The Nissan Qashqai has triumphed over two key rivals in a group road test carried out by the respected motoring magazine What Car?
The best-selling crossover was assessed and ranked against a pair of its main competitors – the Mazda CX-5 and Renault Symbioz – and was declared the winner, thanks in no small part to the comprehensive refresh and facelift it received last year.
The writers at What Car? said Qashqai’s strengths include ‘‘effortless performance, hushed cruising manners and a comfortable ride’’. They also mentioned that after its 2024 update, Qashqai had ‘‘sharper looks than before and an upgraded infotainment system’’.
The thorough and in-depth test was published across 12 pages of the April edition of What Car? Extensive facts and figures about each model were included, covering areas such as fuel economy, safety, reliability and much more.
Discussing Qashqai’s ride and handling credentials, What Car? said that although the model on test had a smaller engine than its rivals (1.3 litres), its turbocharger meant it could comfortably hold its own in the acceleration stakes. The magazine added: ‘‘You can easily maintain momentum up an incline or gently build up speed without changing down.’’
Qashqai’s ‘‘supple ride’’ was praised and it was said to be the best of the three cars at dealing with the UK’s scruffy road surfaces, as well as ‘‘soaking up bumps’’.
Turning to infotainment, What Car? drew attention to Qashqai’s Google built-in connectivity, adding: ‘‘Google Assistant voice control can help you out with certain tasks, and built-in Google Maps functionality means you don’t have to use phone mirroring to get it.’’
The magazine said Qashqai impressed when it came to interior quality, thanks to ‘‘an eclectic mix of soft, padded materials and trim finishers to cover the dashboard and doors’’.
And when it came to the all-important issue of price, Nissan’s finest did well again! What Car? said that when compared to its Mazda and Renault rivals, new Qashqai is cheapest to buy outright ‘‘by a significant margin’’ and that it’s also the cheapest to purchase on PCP finance.
Summing up its performance with a series of bullet points, What Car? paid Qashqai the following compliments: ‘‘Supple ride, quietest cruiser, gutsy performance, plus user-friendly dashboard controls.’’
A Nissan spokesperson said: ‘‘Here at Nissan, we know that Qashqai has been top of the class in its segment for some time now – and it’s great that the expert journalists and automotive testers at What Car? magazine are so impressed by the car.
‘‘Qashqai was the pioneer that got the crossover party started almost 20 years ago – it’s the original and still the best, thanks to the ceaseless efforts of our UK-based engineers and designers to keep it bang up-to-date and ahead of the pack.’’