Should you buy a used Nissan Qashqai Mk2?

If you’re looking for the best value from a used family SUV, the Nissan Qashqai Mk2 is a very safe choice as long as you go for a later model. While the original Qashqai brought something original and fairly unique in the UK, the second generation found itself surrounded by competing models from almost every brand. The popularity of the current, third generation Qashqai proves that Nissan got the Mk2 right, and owners retained their trust in the brand.

It may not be outstanding in any one area, but cleverly achieves high scores in virtually every discipline, making it tricky to overlook – especially at such tempting prices. For us, the sweet spot in the range is the Tekna trim paired with the DIG-T 140 petrol engine. If you cover the kind of annual mileage that warrants going for a diesel, it’s worth paying extra for the 1.7-litre dCi 150 in front-wheel drive form. For towing, the 4×4 model is very capable for a car that’s so easy to live with and cheap to buy, but there are better options if you need to pull heavy loads regularly.

For the Qashqai, its biggest headache is that the Kia Sportage, Peugeot 3008 and Skoda Karoq do most things just that little bit better – and the Ford Kuga set a strong benchmark for this generation. We’d start by test driving a few Kugas within your budget and then seeing if newer, lower-mileage Qashqais suit your needs better.

What we like

Later 1.3-litre engines are punchy, refined, and reliable. 4×4 is sophisticated, but not difficult to maintain. DCT gearbox is a good choice for automatic drivers. Undeniably good passenger space, trim shrugs off the attenion of younger passengers.

What we don’t like

Feels dated inside despite some clever tech, rather dull image and driving experience, potential weakness of 1.2-litre engines is at odds with Nissan’s reputation. A slightly older Skoda, Audi or Volvo will feel like it gives more of a feel-good, luxury experience for the money when buying used, and could be just as reliable.