XC60 vs new Qashqai - which one to go for?

[Luke.]

I'm pretty sure my Outback's about to fail it's MOT tomorrow, so with man maths in mind been eyeing up a lease for the next family runaround.

Though can't decide between these two deals:

http://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/Nissan...

http://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/Volvo_...

The XC60 seems a lot more car for the money, but swinging towards the novelty of the new Qashqai.

What would you go for?

[devnull]

I'd purchase an XC60 purely based on build quality. Having had use of a cvt auto Qashqai for a while, I find it a soulless uninspiring drive.

[scrwright]

Just had a month in an XC-60, was a D5 R-line 215 auto. Gearbox was really good, engine was a tiny bit laggy but really shifted once wound up (expect less tuned engines easier to live with). Interior was well put together and comfy on a long run. Never been near the nissan personally but the volvo ticked all the boxes for a good family barge for me. Shame it was only an insurance loaner

[scrwright]

Oh and if you live down some twisty lanes see if you can get the adaptive turning headlights, thought they were a gimic but they really do work ad save you driving into the dark when turning

[simo1863]

other; MX-5

XC60 all the way for me. Driven a fair few and they are very good. Try to combine an auto with the radar guided cruise control. You'll barely use the pedals.

D5 Polestar is tempting but probably not worth the extra.

Standard D4 is a bit gutless but I'm guessing you're not buying one to set lap times, if you are then scrap both and get an SQ5!

[Luke.]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Actually really helpful. So cheers.

[plasticpig]

Other. I don't see the point in buying a crossover vehicle and not having the AWD version

[AudiWurst]

Bloody hell, Qashqais have got expensive since I last looked. £25k list price for a mid-spec 1.6 diesel? The new model must have come with quite a chunky price rise.

OP, have you considered a CRV or a RAV4 (both with a proper auto box on the diesel models)?

plasticpig said:

Other. I don't see the point in buying a crossover vehicle and not having the AWD version

While not a popular view on PH, plenty of people like the height and the bootspace of crossovers, but do not want the expense and complexity of AWD.

[scrwright]

I must say the AWD version I drove was very good, you could pull away like a hooligan & it coped well on out stty wet fields despite having road tyres. But it kills MPG, for road use 2wd would be a better bet I expect

[900T-R]

I agree those two should normally not be even remotely on the same level price-wise. Driven the XC60, safety bells 'n whistles drove me potty (I left them on only because I'm a journalist and wanted to give the systems a fair appraisal over a longer period of time - I never really got used to the way they communicated, felt like I was on a bl00dy fairground every time someone merged in front of me in dense traffic) but otherwise it's easily got the measure of Q5, X3 et al in most repects while being visually a bit more interesting and more habitable inside (leave that to the Swedes). Feelgood factor right up there for what it is.

The Qashqai is what it is - a non-premium compact hatchback on stilts. Granted, I'm only really familiar with the previous generation but it would involve a rather big stretch of the imagination to assume it had jumped a full car segment and gone from the 'bread and butter' to the 'premium' end of the market in terms of drive, look and feel in one go to get at eye level with Audi, BMW, Merc and Volvo.

[Nice But Dim]

I have had an XC60 (2WD 2.4D single turbo 6 spd manual) for 4.5 years and 55k miles from new

And its been faultless mechanically - the only cost to me has been two sets of tyres at 25 and 50 k miles. Rear brake pads for 100 quid. and the last service for 280 quid (all other services were included in the warranty deal). It regulatory does 44 mpg on my 12 mile commute.

Size wise its perfect for family of 4 and 2 dogs

But is a little dull and uninvolving to drive

The new 2.0 litre D4 181 bhp 8 speed auto is meant to be amazing.

Edited by Nice But Dim on Friday 10th January 11:59

[chrisw666]

XC60 its a very nice thing and a class above the Qashqai.

The new D4 isn't a traditional Volvo 5 cylinder but a new generation 4 cylinder lump which apparently is better in pretty much every way (but it won't have that 5 cylinder warble).

[Little Lofty]

I was never too fussed about the outgoing Qashqai but the new model looks far better, it's just won What Car car of the year and best small SUV, I'm not sure if they are in the showrooms yet though.

[Polrules]

I just went from a Qashqai to the XC60 (3 months back) & it's definately the superior car. Mine is the D4 AWD (a 2.4l 5 cyl) 'SE-Lux NAV' & has a level of refinement & comfort the Qashqai simply can't match. Oh & the TFT dashboard is great!

For the money the Nissan is a good car, but the Volvo is nearly twice the price (~£20k for the Nissan & nearly £40k for the Volvo), a little comfused how you could compare them?

[Luke.]

Thanks again. From the owners on here, any essential options? As it's going to be leased, don't really want to load it up too much.

[Bill]

Of those two the Volvo seems much better but I'm tight so I'm not sure I could spend that much more over a Dacia Duster.

[Nice But Dim]

Luke. said:

Thanks again. From the owners on here, any essential options? As it's going to be leased, don't really want to load it up too much.

Here you go_

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=1...

[anonymous-user]

I'd be looking at Mazda cx-5's too

[Polrules]

Winter pack on the Volvo adds heated seats, windscreen & washer jets for £300.

[chrisw666]

Luke. said:

Thanks again. From the owners on here, any essential options? As it's going to be leased, don't really want to load it up too much.

I'd add the winter pack to get heated front seats & Heated Windscreen.