Nissan Qashqai Tekna+ DIG-T 158 - long-term review

This month, my report on the Qashqai comes, well, not from me, but Top Gear's design genius Elliott Webb, who politely asked if he might borrow the useful Nissan for a family holiday. I gladly agreed, as this meant he'd probably top up the petrol tank and screenwash. Over to Elliott for what went on...

A road trip to the Norfolk coast with all the family onboard awaited. One dad (me), one lapdog (a cockapoo who prefers her own seat, usually up front), one brilliant new mother (annoyed because the dog called shotgun) and an eight month old who comes with more luggage than the entire McCallister family on a Christmas break.

The Qashqai was deployed. “This will be a doddle,” the enthusiastic new dad thought. All of the vast 504 litre boot capacity was used, and by simply lifting up the boot floor enough room was created to stow a travel cot without even breaking sweat or using Dad Maths (scratching head and working out angles etc).

All our gear neatly packaged in the boot, we hit the road. I saw an abundance of previous-gen QQs on our journey and came to the conclusion that Nissan has updated the exterior really rather well, the cut lines all come to a pinch at the back of the car and focus the eye on 2020’s design trend of signature model boot badges.

My partner agrees, saying “It looks great and you can still tell it’s got OG Qashqai nuances”. The inside, however, I find hasn’t moved on as much as the outside.. compared to similar 2022 Kias it loses out.

The Tekna+ spec doesn't leave us wanting for much. Heated and massage seats for both me and the cockapoo and the Bose sound system dealt with everything from ‘Old MacDonald’ to ‘white noise’.

The doors open to nearly 90 degrees making the removal of baby seats a breeze which is so pleasing as having used Mazda’s MX-30 suicide doors for this, it’s easy to become irritated. 

Arriving at our destination a pleasant 123 miles away everyone was relaxed and calm, the smooth ride and surprising quietness of the QQ’s motorway miles helped send baby to sleep only to be mildly interrupted by the noise the sat-nav makes to warn you of impending traffic cameras.

Unpacking all the paraphernalia, suitcases, dog bowl and changing mat in hand, the electronic tailgate makes me think I’m already a pro, but it’s the QQ's job to make me feel like that, for years it’s been the go to family wagon of choice and it’s still up there, but it’s competitors have closed the gap and then some.

Still, I was right. It was a doddle. Makes you wonder why young families feel the need to go for a bigger SUV than this, doesn't it?