar to the chassis can loosen&nbsp;and in extreme circumstances detach from&nbsp;the car. This issue applies to cars built up until October 2014 that are fitted with the towbar kit.

<h3 dir="ltr">Exhaust oxygen sensor failure</h3>

The rear oxygen sensor can fail due to an electrical short on cars built between 10 April 2014 and 7 May 2016. Also, the ECU might not warn the driver of this failure, so Nissan dealers should reprogram the system to fix this and display a warning symbol.

<h3 dir="ltr">Brake hose wear</h3>

The right rear wheel arch protector on vehicles made up to 23 September 2016 might deform and rub against the right&nbsp;rear brake hose, damaging it in the process and potentially causing a brake fluid leak. Affected vehicles are to have a modified liner fitted.

<h3 dir="ltr">Indicator failure</h3>

The indicator in the door mirror might not operate when the heated rear screen is switched on. This recall applies to Qashqais made between 12 June 2017 and 28 June 2017&nbsp;and requires the indicator connections to be inspected by a dealer and potentially reworked.

<h3 dir="ltr">Incorrect VIN plate</h3>

VIN plates fitted to some Qashqais were labelled with incorrect gross combination weight (GCW) numbers. This recall affects cars with both the manual and CVT gearboxes&nbsp;and requires Nissan dealers to fit new VIN plates with the correct information printed on them.

<h3 dir="ltr">Excessive oil consumption </h3>

Some owners of the 1.2 petrol have found that this engine consumes an excessive amount of oil, so check the dipstick level to make sure it isn’t low. If it is, that could indicate high oil use and potential neglect from the previous owner.

<h3 dir="ltr">Timing chain rattling</h3>

There have been reported problems with rattling timing chains on 1.2-litre petrol models&nbsp;under acceleration. Pay close attention to this on your test drive. We’ve also heard some concerns with the stop/start system not working as it should.

<h3 dir="ltr">Parking sensors</h3>

The parking sensors can stop working or sound when you’re not close to anything as a result of water ingress.

<h3 dir="ltr">Air conditioning </h3>

The air conditioning can need regular regassing, so check that it works when you look at the car. A regas isn’t cheap, because <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/nissan">Nissan</a> uses a more environmentally friendly refrigerant. Compressors can also fail, in which case you’re looking at about £300 for a new one.

<h3 dir="ltr">Reverse gear</h3>

Some four-wheel-drive models can slip out of reverse gear, so check this as part of your test drive.

Unfortunately not, judging by our latest reliability survey. It finished in 24th place out of 25 cars in the family SUV class.

Reliability rating&nbsp;87.0%

Few of the cars we were told about had a higher proportion of faults than the Qashqai, with 40% of them going wrong. The battery and non-engine electrical systems caused the most problems, followed by the brakes, exhaust and interior trim. Most of the stricken cars could still be driven, but more than a quarter spent a week or longer in the garage. On the bright side, four out of five of them were fixed for free and no repair bills topped £300.

Nissan as a brand finished in 27th place out of 31 manufacturers.&nbsp;

If you would like to see the full reliability list for small SUVs, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? reliability survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

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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

The iconic Nissan Qashqai is quiet, comfortable and frugal, but its reliability is questionable

Used Nissan Qashqai 2014 - present

<h3>MPG</h3>

Opt for an early 1.5 diesel and you get great fuel economy – you should see at least 50mpg on average in daily use. The post-facelift 1.5 diesel returns a claimed official 74.3mpg in certain trims, under the old NEDC tests, and 53.3mpg under the later WLTP tests, while the best performing petrol in later cars is the 1.3 140 with 53.2mpg under the NEDC tests and 41.5mpg under the later and more realistic WLTP tests.

<h3>CO2 emissions</h3>

Of the engines available before the tax alterations, the best diesel is the 1.5 which only emits 99g/km. The 1.6 diesel isn't too bad with 120g/km (133g/km with four wheel drive - same as the 1.2 petrol). The worst is the 1.6 petrol at 138g/km.

<h3>Road tax (VED)</h3>

Road tax will vary on anything registered before 1 April 2017 depending upon the amount of CO2 it produces. Anything&nbsp;registered after&nbsp;will incur&nbsp;a flat rate fee, regardless of which engine you go for, because of changes in the road tax system. The current VED rate is £150 a year. To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.&nbsp;

<h3>Servicing</h3>

Minor servicing&nbsp;from Nissan costs&nbsp;£229 for a petrol Qashqai or £269 for a diesel one, while major visits are £309 and £369, respectively.&nbsp;It’s not the cheapest car in terms of servicing (which is required every 12 months), but this is largely offset by Nissan throwing in 12 months' European roadside assistance as part of the deal.

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The iconic Nissan Qashqai is quiet, comfortable and frugal, but its reliability is questionable

The market for this second-generation Qashqai starts at about £5500, for which you’ll be able to buy an early 2014 diesel with plenty of&nbsp;miles on the clock. There are far fewer early petrol examples out there, so most&nbsp;1.2 petrols cost&nbsp;around £6500, but the majority&nbsp;have covered far fewer miles.

