Overview

So common a sight on Britain’s roads is the Nissan Qashqai that most people can picture what it looks like as soon as its name is mentioned. Its success is down to focusing on family car values, winning buyers by being inexpensive to run, well-equipped and reliable.

The Qashqai Mk2 is a significant leap forward if you’re considering replacing your original Qashqai with a used car, and there’s plenty of stock available from main dealers and independent showrooms and traders. The second-generation Nissan Qashqai went out of production in 2020, so the last ones sold will be reaching the end of PCP deals with figures locked in before inflation, so it’s worth looking at private adverts or listening when a friend or colleague mentions selling theirs when the deal ends.

Though the Nissan Qashqai wasn’t the first small family SUV to launch back in 2007, its affordable, accessible nature helped to define and popularise the genre. With more interior space and a commanding driving position closer to that of a 4×4 than popular, traditional hatchbacks like the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf it’s easy to see why families love the Qashqai. The SUV has taken over from the previous family favourites – van-like compact MPVs such as the Renault Scenic.

Nissan Qashqai Mk2 buying guide

Most Qashqais were sold with big discounts new, and have had a fairly hard life – though the last ones may have been given something of a reprieve during the pandemic and changing habits of families and drivers. Early ones could feel rather older than rivals of a similar age.

In 2017, Nissan gave the Qashqai Mk2 an extensive facelift with a sharper look and an interior that felt slightly higher quality, too. Higher-spec N-Connecta, Tekna and Tekna+ models are generously equipped. All models have plenty of sound deadening material meaning it’s a quiet place to be, with a relaxed feel on the move. 

Pre-faclift petrol engines include 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged DIG-T with 115hp or 163hp respectively. Post-facelift these were replaced with a single 1.3-litre DIG-T option offering 140hp or 160hp. Automatic transmissions are either CVT or seven-speed DCT. If you prefer diesel power, there’s a familiar 1.5-litre dCi with 115hp, which is the most economical option for the Qashqai. There’s also a 1.7-litre dCi diesel with 150hp that replaced a 130hp 1.6-litre motor in 2019; the larger diesel options are the only ones that offer 4×4.

Nissan Qashqai Mk2 known faults and common problems

Nissan’s reputation for reliability is not entirely deserved where the Qashqai is concerned, though a lot of those problems are down to technology sharing. All Qashqai Mk2 engines use a timing chain and servicing is relatively straightforward. Due to the complexity and modern levels of tech in this Nissan, we would recommend buying or borrowing a diagnostic scan tool before looking at used Nissan Qashqai Mk2s.

Before viewing any car check the MOT history online. This will also show if any missed recalls are recorded.

1. 1.2-litre DIG-T petrol engine

This is a small four-cylinder engine with a lot of car – and people – to move. Even so there’s little to excuse how woefully bad it is. Failures as early as 30,000 miles are not unknown and many owners reported issues by 50,000 miles with full service history.

Oil consumption due to incorrectly specified parts is the main problem: if the owner has let the engine run low then the timing chain will also fail as it’s tensioned by oil pressure, and the plugs get fouled up causing misfires.

This tendency to use oil also means an older higher-mileage car has probably fouled the catalytic convertor, so expect premature failure of the emissions system. If you really want a 1.2-litre Qashqai, check the oil level before driving and start the car from cold with the bonnet open, listening carefully for rattles or chattering.

2. 1.5-litre dCi diesel

The sensible choice for most Qashqai buyers, the 1.5-litre diesel is based on a four-cylinder dating back to 2001 and updated steadily. It meets Euro 6 for ULEZ in 2017-on Qashqais, for older models check the registration on the TfL website. As long as it has been serviced regularly this is a generally reliable engine, but in common with most diesels of the era can incur large bills for failure of the emissions system (particularly on cars used for short trips) and dual-mass flywheel.

Cars sold from August 2018 have an AdBlue system, which introduces a couple of additional failure points such as NOx sensors in the exhaust, level sensors and counter reset issues after refilling.

