The 1.6 isn't as bad as people make out. I mean yeah it's not a rocket ship by any means but 115bhp is adequate to cart a family and luggage around cruising at 65-70mph on the motorway. It does the job, it's not fast but you don't buy large family crossovers for flat out speed

@PangeaSpreads Thanks for the comments, it's great to get feedback. You are right in what you say, the diesel cars were never meant to consistently do short journeys and we'll see a rise in the amount of DPF failures along side some turbo problems. To get a petrol car to cruise at the 2000rpm mark you'll need something with a 6 speed gearbox or a really big engine eg a sports car. Some of the Fiat/Alfa petrol models around 2008 were fitted with a 6 speed gearbox but came with a 1.4turbo engine

wish top gear would do this type of reviews, good job mate

This is the fastest and most brutally honest review of any car!

Have a 1600 cc petrol. Now 180000 +. No abnormal oil usage. No major mechanical issues. 2012 model. Nifty in 2nd.

Hi Juste1911, quite a coincidence, my actual car is an Alfa 159 1.9 JTD as well! I am extremely pleased with it, not a single problem after 67000 km. But now my car needs are completely different. The running costs for the Qashqai 2.0 petrol would be too high for me. I drove the 1.6 petrol (but unfortunately NOT on a highway) and that was fine for me. I will definitely miss the superb driving experience of the Alfa, but most welcome the cross-over features of the Qashqai.

Good review. I drove the 1.6 petrol and 1.5 diesel and have to say I found the 1.6 petrol engine was rough and lacking in power. The 1.5 dci by comparison felt much faster and better suited to the car.

We tried both the petrol and the diesel engine last sunday, 1600cc, the diesel is way, WAY better than the petrol one, so we might have decided to leave behind the idea of saving those 1800 euros of difference between the two engines. But the Qashqai ain't the only car we are considering, we are also looking into Mercedes B Class, RAV4 and maybe VW Tiguan. The Qashqai would probably be the best investment, 26 thousand euros if I'm not wrong for 130hp, 320NM plus the 360 or ntec package!

Around the 20k mark and above, you'll see savings if most of those miles are on Motorways. In a town petrol and diesel engine do about the same MPG.

Great review and great series of reviews! You have driven the 1.6 petrol and 1.5dci now - which would you say is the nicer drive?

Hi Bob, first of all thank you for your excellent and no nonsense reviews. I am about to buy the 1.6 petrol 117hp Qashqai ("360" version with AVM). In this review you mention "this car is very quiet at 100 km/h".I am still a bit worried about how it will behave at 120 km/h (max.speed on highway in my country). I only do few kilometers (8000/year) so the 1.6 dci 130 hp 6 speed would hardly be justifiable. Thanks. Eric

I agree, the DPF is fast becoming a real problem for short journey drivers, will you be buying a Qashqai?

my my 2010 qashqai no power while driving and its jerking.. ..no faults or warning lights..? could anyone suggest what is the reason for this..?

Hi I took an NTec 1.6 petrol out for a test drive and felt the gears were clunky and the engine rather noisy/grumbly driving around town - is this the norm for these motors? Very spacious and with a lot of comfort but I do not want to be hearing an engine rev to high hell all the time esp when driving down the m-way.

Bob - What's your opinion on how many miles should you be doing a year before you look at a diesel?

Just to add..... I have a 10 yr old son and a dog who will be crated in the boot, do mainly short journeys then the odd coast trip in between. Am also looking at the more family car cmax but love the look of the qashqai - any advice please?

Hey, consider the 1.6 diesel engine, I tried it last sunday, it's way, WAY BETTER than the petrol one, believe me! Try it for yourself! Sure it's not the same as the 1.9 JTD (that engine was even better mounted on the 156 because it was lighter), but it's fun to drive! My father also tried the Qashqai, he has a long story with Alfas and he said that this Qashqai brakes better than the 159, he made a huge braking in front of the dealership. Don't take the 1.5dci, loads of problems, check the web.

Thanks for your quick answer....But -it's quite interesting..I just have got Today letter from Tax office with "polite invitation" to the tax road payment - for my new QQ ( '08 -new for me:) 1.6 Petrol ....and? 12 monts- =445 euro...;(((( i don't understand WHY??? could you help me to understand....

Lots of choices here dude, Kia Sportage is a good one. VW Tiguan, new Ford Kuga, Mazda CX5 or something weird Skoda Yeti or Peugeot 3008. On the posh side there's the Audi Q3. So much choice, I'd take the Mazda CX5 over any of them, Skoda Yeti next followed by the Sportage. I hope that helps ya

@boshkaification ahh nope, the 1.6 petrol has 139g of CO2 putting it in tax band B = €156 per year tax it's only the 2.0ltr that's in tax band E

Have you tried the cvt version of the 1.6 petrol?It sounds interesting.I wonder if the rpms are any better in the highways than the manual

Full air conditioning??

ups..maybe now, in 2011, 1.6L petrol engines are different ???

anyone know if i should use unleaded or superunleaded in this?

sorry, I think you made mistake with info abput road tax for 1.6 engine...it isn't 165 unfortunately but more than 450 e.p.a......

Uggg CVT isn't as good as a normal gearbox. I'd prefer a manual anyday, the only place that CVT works is a Hybrid like a Toyota or Lexus or the really well engineered Audi version of CVT.

i like your english.

Is it really that bad?Here in Greece most people drive manuals,the automatics are for "fat and lazy" people and for women.He,he! I can't speak from experience,but I read positive things about the cvt's.If you could review one sometime,it would be nice.Thanks anyway

Crappy reviews on this car; NOT the ones who drive it out of dealerships for test-drives!!! Those are usually bought!!!!

The qashqai is so comfort and when you have an accedent it doesn't get damaged alot so it's safe but , FUCKING BORING TO DRIVE AS HELL specially if you have automatic transmission , i have 2008 qashqai 2.0