Increasing your budget to £8500 will buy you a 2015 Qashqai that’s covered an average mileage for the year. Spend between £9000 and £11,000 and you'll have your choice of top-spec 2016 cars, while you'll need nearer £12,000 for a post-facelift model from 2017 onwards. Look to spend between £12,000 and £15,000 on 2018 cars, and £18,000 to £24,000 on late 2019 and 2020 models.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/nissan">Nissan</a>&nbsp;offered the Qashqai with a choice of front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The vast majority of buyers opted for the former, but if you do want the capability of four-wheel drive, it means spending extra for the more powerful diesel engine with one of the higher trim levels.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">Check the value of a used Nissan Qashqai with What Car? Valuations</a>

&nbsp;

<h3>Specification</h3>

All Qashqais, including entry-level Visia trim, come with air conditioning and a USB socket. However, you should&nbsp;upgrade to Acenta to get dual-zone climate control, alloy wheels and a leather steering wheel.

<h3>Engine</h3>

If you're buying one of the earlier pre-facelift Qashqais&nbsp;we’d recommend the 1.5 diesel, particularly if you regularly drive on the motorway. However, of the later models, we prefer the 1.3 140 petrol engine, which blends smoothness and refinement with reasonable economy.

Our favourite Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 140 Acenta&nbsp;

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<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.

&nbsp;

Family SUV

The Qashqai is a very popular choice with families, so look out for scratches and scrapes where bulky items such as bikes and baby buggies have been lifted in and out of the boot, as well as general wear to the rear seats.

Bear in mind that the 1.5 diesel models will need a new cambelt every five years or 75,000 miles, at a cost of about £500; so if the car you are looking at is approaching this age and/or mileage, make sure it’s been done or factor the equivalent discount into the asking price. All other engines use a timing chain.

While the second-generation Qashqai is not widely known to suffer from diesel particulate filter problems, if choosing a diesel example it’s still worth taking it on a long run once a week in order to minimise the chance of any issues arising.

As evidence of just how highly we rate this second-generation Nissan Qashqai, it was crowned <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/every-what-car-car-of-the-year-winner-2011-20/n18347">What Car? Car of the Year</a> in 2014. Back then, our judges were impressed by the British-built Qashqai’s "low costs and first-class levels of comfort, refinement, space and safety". The good news is that this still holds true as a used buy.

The present Qashqai was heavily facelifted in 2017 and some engine changes adopted in 2018, but the original engine range consisted of 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre diesels, or if you prefer petrol power there was a choice of 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged units. In both cases, the smaller engines were actually preferable both in terms of costs and smoothness. A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/which-type-of-automatic-gearbox-should-i-buy/n17022">CVT automatic gearbox</a>&nbsp;called Xtronic was available on the 1.2 petrol and 1.6 diesel.

That facelift brought in a raft of changes and eventually a new engine line-up. It now kicks off with a 138bhp 1.3-litre petrol unit, and is followed by a 158bhp version of the same engine. On the diesel side, there's a 113bhp 1.5-litre engine, as before. A 148bhp 1.7-litre diesel is due to be introduced in 2019.&nbsp;

Of the trims available on the later cars, entry-level Visia models come with air conditioning and cruise control, but misses out on lots of desirable kit, including alloy wheels.&nbsp; Acenta trim is certainly worth a look, because it adds 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers and various infotainment upgrades.&nbsp;However, we can certainly see why you’d be tempted by N-Connecta, which adds privacy glass, bigger wheels and keyless entry. You get more safety kit, too. Tekna models are&nbsp;pricey and the bigger 19in alloy wheels ruin the ride quality, but it comes with part-leather seats and a panoramic glass roof. Meanwhile, Tekna+ gets you more luxurious nappa leather seats.

On the road, the lower-powered&nbsp;1.3 petrol strikes a happy compromise between smoothness and economy. It's brisk enough in everyday use, and effectively replaces the previous 1.2 and 1.6-litre units, neither of which impressed as they should. The 1.5-litre&nbsp;diesel is gutsy and delivers plenty of poke from low revs, though there is the occasional gruffness to it. The 1.6-litre diesel on the older variants could also be a little gravelly, although there was a noticeable increase in available shove.

The Qashqai was developed on UK roads and you can tell by the way it strikes such a good balance between ride comfort and handling. The steering is responsive, the body doesn’t lean too much in corners and there’s lots of grip, yet the Qashqai also rides bumps and potholes with real composure, particularly if you avoid the largest 19in wheels. It also does a really good job of shutting out wind and road noise.

While newer rivals such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ateca/estate/used-review/n840">Seat Ateca</a>&nbsp;have overtaken it, there’s easily enough room in the boot of the Qashqai for a folded baby buggy, a travel cot and a few overnight bags. Opt for an Acenta version or above and you also get boot dividers that can be used to either segment the load space or raise the boot floor for a flat loading lip. Drop the rear seats and you can fit an adult’s bicycle in, provided you first remove its front wheel.

If you plan on carrying taller passengers, it’s worth choosing a model without the panoramic glass roof, because this eats into head room. That aside, there’s just enough space in the rear for three to sit side by side or for two adults to travel in comfort.

Up front, the Qashqai feels very spacious and has enough storage for odds and ends. What’s more, the quality of the dashboard is a real step up from the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/used-review/n17397">first-generation Qashqai,</a> giving this newer model a classy feel.

The Qashqai’s practical nature is backed up by a full five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, although the restricted rear visibility means it’s worth choosing a model with parking sensors or a reversing camera.

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/nissan/qashqai">used Nissan Qashqai</a>, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Nissan Qashqai 2014 - present review

Our recommendations

Which used Nissan Qashqai hatchback should I buy?

Specification