Nissan Qashqai Ti 2018 review

I quite liked driving in the Qashqai. It's smooth enough and has enough power to get me from one end of Sydney to the other with little effort. There's a 2.0-litre engine with a good amount of power and it gets up hills comfortably. I found the steering a bit stiff when doing a lot of turning at the wheel, trying to get out of tight spots, but nothing major.

The Qashqai is quite high so you feel substantial on the road.

There's good handling and I felt confident driving the Qashqai all week. I think that's partly to do with its height - it's not as low as some small SUVs, it's still quite high so you feel substantial on the road and as though it can handle what you throw at it.

Parking was relatively easy because of its size, and they've upgraded the reverse parking camera to include a 360 degree view which lets you know where you are in space. I find this feature extremely helpful when fitting into tight spots. This model also has park assist, so it will park itself if you think you need help.

I found the steering a bit stiff trying to get out of tight spots, but nothing major.

The exterior is sporty and sleek.

The exterior is sporty and sleek, with a lot of style. It's higher than a regular small SUV so still looks quite substantial on the road, which I like. You feel like you're in almost a proper SUV in the Qashqai, and that you haven't compromised too much by opting for a small SUV.

Inside is stylish too, everything looks good from the moment you step in. In this top of the range Ti you'll get a few things that the lower end of the range doesn't - leather seats, and a sunroof come standard and lift the car to a higher level. There's also a new, sporty steering wheel with a flat bottom which I like, it's wrapped in leather and feels good under the hands.

Everything looks good from the moment you step in.

The centre console is nicely designed and everything is clearly set out - I didn't struggle to work out what buttons were for what which happens way more often than it should. There's a high gloss finish through the centre which always makes everything look good.

I felt like I matched up to other cars on the road in terms of looks and had no qualms driving the Qashqai this week.

My children could easily climb into the backseat on their own because the car is a good height off the ground, which just saves me from helping them every day (parent bonus). It's also a fine height to lean in and do seatbelts up for them, which is especially helpful if you have a baby and you're constantly popping the babyseat in.

There are two cupholders in the front and two cupholders in the back in the Ti model. There's also a spot in the front to throw your keys and phone and a decent sized centre storage bin.

The lack of adjustable air vents or charging outlets for rear seat passengers is disappointing.

There's a spot in the front to throw your keys and phone and a decent sized centre storage bin.

There's a 7.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity which means you can listen to your music and make (hands-free) calls in the car. It's got a built-in sat nav with current traffic updates, and a DAB radio.

Unfortunately it doesn't have Apple Carplay or Android Auto which is slowly being rolled out across the category. The Qashqai is not alone in lacking this, but there are some competitors like the Kona which already have it.

It's got a built-in sat nav with current traffic updates.

The Nissan Qashqai Ti comes in at $37,990. Fuel consumption is a fairly average 6.9L/100km. You'll get a three-year/100,000km warranty from Nissan, with servicing needed every 12 months or 10000km.

The Nissan Qashqai Ti comes in at $37,990.