Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai at a glance

Nissan designed the Qashqai in Europe for European buyers: a family hatchback in size, raised like an SUV, with optional four-wheel drive. The name comes from the Qashqai, a nomadic people of south-western Iran. In Japan and Australia the first generation was sold as the Dualis, and in the USA the J11 was offered as the Rogue Sport from the 2020 model year. The company's background is in Nissan's history.

First generation J10 (2006–2013)

The Qashqai was shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2006, production started at Sunderland in December 2006 and sales began in February 2007. It replaced the Almera and Primera in many markets and proved so popular that rivals followed with their own crossovers.

Engines included the 2.0 MR20DE petrol with 103 kW (140 PS) and the 1.5 and 2.0 dCi diesels, the latter later replaced by a 1.6 dCi with 96 kW (131 PS) and 320 Nm. The seven-seat Qashqai+2, 211 mm longer, arrived in October 2008.

A facelift in March 2010 brought a new front, LED tail lights, standard stability control in Europe and an optional Around View Monitor. More than 1.24 million J10s were sold in Europe.

Second generation J11 (2013–2021): the core of this page

The second Qashqai was unveiled in London on 7 November 2013 and went on sale in early 2014. It moved to the Renault-Nissan CMF platform shared with the Nissan X-Trail and the Renault Kadjar. The new body was lower and longer, with sharper lights and a larger grille, and better sound insulation made the cabin quieter. In September 2015 Sunderland built the 500,000th J11, the fastest any British-built car had reached that number. A facelift shown at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show added a new front end, better materials and, later, the ProPILOT driver-assistance system.

According to the old 1cars data for the 2014–2016 car, the 1.6 dCi reaches 100 km/h in 11.1 seconds and averages 4.9 l/100 km. The 1.2 DIG-T takes 10.9–11.3 seconds and tops out at 185 km/h. The ALL-MODE 4x4-i system uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch to send torque to the rear wheels when needed. The 1.6 DIG-T has 35 kW more than the 1.2 DIG-T, which shows in overtaking.

Dimensions, boot and safety

The J11 boot holds 430 litres, and a two-level floor helps divide the space. Euro NCAP gave the J11 five stars in 2014, with 88% for adult occupants and 83% for children. See how its boot compares in the biggest boot SUVs ranking.

Third generation J12 (2021 to today)

The J12, announced on 18 February 2021, uses the CMF-CD platform shared with the latest X-Trail and the Renault Austral. It is 35 mm longer, 32 mm wider and 25 mm taller than the J11, with a 20 mm longer wheelbase and a boot about 50 litres larger. Diesel engines were dropped. The 1.3 DIG-T mild hybrid produces 103 kW (140 PS) or 117 kW (159 PS). E-Power uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine purely as a generator for a 139 kW (190 PS) electric motor that drives the wheels. Euro NCAP awarded five stars in 2021, with 91% for both adults and children. The facelift revealed on 17 April 2024 brought new lights, a new front and an N-Design trim. Since May 2023 the car has also been built in Dalian, China.

Common problems by generation

• J10: some CVT faults, sill corrosion and wheel-bearing wear; early 1.6 dCi engines suffered from particulate-filter problems in short-trip use. The 2.0 petrol with a manual gearbox is the most robust choice.
• J11: 1.2 DIG-T engines built before 2018 can suffer timing-chain tensioner problems, so ask for diagnostics; the Xtronic CVT can fail at high mileage, often after 120,000–150,000 km, if the fluid was never changed. Pre-2016 1.6 dCi engines dislike city-only use.
• J12: long-term reliability data for e-Power is still limited, so check that all software updates and recalls have been done.

Repair costs for a CVT run to about 1,500–3,000 EUR, according to a 2026 used-car guide, so a service history matters more than mileage.