Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Nissan Qashqai - Boot space, comfort & practicality

There’s a lot to like about the Qashqai’s practicality, but it lags behind some rivals for interior space

Boot space, comfort & practicality rating

3.8

How we review cars
Price
£30,135 - £42,980
Find your Nissan Qashqai
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

Family buyers will be impressed by the practical touches of the Nissan Qashqai. The rear doors open to a full 85 degrees, which means – provided there isn’t a car parked close next to you – that fitting a child seat (and even putting a child into their child seat) is a lot easier. A reversible boot floor with a wipe-clean surface is another useful addition.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The front seats are comfortable and supportive, with all Qashqai models featuring a steering wheel with reach and rake adjustment. Storage in the cabin is quite limited, with the main options being the small glovebox, slim door pockets, a deep cubby under the armrest, and a pair of cup holders in the centre console. There’s also a shelf for your phone that becomes a wireless charging pad in higher spec models.

Dimensions

Length

4,425mm

Width

1,835mm (excluding mirrors)

Height

1,625mm

Number of seats

5

Boot space 

504-1,447 litres (1.3 MHEV), 504-1,440 litres (e-Power), 479-1,422 litres (1.3 MHEV 4WD)

Dimensions and size

The latest Qashqai is a bigger car than the second-generation model it replaces, at 4,425mm in length, 1,625mm in height, and 1,835mm (2,084mm including mirrors) in width. A 35mm increase in length, and 32mm of extra width mean it’s still a little smaller than a Ford Kuga, but pretty much the same size as a Peugeot 3008.

Seats, leg room, head room & passenger space

The front seats are comfortable, offering good support, and in the rear, a six-foot tall passenger can sit behind a driver of similar dimensions if they don’t mind pushing their knees into the padded seat back a little. Headroom is also manageable, but the middle berth in the back will be a squeeze thanks to the raised seat base cushion and the hump in the floor where your feet need to go. 

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

During our own tests, we found the Qashqai to have less headroom when compared with the Peugeot 3008 and Hyundai Tucson, nor is it as roomy inside as a Vauxhall Grandland or Skoda Karoq. There's still plenty of space for passengers under six feet, and overall, it’s roomy enough for daily use. However, there’s no question that its rivals are a bit bigger inside. Buyers thinking about adding the panoramic sunroof should also be aware that this further eats into headroom.

As with most mid-size SUVs, two ISOFIX child seat mounting points are provided on the rear seats' outer positions.

Boot Space

The Nissan Qashqai’s boot space provides a 504-litre maximum capacity that’s still down on the Peugeot 3008, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. In fact, the N-Connecta, Tekna and Premiere Edition versions have a reduced 479-litre boot capacity due to standard fit luggage boards, which separate the boot into individual sections. Still, there's no loss in luggage capacity on the hybrid Qashqai e-Power.

The Qashqai also has a higher boot lip, so buyers will find loading awkward items more of a pain than it should be, while Nissan has missed a trick by not fitting levers in the boot that enable you to quickly fold the rear seats – it is, of course, the little things that make family life just that bit easier. The Nissan trails its rivals with its rear seats down too, with just 1,447 litres available compared to the roughly 1,800 litres you get in a Kia Sportage, Tucson or Karoq.

Towing

The towing capacity of the Nissan Qashqai depends on which engine you choose, but all petrol versions should provide enough capability for most buyer's needs. The maximum braked trailer towing capacity ranges from 1,400kg for the front-wheel-drive 138bhp model, to 1,800kg for the more powerful 156bhp version. Don’t pick the e-Power model if you plan to pull a caravan, because it only has 750kg of towing capacity.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa-e

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys

Editor Paul Barker takes a closer look at our 2024 Used Car Awards
Opinion
20 Nov 2024
A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success
Opinion - cheap EV

A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success

Mike Rutherford thinks there would be demand for an electric car with a modest 100-mile range if it only cost £10k
Opinion
17 Nov 2024
Best used cars to buy 2024
Best used cars 2024

Best used cars to buy 2024

From city cars to large SUVs, here’s our annual pick of the star performers that’ll save you thousands when you buy them used instead of new
Best cars & vans
20 Nov 2024