The Nissan Qashqai is one of the first cars we think about when someone says ‘family SUV’. - and it’s an excellent example of one. With decent practicality, great driving manners, a sensible interior and a fantastic hybrid engine option, the Qashqai has a lot going for it - even if the boot is a little smaller than alternatives.
The Qashqai is a bit like the Robbie Williams of family SUVs - it’s been around for so long and it’s so mainstream that you forget it’s actually really good. In fact, the Qashqai can be credited with starting the whole craze for family crossover cars back in 2008 - when Nissan debuted the first model as a direct replacement for its Almera hatchback.
It’s such a good family car because, while it doesn’t excel in any particular area, it’s also largely free of anything that will annoy or frustrate you. With a choice of petrol or hybrid engine options, the Qashqai’s alternatives include cars such as the Chery Tiggo 7, Dacia Bigster, Skoda Karoq, MG HS, Kia Sportage and the Citroen C5 Aircross, the latter of which took home the Family Values gong in the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year awards.
The Qashqai makes a good first impression. After a facelift in 2024 it’s genuinely quite eye-catching to look at, with an intricate grille blending seamlessly into super-sharp LED headlights and daytime running lights. All models get alloy wheels and the larger designs are really quite slick, while the rear gets LED taillights as standard.
In the cabin, things are very sensible indeed - and with plenty of physical switchgear, it’s a much friendlier interior (if a bit less high-tech) than a fully touchscreen-driven alternative such as the Jaecoo 7 or VW Tiguan. But that doesn’t mean it’s not up-to-date, as the infotainment screen runs an Android-powered software that means you get native access to Google apps such as Maps and the Google Assistant.
It’s a really nice touch - shared with the Renault Symbioz - that means the Qashqai is almost as easy as using a smartphone. That’s in harsh contrast to some alternatives that have their own, rather poor manufacturer systems - looking at you, MG HS.
