Nissan Qashqai review - Practicality, comfort and boot space
There’s a lot to like about the Qashqai’s practicality, but it lags behind some rivals for interior space
Family buyers will be impressed by some of the practical touches Nissan has introduced to the new Qashqai. The rear doors now open to a full 85 degrees, which means fitting a child seat should be an easier task, while a reversible boot floor, with a wipe-clean surface, is a useful addition.
The front seats are comfortable and supportive, with all Qashqai models featuring a multi-function steering wheel with reach and rake adjustment, a front centre armrest, front cupholders and 60:40 split-folding rear seats.
Size
The latest Qashqai is a bigger car than the 2nd-gen model it replaces. A 35mm increase in length, and 32mm of extra width mean that it’s still a little smaller than a Ford Kuga, but pretty much the same size as a Peugeot 3008.
Leg room, head room and passenger space
If you take the improvements made by the third-gen Qashqai in isolation and measure it solely against its predecessor, then it’s a job well done by Nissan. Kneeroom is up 20mm, while Nissan claims occupants should be better off with 28mm of extra shoulder room.
However, during our own test we found the Qashqai to have the worst headroom compared to the Peugeot 3008 and Hyundai Tucson. Buyers considering opting for the panoramic sunroof should be aware that this eats into headroom even further.
Boot
Nissan has clearly worked hard to boost practicality for the Qashqai, with the new car’s boot delivering 49 litres of extra storage space over the outgoing model. But, its 504-litre maximum capacity is still down on the Peugeot 3008 and Hyundai Tucson. 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.
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 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.
Towing
The towing capacity of the Qashqai depends on which engine you choose, but should be enough for most buyer's needs. The maximum braked trailer towing capacity ranges from 1,040kg for the front-wheel-drive 138bhp model, to 1,800kg for the more powerful 156bhp version.
