Nissan QASHQAI 1.6 Visia 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Qashqai’s 1.6 litre, 4-cylinder, 16V petrol engine develops 115 bhp at 6,000 rpm, while the torque figures stand at 117 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm. This translates into a top speed of 113 mph, while 0-62 mph arrives in 11.9 seconds.

The Qashqai also offers a choice of four other engines. The 104 bhp 1.5 litre diesel is competent, but both this and the 1.6 litre petrol need to be pushed hard. The 1.6 litre diesel is more powerful and refined, and more comfortable with everyday driving. If you are looking for bit more clout, there is a 138 bhp 2.0 litre petrol engine or a 148 bhp 2.0 litre diesel that is available only with an automatic gearbox.

The strong suspension deals easily with bumpy and uneven surfaces, resulting in a smooth and comfortable ride. There is a fair amount of body lean through corners, but the steering offers plenty of feel. The Qashqai is extremely refined, the 1.6 litre petrol engine is very quiet, and wind and road noise are well-isolated even on faster roads.

The dashboard is clear and well-organised. The steering wheel adjusts for both height and reach, and the driver’s seat alters for height and offers good support. The elevated driving position delivers excellent front visibility.

All Qashqais are generously equipped. This entry-level Visia model comes with alloy wheels, four electric windows, electric mirrors, a CD player and Bluetooth connectivity. The Acenta trim offers climate control, a CD changer, parking sensors, cruise control, and automatic headlamps and wipers.

The n-tec cars get sat-nav and a panoramic sunroof. Top of the range Tekna models have full leather upholstery and xenon headlights and a reversing camera. Metallic paint is available at additional cost.

The car features impressive safety kit that includes six airbags, stability control and active front head restraints to reduce whiplash. The car comes with an immobiliser to deter thieves.

Reliability should not be an issue either as Nissan have an impeccable record in this department. The Qashqai finished in the top 40 overall in the 2011 JD Power customer satisfaction survey. The car also comes with a three-year warranty or 60,000 miles

The Qashqai seats four comfortably, but room is tight with five people. The rear headroom does not match some rivals but the boot is large. Boot space figures are 410 litres with the seats up and 860 litres when the seats are down.

The Qashqai is priced at £16,495, which is considerably cheaper than the Volvo XC60 and slightly less than the Peugeot 3008. All Qashqais are well-equipped and this gives buyers good value for money - especially as resale values and reliability is strong.

This model has low running costs and comes under the low-cost road tax band F. It incurs a low insurance premium coming under insurance bracket 17 whilst good fuel economy of 45.6 mpg and respectable green credentials of 144 g/km of carbon dioxide make it an affordable family vehicle.