Nissan Qashqai - Boot space, comfort & practicality

Family buyers will be impressed by the practical touches of the Nissan Qashqai. The rear doors open to a full 85 degrees, which means – provided there isn’t a car parked close next to you – that fitting a child seat (and even putting a child into their child seat) is a lot easier. A reversible boot floor with a wipe-clean surface is another useful addition.

The front seats are comfortable and supportive, with all Qashqai models featuring a steering wheel with reach and rake adjustment. Storage in the cabin is quite limited, with the main options being the small glovebox, slim door pockets, a deep cubby under the armrest, and a pair of cup holders in the centre console. There’s also a shelf for your phone that becomes a wireless charging pad in higher spec models.

Dimensions and size

The latest Qashqai is a bigger car than the second-generation model it replaces, at 4,425mm in length, 1,625mm in height, and 1,835mm (2,084mm including mirrors) in width. A 35mm increase in length, and 32mm of extra width mean it’s still a little smaller than a Ford Kuga, but pretty much the same size as a Peugeot 3008.

Seats, leg room, head room & passenger space

The front seats are comfortable, offering good support, and in the rear, a six-foot tall passenger can sit behind a driver of similar dimensions if they don’t mind pushing their knees into the padded seat back a little. Headroom is also manageable, but the middle berth in the back will be a squeeze thanks to the raised seat base cushion and the hump in the floor where your feet need to go. 

During our own tests, we found the Qashqai to have less headroom when compared with the Peugeot 3008 and Hyundai Tucson, nor is it as roomy inside as a Vauxhall Grandland or Skoda Karoq. There's still plenty of space for passengers under six feet, and overall, it’s roomy enough for daily use. However, there’s no question that its rivals are a bit bigger inside. Buyers thinking about adding the panoramic sunroof should also be aware that this further eats into headroom.

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Boot Space

The Nissan Qashqai’s boot space provides a 504-litre maximum capacity that’s still down on the Peugeot 3008, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. In fact, the N-Connecta, Tekna and Premiere Edition versions have a reduced 479-litre boot capacity due to standard fit luggage boards, which separate the boot into individual sections. Still, there's no loss in luggage capacity on the hybrid Qashqai e-Power.

The Qashqai also has a higher boot lip, so buyers will find loading awkward items more of a pain than it should be, while Nissan has missed a trick by not fitting levers in the boot that enable you to quickly fold the rear seats – it is, of course, the little things that make family life just that bit easier. The Nissan trails its rivals with its rear seats down too, with just 1,447 litres available compared to the roughly 1,800 litres you get in a Kia Sportage, Tucson or Karoq.

Towing

The towing capacity of the Qashqai depends on which engine you choose, but all petrol versions should provide enough capability for most buyer's needs. The maximum braked trailer towing capacity ranges from 1,400kg for the front-wheel-drive 138bhp model, to 1,800kg for the more powerful 156bhp version. Don’t pick the e-Power model if you plan to pull a caravan, because it only has 750kg of towing capacity.