Nissan Qashqai - Silly name, not so silly car (Nissan Qashqai)

Member Name: Wappum2

Product:	Nissan Qashqai
Date:	27/02/09 (240 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great reliability, great looking, great car

Disadvantages: Rear windscreen too small

Are you sitting comfortably, as this may be a long review?

In early 2008 I found out I was expecting for the second time. With us already having the 1 boy, and a pretty large mutt, my tiny 3dr Peugeot 206 started to look impractical - so with the imminent arrival of child number 2, I started to look around for a new car.

My requirements were something small enough for me to manage (I previously wrote off my husband's 4x4 ) whilst being roomy enough inside to fit a family of four with all baggage, buggies and the general rubbish that we seem to drag around with us. So we visited some of the main car dealers - Ford, Peugeot, Vauxhall but I couldn't find anything that matched what I wanted. Then one day I followed a Nissan Qashqai through a set of traffic lights and the love affair began

The Nissan Qashqai (pronounced Cash-Kai) has 3 models - The Visia, the basic entry model, the mid range Acenta and the higher-end Tekna. There's a choice of 1.5 or 2ltr engines and petrol and diesel models are both available and all are 5dr hatchbacks. Prices (for new models) range from £15,000 - £22,000+ dependant on model, spec and any extras that are added on. Obviously buying new means you lose value the minute you drive it off the forecourt, and you can pick up Qashqai's at pretty reasonable prices 2nd hand. Nissan refer to the Qashqai as being a crossover car as you have a slightly higher driving position than the average hatchback

It was awarded the highest possible EuroNCAP crash test rating when reviewed - which with my track record with driving, was an important deciding factor for my husband

I opted for the mid-range Acenta in black with the optional extra of the one-touch panoramic glass roof and paid just over £15,000 which included an 8% reduction on the list price.

I'm only going to review the Acenta - as it's the only model I have driven/owned - if you are interested in the other models, it's worth checking out other reviews.

Key features of the Acenta - (for a full spec list, check the Nissan website)

Rear parking sensor - although these aren't very loud, so I do struggle to hear them if the radio is on

Bluetooth enabled - Fab addition, and available on all 3 models. Very easy to connect your phone to the system (as long as it's Bluetooth enabled) and once set up it's easy to use with a button to answer your phone on the steering wheel.

6 Disc CD system with 6 speakers

Rain sensing wipers/light sensing headlamps

Dashboard computer that can indicate fuel remaining/miles travelled/oil level/temp etc

Electric folding wing-mirrors

Isofix child seat anchors points

Cruise Control - I'm ashamed to admit in the 11 months of having the car, I have never used this feature, and actually wouldn't have any idea of what it does, or how I would use it

Petrol consumption - I usually put in £30 a time which gives around 380 miles, which lasts me a couple of weeks - obviously this fluxuates as petrol prices go up/down. It has an official rating of 50miles to the gallon

It's not the fastest car off the blocks with a 0-60 speed of 10.7secs and a top speed of 109 - but as I'm not a top gear presenter that suits me fine

The looks both of both the interior and exterior are great. From the outside it looks quite bulky - and has a large front grill and big headlights. Body coloured bumpers and side skirts finish it off. Inside - I opted for a black/grey material seat covering, although leather was available. The entertainment system/control system sits dead centre of the dashboard - in a combination of black plastic and chrome. When headlights are on - the entertainment system is backlit in neon orange. The panoramic glass roof means that light pours into the car (when the sun's out) and the kids enjoy looking up out of it for a different perspective when in the car. Just be aware that front seat passengers don't really enjoy the benefit of the glass roof - as its set a little too far back from the front seats.

It also has a huge boot - which is great for us as we have a fairly large mutt, and with a child needing a buggy whenever we venture out, it's nice knowing we can have all that in the boot, plus room for the weekly shop

The main disadvantage of this car is the visibility via the rear window. It's very small, and pretty limiting in showing what is behind - the rear sensors do go some-way in making up for this - but it would be nice to have a larger window. The only other gripe in the trim over the wheel arches - they seem to bulge out slightly - and catch on things. Luckily they clip back in quite easily, but it can be annoying.

All in all, I love this car - in the 11months I've owned it, I still love driving it, and I fully recommend it to anyone in the market for a family car

Summary: I love it

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