Is the Nissan Qashqai a reliable car? Analysis and review
The Nissan Qashqai is a massively popular SUV and is one that you can rely on
Nissan Qashqai reliability is likely one of the first things you’re wondering about when considering this SUV. If you’re purchasing this as a daily driver or for your family vehicle, you’ll want to ensure it’s reliable.
Luckily, the Qashqai is highly rated for its dependability and is definitely a model you can rely on.
Find the answer to ‘are Nissan Qashqais reliable?’ in our guide.
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Overview of Nissan Qashqai reliability
The Nissan Qashqai is widely considered a reliable car. With a five-star Euro NCAP rating, efficient MPG statistics and impressive running costs, it’s unlikely to disappoint.
The Euro NCAP review is favourable – with a 91% rating for adult occupants and 91% for children. There’s plenty of safety equipment on board to give you peace of mind, like lane departure prevention to keep you centred on the road, and an intelligent around-view monitor for a 360-degree view while parking.
In fact, the Nissan Qashqai has been voted the UK’s most reliable car in a 2023 Which? survey.
Qashqais are popular models so finding parts for repairs and maintenance is easy and inexpensive. The cars also come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty from new, so you know Nissan has faith in its work.
If you’re buying a used Qashqai at cinch, all our models are thoroughly inspected by trained technicians and come with a 90-day warranty as standard.
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Qashqai reliability compared to rivals
The Nissan Qashqai is closely rivalled by the Volkswagen Tiguan – an equally as reliable car. While the Tiguan is high-quality and built to last, VW parts are often more expensive. This means they can be pricier to maintain than the Qashqai.
The latest Tiguan scored a full five stars following its most recent Euro NCAP safety test in 2024, showing excellent safety for both adult and child occupants.
The Hyundai Tucson is another rival to the Qashqai that does well for reliability.
Awarded a full five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2021, the Tucson has plenty of safety features, but doesn’t quite match the Qashqai’s ratings. It was awarded an 86% adult occupant rating and 87% for children – lower than the 91% the Qashqai received in the same year.
Hyundai is known for impressive reliability, but the same is true for Nissan. In this case, it might come down to personal preference when deciding on the SUV you favour.
What to look for when buying a used Qashqai
When buying a used Nissan Qashqai, you’ll want to consider a few factors to ensure you’re buying a reliable model.
The Qashqai itself is a dependable car, but you don’t want to get stung by buying a used model that hasn’t been thoroughly checked over and isn’t up to scratch.
Firstly, buying from a reputable source is the best way to ensure you’re getting a reliable Qashqai.
You might be able to get a cheaper deal from a private seller, but your Qashqai won’t come with a warranty or guarantee.
Buying from a reliable online sales platform or choosing a dependable dealer will mean you’ll get a great quality Qashqai, but will also have somewhere to go back to if you experience any unexpected issues.
If you’ve found your ideal Qashqai and are having it delivered or are due to pick it up, there are a few things you can check beforehand.
All Qashqais on our site will show information such as mileage and the length of MOT, but you can also check on the DVLA website for reassurance that these details are correct.
These details can help you understand how reliable the car will be.
You may also want to carry out a HPI check on your prospective Qashqai to spot any issues. This can show you the history of the car – from the number of owners to any insurance write-off details.
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How to help improve Qashqai reliability
There are a few things you can do to make your Qashqai reliable in the long run.
Like any car, if you look after your Qashqai, it’ll look after you. This means that investing time into regular maintenance can make all the difference.
Servicing isn't a legal requirement in the UK, but a regular Qashqai service will keep your car in the best possible condition.
Components such as brakes and tyres will be checked, and this can help spot the start of any issues so you can take care of them before they develop or get worse.
You can also get an oil change and an oil and air filter replacement as part of your service.
Even when you’re not due a routine service, it’s still smart to check your Qashqai’s fluid levels such as engine oil and coolant. This will not only keep your car running well but will help you identify any leaks or other issues.
It might sound simple, but just keeping your Qashqai clean can help with reliability. Dirt can contribute to rusting and this can lead to more issues with the car.
In between servicing and MOTs, you should also keep an eye on your maintenance lights.
These lights on your dashboard flash to notify you of issues with your car and indicate you should probably check in with a garage.
Don’t ignore these lights on your Qashqai – or any car – as it can lead to serious problems.