What is it like to live with?
You have to jump up into this car. I think the extra exertion compared to dropping into a hatchback must trigger an endorphin rush that makes you feel good. Because as you pull away, the cheap feel of the gearshift doesn’t register. What does register is how light, airy and cheery the car feels. You also notice the nice design treatment of the dials and the quality of the dashboard and controls.
Driving around suburbia, speed bumps and surfaces beginning to break-up reveal a Nissan weak spot. The car thumps off the bumps and grumbles over the poor road surfaces. It feels like some components are just not very solid. The more expensive Nissan Navara is the same.
But overall, the QashQai is the definition of a modern family car for people that don’t want an old-fashioned estate or MPV. It is built to a price, but that price is very affordable when new.
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Which one to buy?
There is little resale difference between the price of 4WD and 2WD models. We would recommend choosing the simpler 2WD models unless you really need 4WD. The 2.0 Diesel engine is unrefined and is less sophisticated than the 1.5 diesel unit. It costs between £600 and £1000 more than the smaller unit and is four insurance groups higher.
Choose a 1.5DCi 2WD Qashqai in mid-range Acenta spec if you want a diesel. Also consider the 1.6 petrol. It is often over £1000 cheaper than the 1.5 DCi and nearly £2000 under the value of a 2.0 DCi. Couple this with lower servicing costs, cheaper insurance, 42MPG and lower mileage.
What to pay
The Qashqai depreciates at about 8 to 10% a year until the first year of MOT at three years old where there is drop of 15%. Pay around £12,700 for a three year old Acenta 1.5Dci 2WD with 30,000 miles showing and about £700 to £1000 less for the same car with a 1.6 petrol engine and around half that mileage. A similar 2.0 DCi model will cost an extra £1000.
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What to check
1. Diesel models: Check the service history/mileage and make sure the car is not close to it’s cambelt service at 54,000 miles. Cost £390
2. Test drive the car and make there is with no skipping and jumping from the rear. This could be failure of the rear shock absorbers. Cost £300