3. 1.6-litre and 1.7-litre diesel Qashqais – the 4×4 option

Another engine shared with Renault, the R9M 16-valve four-cylinder turbo diesel offers 150hp, with the 1.7-litre primarily worth having for WLTP emissions. It’s trouble-free for most owners well into high mileages and as long as the emissions system is in good health it’s a safe purchase, if a little unrefined.

As with the 1.5-litre, the AdBlue system introduced to improve emissions on the final models is the biggest cause of problems.

4. Facelift Qashqai Mk2 1.3-litre DIG-T

Available with 140hp and 160hp outputs the four-cylinder 1.3-litre turbo is shared with Mercedes-Benz models including the A-Class, as well as the Qashqai’s in-house rivals the Renault Kadjar and Dacia Duster. It is not as prone to oil consumption and failure as the 1.2, but the timing chain tensioner and overall sensitivity to oil level and condition remains.

5. Stop-start system

In common with many low-CO2 cars of this period the Qashqai has a stop-start system in the low emission versions. This should shut the engine off at lights or when stopped, and restart instantly when you need to drive. It can be disabled by the driver, and the car may choose to leave the engine running if it’s cold, lots of accessories are running, or there’s a problem elsewhere.

Most faults will show on the dashboard. However, a car that behaves oddly may need a new battery, which must be of the right AGM type and if of a different capacity, needs to be coded to the car’s ECU.

6. CVT gearbox – Xtronic

Believe it or not, there’s a mid-2010s automatic car that still has a transmission dipstick. It’s fiddly to get to, lower down near the battery, but when checking out a used Qashqai with a CVT gearbox, you can check the oil colour and smell; it should be free of black, burned deposits. Proper Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid is green, but loses its dye over time. If it is dark or thick, or looks metallic, avoid that car. Look for leaks underneath and check the condition of the cooler hoses.

Make sure the dipstick is properly clicked into place before driving. Many Qashqais were bought as towing vehicles – as long as the gearbox is serviced regularly, problems are rare.

7. Seven-speed automatic – DCT

Later Qashqais may feature a dual-clutch automatic. This efficient seven-speed gearbox is a Getrag design and is shared with Renault (EDC) and Mercedes (7G-Tronic in smaller cars). It can suffer from judder when taking up drive, and regular fluid changes are essential.

8. Safety and entertainment technology – ProPilot and gadgets

Some Qashqais from 2018-on benefit from a suite of driver assistance and safety systems dubbed ProPilot. It comes with adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist (on automatic cars) as well as blindspot monitoring and intelligent lane keep assist systems to keep you in the middle of your lane without straying across the lines.

Windscreen replacement can mess up the calibration, and steering, suspension and tyre wear may make it feel off. The most important thing is to make sure your test drive allows for checking the system works before you take the car.

9. Bodywork and trim issues

Early models suffer from rust on sills and poor paint quality, and rust on subframes is not uncommon. Check any car fitted with a towbar carefully, including the type of wiring used. Windscreens and panoramic sunroofs have been known to crack if caught on the edge by stones.

10. Nissan’s 4×4 system

The large number of FWD Qashqais makes it easy to overlook one of the original defining characteristics of an SUV – 4×4. The larger diesel models are available with all-wheel drive, and it’s a reasonably good system for snow and mild off-road driving with the ability to lock in 4WD or 2WD, or let the car switch according to traction. Lock mode disconnects over 30mph and on sharp turns.

Check the service history for differential and gearbox fluid changes, and look for good, matching tyres with even wear as a sign of good maintenance. When driving listen for any unusual noises, such as grumbling or rattling when coasting.

If you can, get the car onto a loose surface like mud or wet grass for the test drive. That’s the best place to check the 4×4 is working – but the car’s dashboard will report any faults usually. The ABS system can cause issues with 4×4, as it’s needed to act as an electronic differential lock.

What’s the Nissan Qashqai Mk2 like to live with?

Should the Qashqai be your default used family car choice? Over the next few pages, we’ll review each aspect of the 2014-2021 Nissan Qashqai Mk2, taking into account its practicality, comfort, fuel economy and performance. If you’re short on time, you can also skip to our verdict page to see if we recommend the Nissan Qashqai as a good used car.