Family cars

BUYING a used car involves lots of decisions. What size and style do you want? Are you petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV? Should you buy as cheaply as possible or invest as much as you can?

We can’t answer any of these questions, but we can tell you what the UK’s most popular car for sale on Sun Motors is.

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It is, of course, the ever-reliable Nissan Qashqai.

When it was launched, this compact crossover SUV pretty much defined the category. It’s nearly 20 years old but remains as popular as ever. 

I’ve driven the Nissan Qashqai and I’ll give you my honest opinion of its good points, bad points and anything else I can remember that’s relevant.

What are the most popular used cars?

Sun Motors is a nationwide marketplace that connects thousands of buyers and dealers. We keep track of every purchase and can reveal our list of the 10 most popular used cars in the UK.

You already know that at the top of the charts is the Nissan Qashqai. Here’s a list of the rest…

1. Nissan Qashqai
2. VW Golf
3. Mercedes A-Class
4. Mini (all models)
5. Kia Sportage
6. BMW 1 Series
7. Ford Kuga
8. BMW 3 Series
9. Audi A3
10. Hyundai Tucson

Buying a used car? Find cars for under £200 on Sun Motors here.

Nissan Qashqai used car review​

The Nissan Qashqai may have a name that you’ll struggle to spell, but its appeal isn’t hard to spot.

It’s a crossover SUV, which means it looks like a car that’s capable of running off-road and has an elevated driving position, but in reality, it’s a pretty refined and reliable city car.

We’re going to talk about the second-generation (and subsequent) models that launched in 2013.

With this version, Nissan ironed out all the faults and created the UK’s favourite (sort of) SUVs.

It’s now beloved by middle managers, school-run mums and dads and anyone for whom a MINI was just a little bit too small.

Modern versions are even more aggressive-looking but, for our money, don’t look as good.

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The high-up driving position offers great visibility, and the responsive handling makes the car manoeuvrable enough to slide into that supermarket parking spot.

OK, so it’s not going to knock your socks off or make you smile too much, but it’s a family car, so we never expected it would.

Sun Motors: Buy your next vehicle today

If you’re part of the 3.3 million Brits looking to buy a used vehicle this year, Sun Motors is an ideal place to start

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Sun Motors is a seamless, straightforward, transparent platform that ranks by customer searches, not payments. It offers innovative financing and concierge services, ensuring a simple, fair car-buying experience.

Enjoy:

• A choice of fuel type whether it’s petrol, diesel, electric or hybrid
• A range of models from convertible, estate, saloon and many more
• A range of top brands such as Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota and BMW
• Financing options
• Trusted dealers

Get started finding your next used vehicle here.

There have been far too many engine variations (including petrol, diesel, hybrid and the latest e-POWER powertrain) for us to run through them all.

Reviewers seem to favour the 1.3-litre DIG-T 140 mild-hybrid petrol engine, and we won’t argue.

Bad points are, as you’d expect, few and far between. The Qashqai is quite expensive as a used car, with other makes and models perhaps a little cheaper to buy, run and insure.

The Qashqai is, like lots of crossovers, a bit of a fake too. It’s not really an off-roader like the Range Rover, but not many people need that sort of performance (or can afford the price).

Are Nissan Qashqais reliable​?

The Nissan Qashqai isn’t quite as reliable as the bullet-proof Nissan cars of old, with the 2014-21 diesel models in particular suffering from engine and exhaust problems.

Overall though, it’s a sturdy family motor that shouldn’t leave you stranded by the roadside. 

Try to buy one with a full service history, ensure all recalls are done and check receipts for any work.

How much is a Nissan Qashqai?​ 

Nissan Qashqais start from £5,000 for a 10-year old (2015) model with over 100,000 miles on the clock. Nearly new models, including the e-POWER version, can cost over £35,000.

As a ballpark, expect to pay around £15-17,000 for a 2020 Qashqai.

It’s not the cheapest car on the market, with some used models that are as expensive as a new Dacia Duster, for example, but it’ll hold its value.

Is Nissan Qashqai a 4×4?

The Nissan Qashqai isn’t a true 4×4 like a Land Rover, Range Rover, etc, but you can find both front-wheel drive (FWD) and four-wheel drive (AWD) models on the market. 

In off-road mode the 4×4 Qashqai will tackle difficult terrain like mud and gravel, more much more confidently than the 2WD version. 

Most drivers who really need 4WD performance should look elsewhere. In the end, they probably already were.

Used Nissan Qashqai​s for sale

We’ve scoured Sun Motors to find three top used cars for sale. You’ll need to get in quick to secure these…

Bargain basement: 2020 Nissan Qashqai Acenta Premium

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This isn’t the cheapest Qashqai on the market, but it’s arguably one of the best-value used motors we’ve seen.

Don’t let the 60,000+ miles on the clock put you off. This Acenta Premium model comes with 17” alloys, a good touchscreen and parking sensors.

It’ll do 55mpg all day long, too. That’s why this is our bargain buy.

Awesome auto: Nissan Qashqai​s SUV 1.3 DIG-T Tekna

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Reviewers love the 1.3 litre DIG-T petrol engine for its power, control and reliability.

This automatic Qashqai is in Tekna trim, featuring cool 18-inch alloy wheels, a Bose sound system, and a head-up display. Nice.

High-class hybrid: Nissan Qashqai 1.5 E-Power Acenta Premium 5dr Auto

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The 2024 Qashqai is a thoroughly modern car. Its petrol/electric hybrid motor produces an impressive 188bhp.

It’s quiet, quick and has the mean look of the new Qashqai.

This particular car has fewer than 5,000 miles on the clock, so it’s as nearly new as it gets.

Buying a used car? Check out Sun Motors and find your next vehicle today. Whether you’re looking for automatic, manual or electric, use Sun Motors to decide on your next model.

MILLIONS of drivers are said to ignore a “hidden” button on their car’s dashboard that cools down the motor and could be a summertime saviour.

When a heatwave hits, hopping back into your parked vehicle is never a pleasant process.

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But now motorists are sharing a tip about an easy-to-miss button on the dashboard.

The button is marked by a little arrow with a symbol of the car.

It’s called the “recirculate air” button, and it can cool down your cabin even with the air con off.

According to Virtual Driving Instructor, the button could be a “life-saver on a scorcher of a day”.

And it also helps to save on fuel.

The expert said: “When you press this button, it stops any air from outside coming through these vents, circulating the air inside the cabin.”

Pressing both the air conditioning and recirculating air buttons can be really helpful, as they “keep all the cool air inside the cabin”.

It works by cutting off the outside air, instead recirculating what’s already in the car.

This brings down the temperature when the air outside the car is hotter than the air inside.

To ensure this is the case, blow the aircon for a couple of minutes and then hit the recirculate button – rather than swapping it for warmer outside air.

That could even allow you to switch the air con off, saving on fuel.

Fuel prices remain high with the average price of a tank costing £75, so it could be a timely piece of financial advice.

The RAC agrees and offers another tip to drivers who are looking to save cash on hot days.

It said: “Start driving, but keep the car windows open for a minute or two to let all the hot air escape, do this until the air from the vents feels cooler than the outside temperature.

“Once the air conditioning is blowing cold, close all the windows and switch to (pre-cooled) recirculated air.”