The short answer: avoid 2007 to 2010 first-generation cars unless the price is low and the service history is complete, and check 2014 to 2015 second-generation cars carefully. The best buys are the facelifted 2011 to 2013 cars on a budget, and 2017 onwards if you can stretch.
That is the verdict. What follows is why, what tends to go wrong on each generation, and the checks that matter most. It is based on the Qashqais that come through our forecourt in Reading rather than on forum complaints, which skew towards the small number of cars that went wrong.
The Qashqai has been one of Britain’s best-selling cars for nearly two decades, so there is no shortage of used examples. That is the opportunity and the risk: at any given price there are good cars and tired ones sitting side by side, and the difference is almost always history rather than age.
If you are shopping locally rather than only researching, every used Nissan Qashqai in Reading on our forecourt is listed with its year, mileage and MOT status, so you can apply everything below before you travel.
Every Qashqai Year at a Glance
| YEARS | GENERATION | VERDICT | WHY |
| 2007-2010 | J10, pre-facelift | Avoid unless cheap and well documented | The earliest cars. Suspension bushes, rear brakes and air conditioning condensers are all tired at this age, and interiors show it. Worth buying only at the right price with a full history. |
| 2011-2013 | J10, facelift | Best budget buy | The early faults had been worked through and the 1.6 petrol is a simple timing-chain engine with no particulate filter. The sweet spot under £5,000. |
| 2014-2015 | J11, early | Check carefully | First cars of a new generation. Electrical niggles and particulate filter problems on diesels used for short journeys. Good cars exist, but the history matters more here than anywhere else. |
| 2016 | J11 | Reasonable | The early production issues largely resolved. A sensible middle option. |
| 2017-2021 | J11, facelift | Best to buy | The most refined of the lot, with the best engines and Euro 6 emissions, so the diesels are ULEZ compliant as well. |
Looking for a Qashqai you can trust?
Every Qashqai on our forecourt is inspected before sale, and we’ll show you the full MOT and service history before you commit.
The short answer
If you want the quick version: the years most worth approaching with caution are the early first-generation cars (2007–2010) and the very early second-generation cars (2014–2015), particularly certain engine and gearbox combinations. The strongest buys are generally 2011–2013 facelift first-gen cars and 2017 onwards second-gen cars.
That said, condition and service history matter far more than the year on the plate. A well-maintained 2014 car beats a neglected 2018 one every time.
Nissan Qashqai years to avoid, generation by generation
2007–2010 (J10, early first generation)
These are the cheapest Qashqais you’ll find, and there’s a reason for that. They’re now fifteen-plus years old, so you’re buying on condition alone.
What to watch for:
- Rust on the rear arches, sills and around the tailgate — check thoroughly, as corrosion is the main reason these fail MOTs
- Early diesel particulate filter issues on the diesels, particularly if the car has lived a short-journey life
- Worn suspension components — knocking over bumps is very common at this age
- Tired interiors and failing electrics on higher-mileage examples
Verdict: not automatically a bad buy if the car is genuinely clean and cheap, but the odds of finding a good one are lower. If you’re on a tight budget, focus your search on the facelift cars below instead.
2010–2013 (J10 facelift)
The 2010 facelift brought a better interior, updated styling and improved refinement. These are the pick of the first generation.
Verdict: generally a solid used buy. Still check for rust and worn suspension, but these are usually the best-value Qashqais on the market.
2014–2015 (J11, early second generation)
The second-generation car was a big improvement overall, but as with most new model launches, the earliest examples ironed out fewer problems than later ones.
What to watch for:
- Reports of timing chain noise on early 1.2 DIG-T petrol engines. On a cold start, listen for a rattle from the engine that settles after a few seconds. A healthy engine should be quiet almost immediately
- Diesel particulate filter problems on the 1.5 and 1.6 dCi where the car has been used mainly for short trips
- Water ingress around the panoramic roof if fitted — check the headlining and boot corners for damp
- Some early infotainment and reversing camera glitches
Verdict: approach with more care than later cars, but plenty of good ones exist. A full service history and a quiet cold start are what separate them.
2016–2021 (J11 later cars)
By this point most of the early issues had been addressed. The 2017 facelift brought further improvements, and the 1.3 DIG-T engine introduced in 2018 is generally considered the stronger petrol unit.
Verdict: the best combination of modern equipment and sensible used pricing. If your budget stretches here, this is where to look.
