User reviews of Nissan Qashqai are so bad - what to go for instead?

Marktheshark

ZiggerZagger wrote: »

hi wba31, the weird thing about the qashqai is the motor journalists do nothing but sing its praises but there appear to be a lot of people unhappy with the build quality and electrical faults (so lots of rattling on driving it on motorways and very loud noise, people are saying it's louder than driving a van on the motorway). I will test drive it but it's concerning. I read the whatcar (might not have been them but I think it was) long term review and even they got to 7 months and said it had a lot of noise and faults which they 'assumed' the garage would fix. I haven't seen reviews for the new model, I assume these are all for the older one....

It's a Renault with a new badge and plastic parts changed.
Why people buy the Nissan version when the Renault is cheaper and the same car puzzles me.
It's built by Renault and it will last like one.
See scrap yards for details.

jozxyqk

Toyota Verso is an alternative. Your budget may stretch to brand new, or a top trim 1 yr old. I've had one for the last 3 years and it's been faultless, and I find it very comfortable for my lengthy commutes.

It will almost certainly feel like a step down in quality from a BMW, though.

ZiggerZagger

my only concern with the Verso is whether it has a high enough driving position - I'm not sure that it does (though I haven't test driven it). I used to own a Corolla - never had one problem with that either.

sillygoose

Hyundai IX35 big boot, more space than a Qashqai, easy car like drive, comfortable. 2.0 litre with 4 wheel drive is the best. Your budget would get you top of the range or below. Very good reliability record. There is a totally new one due probably later in the year though.

Yeti is a good drive but the boot is miniscule, take a few bags of kids sport kit to the showroom and try it!

The reason the Qashqai seems to get so many bad reports is misleading, they are sold in epic quantities, people are more likely to review when unhappy than happy, its just human nature so it can look bad but in context of volume of people just quietly enjoying theirs it may be relatively good really.

A Mitsubishi ASX is a decent size, and ticks most your boxes and your budget would get you a choice of the 4wd versions

nonnatus

Yup. I drive the Hyundai ix35 and it's FABULOUS! Mine is 2 years old now and I still love everything about it

andrewf75

sillygoose wrote: »

Yeti is a good drive but the boot is miniscule, take a few bags of kids sport kit to the showroom and try it!

various reviews I've just read describe it as "cavernous" and "huge" so I guess its all relative

NotBothered

Vauxhall Mokka. My husband has one and whilst not a BIG car, does that higher driving position which I dont actually like as I'm quite short and feel a bit "lost" in it. Lifetime Warranty, well within your budget and our local Vauxhall do 0% finance over 5 years.

sillygoose

andrewf75 wrote: »

various reviews I've just read describe it as "cavernous" and "huge" so I guess its all relative

Perhaps the room in the cabin for its overall dimension could fit that description. But I needed it for work and could only fit 2 boxes in it, the IX35 would take all 5. And that was without a Yeti spare wheel which the IX already had onboard. If you order the spare wheel option its really dire in the Yeti as they add another false floor in the boot and raise it even higher, very little left.

At the end of the day it's only a 4.2 metre car reworked from a Golf platform. The IX35's extra 200mm and more importantly being able to package the components in a bespoke chassis design inevitably gives a lot more room. The Yeti has 416 litres (without a spare wheel!) and the IX35 591 litres (with a spare wheel too)

Strider590

sillygoose wrote: »

The reason the Qashqai seems to get so many bad reports is misleading, they are sold in epic quantities, people are more likely to review when unhappy than happy, its just human nature so it can look bad but in context of volume of people just quietly enjoying theirs it may be relatively good really.

How is it misleading? Surely this rule applies to all car brands/models?

I feel this applies regardless of the car and is therefore a moot point.

What however does make a difference, is that people will believe the hype even when their chosen car is misbehaving, especially if the car has an undeserved good reputation.
Excuses like "it's costing me a fortune, i'm so glad it's not another brand/model".

ZiggerZagger

Sorry sillygoose, for some reason it won't let me quote your comment on the Qashqai and bad reports.


Thing is, I read all the long term owner reviews by the car journos as well as user reviews. One thing I will say, is I've found those reviews in the past mirror my experience of cars. E.g. both my Smax and the BMW had the same faults/service experience as the longer term reviewers had with their test models. I agree there are a hell of a lot of people who have bought them - there are 2 on my tiny cul de sac. Both are largely happy with them but are only using them to scoot around town. No longer journeys, motorway driving etc. Tbh what is really putting me off is the apparent noise when you drive on the motorway plus all the rattles. I know that would do my head in. Even the Smax and the Alhambra were relatively quiet cars and the BMW practically purrs so moving from that, to a very very noisy car will not work. I will test drive it though I imagine I'm unlikely to be allowed to test drive it at speed


Will put ix35 on my list - it wasn't on there already so thank you