Nissan Qashqai vs. X-Trail: which is better?
Comparing the Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail to see which one comes out on top
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They may appear similar, but the Nissan Qashqai vs. X-Trail has been a debate as old as time. Not literally, but for a good (almost) 20 years now.
One is a best-selling family SUV and the other adds more interior space and better off-road credentials.
So, which is best for you?
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Nissan Qashqai vs. Nissan X-Trail
Our guide will answer the following questions:
Which Nissan SUV has the better styling?
Is the Qashqai or X-Trail better to drive?
Does the Qashqai or X-Trail have better tech?
Which Nissan SUV is more practical?
Is the Qashqai or X-Trail more reliable?
What are the Qashqai vs X-Trail dimensions?
Qashqai vs. X-Trail: styling
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Straight away you notice a big difference in the way these two Nissan SUVs look, despite them being from the same brand.
The Qashqai is a smaller car with sharp angles and split headlights, whereas the X-Trail is much larger with a break between its lights, emphasising its height.
Round the back, the Qashqai gets more of a sloped rear to end its slightly sleeker body design, with the X-Trail being a bit more brutish in the way the designers closed off the rear, tapering towards the boot.
You might say the Qashqai is the quintessential modern lifestyle SUV and the X-Trail is more traditional, more rugged.
It’s pretty clear they come from the same brand, though.
Qashqai vs. X-Trail: what are they like to drive?
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Get behind the wheel of the Qashqai and it’s one of the best family cars you could drive. It has smooth acceleration, light steering, and all the controls are nice and tactile.
This is especially useful when you need to adjust the air-con while driving – we’re happy Nissan has bucked the modern trend of touch-based controls
The X-Trail is very much the same, though you sit much higher up, which helps overall visibility. Just remember you have more car to manoeuvre, but the sensors and cameras work with large windows throughout to ease that burden, if you can even call it that.
Both cars are available with Nissan’s e-POWER technology, which works like a hybrid but uses the engine to charge up the batteries and drives with electric power most of the time. This makes them more efficient, returning up to 54mpg for the Qashqai and 48.7mpg for the X-Trail. Impressive for two beefy cars.
You can also get either car with four-wheel drive (4WD), and depending on your needs, you can switch between front-wheel drive (FWD) and four-wheel drive. We’d recommend keeping it in FWD most of the time to maximise fuel economy.
Qashqai vs. X-Trail: interior and technology
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Inside, it’s hard to tell these two apart. But we see this as a good thing, meaning you’re getting a high-quality interior no matter which car you choose.
They both get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, large touchscreen displays, plenty of buttons on the steering wheel to control while driving, comfortable seats, and top finishes to all the major touch points (armrest, doors, dashboard, etc.).
Cool tech features include built-in Google maps, physical climate controls for ease of use, a 360-degree parking camera and something we love to see: well-positioned dials and controls.
Qashqai vs. X-Trail: boot space and practicality
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Where you start to see real differences is at the back of the cars. Open the X-Trail's boot and you’ll notice a full 585 litres of space, beating the Qashqai’s still competitive 504 litres.
But being a seven-seat, the X-Trail's boot space is cut to 485 litres when all seats are in place.
This theme carries into the cabin where both cars get a good amount of storage space in both the front and the back.
You get all the deep door pockets, sizeable armrest storage, and centre console cubbies you could ask for.
Qashqai vs. X-Trail: safety and reliability
Both cars are very safe and dependable family SUVs that are built to the highest possible standard.
Following their independent Euro NCAP safety tests, the X-Trail and Qashqai scored a full five stars, thanks to various onboard safety features.
Some of these include front and rear autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning, high beam assist, traffic sign recognition, and an array of airbags.
Qashqai vs. X-Trail: dimensions
Nissan Qashqai
Length: 4,425mm
Width: 1,838mm
Height: 1,635mm
Boot space: 504 litres (1,447 litres with the rear seats folded)
Nissan X-Trail
Length: 4,680mm
Width: 1,840mm
Height: 1,725mm
Boot space: 585 litres (1,424 litres with the rear seats folded)
Verdict: Nissan Qashqai vs. X-Trail: which should you buy?
So, you’re in the market for a large family SUV from Nissan, but aren’t sure which to choose? Let’s break it down for you.
You should buy a used Nissan Qashqai if...
You want one of the best family cars around
You have a smaller budget to work with
You do more town and city driving
You should buy a used Nissan X-Trail if...
You want the biggest Nissan possible
Boot space is important to you
You might occasionally go off-road
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