Buying a used Nissan QASHQAI (2014-2018)

Unveiled to the world late in 2013, the J11 Series Nissan QASHQAI – pronounced ‘kash kei’ – was within months experiencing unprecedented levels of acceptance in markets ranging from the UK (where our RHD versions are built) to Russia, China and North America.

Australia’s first examples arrived in July 2014, occupying dealership floor space right alongside the older Nissan Dualis, which the QASHQAI replaced.

There were four trim levels based around two powertrains. ST and Ti combined with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and either six-speed manual or continuously variably transmission (CVT), and TS and TL were linked with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel and CVT only.

For a car with the QASHQAI’s space, style and versatility, the equipment levels and pricing were exceptional.

In ST trim with six-speed manual transmission, the 2015 QASHQAI cost just $25,850 plus on-road costs. Features included excellent air-conditioning, an in-dash display screen, music streaming and Bluetooth phone connectivity, plus 17-inch alloy wheels.

Adding CVT to a QASHQAI ST pushed the price to $28,490 plus ORCs.

Jump to a QASHQAI Ti (priced from $32,490 new, or $34,990 for the CVT), or the diesel-powered TS and TL (which started at $33,200 and $37,990 respectively at launch) and the list of inclusions became vastly more extensive without a massive cost increase.

The list of gear in the Ti began with good quality leather seat facings with those up front heated and powered. There was a larger in-dash display than in the QASHQAI ST, and sensors and cameras to provide 360-degree coverage of the vehicle.

The panoramic moonroof was indeed massive and allowed back seat kidlets to stare up and out as an alternative to watching the backs of uncaring adult heads.

The luggage compartment might not have appeared huge but with the seats folded there was more than 1500 litres of load space. It was clever too, with various obvious and hidden storage compartments and, in all except the base model, nifty removeable barriers to stop your stuff sliding about.

The QASHQAI’s power units were nothing new and were shared with other models in the Nissan range. Producing just 106kW, the petrol engine with CVT was under-stressed for its size and missed the mark somewhat in output, especially considering the Hyundai Tucson made 121kW from its 2.0-litre, and the Mazda CX-5 produced 114kW from its comparable petrol engine.

The 96kW/320Nm turbo-diesel powerplant was shared with several Renault models plus Nissan’s own X-TRAIL and showed its spots especially well in the compact QASHQAI. Mid-range response from manual versions was stronger than for the petrol engine, although some turbo lag has been reported by fussy owners.

As a concept, the CVT has been around for over 100 years and was first used by Nissan in 1992. Other manufacturers have helped popularise the system, which uses steel belts and pulleys not conventional gears to maintain consistent power delivery. It is now commonplace in mainstream models.

Nissan and other manufacturers which have adopted CVT as their auto of choice insist that the system keeps the engine in its most efficient rev range relative to road speed and that any change in throttle position will instantly effect a response. 

Safety is a selling point for the QASHQAI and even basic versions came with a full range of airbags plus brake assist and stability control. The QASHQAI Ti/TL adds lane-departure warning, park assist and 360-degree camera coverage.

The entire range qualified via ANCAP tests for a five-star rating.

Disclosure time. For almost five years your correspondent’s garage has been home to a Nissan QASHQAI Ti.

It is my wife’s regular commuter, clocking up around 25,000km annually and remaining stoically reliable. She loves almost everything about it, but does envy people with other brands who can trigger the boot release with a tap of the foot.

I appreciate the comfort, space and overall convenience of the well-designed Ti package but never found sufficient character in the chassis or powertrain to drive it just for the sake of vehicular enjoyment.

For a so-called ‘small’ SUV, the QASHQAI casts quite a significant shadow. At 4.4m long and 1.8m wide, the Nissan is close in size to a Toyota RAV4. It is roomy and comfortable and even when fitted with a huge sunroof, plenty of headroom remains. It is also rated to tow 1200kg, where the 2WD RAV is limited to 800kg.

There the comparison fizzles, of course, because the QASHQAI has no all-wheel drive option and even well-graded gravel roads aren’t its thing. Outrageously large wheels for a car of this kind (19-inch diameter with 45 profile tyres on the Ti) do nothing for ride quality or driver confidence once you venture off smooth bitumen.

Nissan was justifiably proud of its QASHQAI seating and the entire interior attracts favourable comments. Base-model QASHQAI ST seats offer good lateral support and a comfortable shape while making do with cloth trim and manual adjustment.

However, for the fully luxuriant experience you need the heated and electrified leather of a QASHQAI TL or Ti.

Dash design is a matter of taste but for the most part works well. My only major gripe concerns the start button which hides in behind the steering wheel rim.

The steering wheel is pleasant to look at and use, even if the electrically-assisted steering isn’t. The thumb controls are comprehensive, logically positioned and, once learned, make driving a QASHQAI pleasant for most who try one.

If only the QASHQAI Ti and its occupants weren’t constantly hounded by oversensitive sensors and a chorus of Nanny State chimes and buzzers.

These range from irritating to confronting and mostly unnecessary. Proximity warnings are fine when parking but having them go off in slow-moving traffic when something gets a little too close is distracting. So too when coming home late at night, the chiming as you inch closer to the end of your garage becoming strident. So is the (figurative) bellow from the remote key as you lock the doors.

Performance from the petrol engine is decent without being thrilling. Progress in urban-cycle driving is certainly smooth, the transmission unobtrusive to the point of irritation.

Getting the 2.0-litre spinning hard for a rapid overtake is different, requiring anticipation and decent application of throttle to alert the CVT. Diesels with less power but abundant torque (320Nm versus 200Nm in the petrol) would be more adept at dealing with winding and hilly back roads.

Nissan claims average consumption of 6.9L/100km for the CVT petrol version and just 4.9L/100km for the diesel with CVT. You will need a long, straight road with no traffic to duplicate those numbers but the low-8s (petrol) and mid-6s (diesel) achieved in real-world tests are still impressive for a vehicle with this much space and equipment and which weighs about 1500kg.

>> Not too many recalls ordered by Nissan for the QASHQAI, however some 2017 models were affected by an indicator fault alert that was failing to activate. More serious in pre-2016 models was a brake hose rubbing on an inner mudguard that if not rectified could cause loss of hydraulic pressure. Check using the VIN with Nissan or a dealer that both repairs have been completed. 

>> Look at the wheels fitted to QASHQAI Ti and TL versions for kerb damage. With hardly any tyre wall available to deflect the car away from nasty concrete kerbs, the rims on these Nissans can get seriously belted.

>> That huge windscreen allows cars left outside on hot days to fry their interior leather and plastics and deteriorate quickly unless care is taken. Cracked plastic and faded seats rip value out of an otherwise viable QASHQAI.

>> Brake dust covering the front alloys of every second QASHQAI suggests that the replacement pad material might be softer than needs be. Dealers rate this quantity of dust as ‘normal’ but read any comments your pre-purchase vehicle inspector might make under the heading ‘Brakes’.

Used vehicle grading for Nissan QASHQAI
Design & Function: 15/20
Safety: 15/20
Practicality: 15/20
Value for Money: 12/20
Wow Factor: 13/20
Score: 70/100

Also consider: Ford Escape, Subaru XV, Renault Koleos