2021 onwards (third generation)
Too new to have a meaningful used-market track record, and still expensive. Not a year to avoid, just not usually the best value.
Which engine should you avoid?
Engine choice matters more than model year on a Qashqai.
Best bets:
- 1.2 DIG-T petrol (later cars) — well suited to town and mixed driving, cheap to insure
- 1.3 DIG-T petrol (2018 on) — the more refined of the two petrols
- 1.5 dCi diesel — economical and generally dependable, provided it has done proper mileage
More caution needed:
- Early 1.2 DIG-T (2014–2015) — check for timing chain rattle on cold start
- 1.6 dCi diesel — a strong engine but more expensive to repair when things go wrong
- Any diesel used only for short journeys — DPF problems are the most common expensive fault we see
What about the CVT automatic?
Nissan’s Xtronic CVT is smooth and easy to live with, but it needs regular fluid changes that many owners skip. On a test drive:
- Pull away from a standstill and make sure the car moves off cleanly with no hesitation
- Listen for whining or droning under acceleration
- Ask whether the transmission fluid has ever been changed
A CVT with documented servicing is fine. One with an unknown history is more of a gamble, and repairs are not cheap.
What Is the Best Year Nissan Qashqai to Buy?
For most buyers, the best years to buy a used Nissan Qashqai are 2017 to 2021. By then the second-generation car had its early issues ironed out, the 2017 facelift had improved the interior and refinement, and from 2018 the stronger 1.3 DIG-T petrol engine replaced the 1.2.
On a tighter budget, a 2011–2013 first-generation facelift is the best-value choice. It’s older and less refined, but the engines are proven and prices are low — just check carefully for rust and worn suspension.
If you’re choosing between years, prioritise the individual car’s condition over the registration. A well-serviced 2015 will almost always be a better buy than a neglected 2018.
What actually matters more than the year
Here’s the honest truth from a dealer’s perspective: we’ve seen 2009 Qashqais in better condition than 2016 ones. What separates them is:
- Service history — regular oil changes, ideally with receipts
- MOT history — free to check at gov.uk. Repeated advisories for the same fault tell you more than any year guide
- How it was driven — motorway miles are far gentler than years of short cold-start journeys
- Previous owners — fewer is usually better, and a long single-owner period is a good sign
- Cold start — always start the car from cold, never one that’s been warmed up before you arrived
Our take
Rather than ruling out whole model years, use them to adjust how carefully you inspect. An early car needs a closer look and a lower price. A later car gives you more margin for error. Either way, the individual car in front of you tells you more than the registration plate does.
For a fuller walkthrough of what to check on a test drive, read our used Nissan Qashqai buying guide.
Looking for a used Qashqai in Reading?
We stock Qashqais across a range of years, engines and trim levels, and every car is inspected before it goes on the forecourt. We’ll tell you honestly what a car’s history looks like and what it needs — including anything on the MOT record.
Browse our current used Nissan cars in Reading →
Find us at 21–23 Boulton Road, Reading, RG2 0NH. Call +44 7348 590631 to arrange a viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most reliable year for a Nissan Qashqai?
Later second-generation cars from around 2017 onwards generally have the strongest record, as most early production issues had been resolved by then. Among first-generation cars, the 2010–2013 facelift models are usually the safer choice.
Which Nissan Qashqai engine is the most reliable?
The 1.5 dCi diesel and the later 1.3 DIG-T petrol both have good reputations. The 1.2 DIG-T petrol is well regarded on later cars, though early examples are worth checking for timing chain noise on a cold start.
Do Nissan Qashqais have timing chain problems?
Some early 1.2 DIG-T petrol engines have been reported to develop timing chain noise. It is not a universal fault, but it is worth listening for a rattle on cold start when viewing any 2014–2015 petrol example.
Is a high-mileage Qashqai worth buying?
It can be. A Qashqai with 120,000 well-documented motorway miles is often a better purchase than one with 60,000 short-journey town miles and no history. Judge the paperwork before the odometer.
Should I avoid a Qashqai with a panoramic roof?
Not necessarily, but check for water ingress. Look at the headlining around the roof and inside the boot corners for signs of damp, which usually points to blocked drainage channels.
Is the Qashqai CVT automatic reliable?
The Xtronic CVT is generally fine when serviced properly, but the transmission fluid needs changing at the recommended intervals and many owners skip it. Ask for evidence of fluid changes and check for smooth, hesitation-free pull-away on the test drive.