If the Qashqai exceeds all expectations of its dynamic behaviour, so does it equally fail to live up to its billing as a family car.
Anyone hoping it will work as a compact MPV is in for a shock. There is a lot of stowage space on board, from a vast, cooled glovebox to a lidded bin between the seats, but if only Nissan had paid as much attention to its occupants as their accessories.
Put bluntly, there’s not enough room on board and little effort has been made to make the most of what there is. Those in the front will be comfortable, but you won’t need to be freakishly tall to find the rear cabin less than generous with legroom and headroom. These issues are exacerbated by the fact that the rear seat doesn’t slide, recline or tumble.
The boot area is well-shaped and larger than average for the class, but thanks to that raised ride height, it also requires you to lift your luggage a long way before you can drop it in the boot.
Also, the interior sets no new standards either for ambience or quality. The shiny black dash materials look cheap and hard (though if you give them a prod they do actually have a soft finish), the dials are unimaginative and some of the switchgear, while reasonably clearly arranged, is fiddly.
Those wondering which grade of Qashqai to buy should steer towards this Acenta model. You can have the up-spec Tekna for an extra £1500, but as all that will buy you is full leather, bum warmers and a big sunroof, it’s hard to see the point. But if instead you save £1500 and go for the base Visia, you’re going to miss properly useful items like the Acenta’s automatic lights and wipers, parking sensors, climate and cruise control and a six-CD autochanger.
All Qashqais come with six airbags and Bluetooth connectivity. Fans of two-pedal transmissions can choose between a conventional six-speed auto for the 2.0-litre diesel or a continuously variable CVT for the 2.0-litre petrol. Both are £1100 options.