Nissan Qashai (Nissan Qashqai)

Member Name: tanyatigerlily

Product:	Nissan Qashqai
Date:	21/08/09 (274 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent features for the price

Disadvantages: Text traffic updates on the Sat Nav

My husband and I are currently deciding which car to buy to replace his beloved Mini Cooper as we are planning to start a family soon and need a car which is better suited to a family's needs. We have test-driven numerous cars and I have a lot to say about all of them. I will be focussing mainly on telling you about the features and specifications that I am looking for in a family car i.e. space, comfort and the little added luxuries which make life a bit easier.

This review is about the attractive Nissan Qashqai. Both my husband and I found this small SUV to be very comfortable to drive, and an added bonus is that you have the option of buying a 2WD instead of the usual 4WD. As we are living in London it makes sense to buy a 2WD as its fuel consumption is better and it is better for the environment.

The Qashqai has 2 features which make it stand out above its competitors 1) the HUGE panoramic sunroof 2) it has the most comfortable seats of any of the cars that we have test-driven. The Qashqai has a good balance between absorbing all the bumps in the road and having a firm car-like feel. It also has a lovely dashboard with dials and buttons that have a solid feel about them. Consider buying the Qashqai + 2 if you should you feel that you need more luggage capacity, or need the option of 2 extra seats.

What I like about all the models:
* Flat loading bay for boot (easy to get a push chair in and out!) with luggage capacity of 410 Litres.
* Plenty of legroom in the rear.
* High driving position.
* Solidly built with good quality materials.
* Plenty of airbags for driver and passengers
* Big mirrors with good visibility all round
* Additional under-floor storage.

The model I chose is the manual Qashqai 2.0 dCi n-tech 2WD with the following additional features:
* Nissan Connect Satellite Navigation and audio system
* Reversing camera
* Dual zone climate control
* Bluetooth connectivity
* Fuel consumption is 42.8 MPG combined, carbon emissions 174

I only have 1 negative feature to mention and this regards the Sat Nav system. It works well as a Sat Nav, but the traffic updates are displayed as text (which you need to hunt around for) and will not automatically reroute you around traffic jams.

I can highly recommend the Qashqai as it is 1 of the top 2 choices on our car list. Its price is also very reasonable compared to its competitors and the on-the-road price for the Qashqai 2.0 dCi n-tech 2WD is £20 700.

Summary: A great buy for those who like an elevated driving position

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