Knowledgeable car people- which one?

[ChefsKisser]

I don't know anything about cars really BUT we need a new family car. We have whittled it down to a Qashqai or Tiguan. Basically in our budget second hand we can afford a high spec fancy Qashqai or basic Tiguan. Which would you choose out of those? We like the idea of automatic, sun roof, sat nav etc rather than a really basic model but everyone we speak to raves about Tiguans.
Thanks :)

Japanese cars are generally reliable and come better equipped than German cars. You pay a premium for the the German brands (VW / Mercedes etc) although the build quality is usually significantly better.

I would look at the following and make your decision based on that:

1. Which one is the most comfortable? Do all the controls fall naturally to hand, do you have good visibility? Can you see the edges of the car for parking?
2. Does it have enough space to meet your needs? Do the back seats go down easily? Can you fit what you need to in the boot? Is there a lip to lift things over to get into the boot?
3. Does it have the ability to disable keyless entry for security purposes?
4. Can you turn all the automated shit off? Personally, I can't stand all the stuff that is supposed to help, but actually gets in the way.
5. What is the whole life cost? How much does servicing cost? How much are tyres? What is the fuel economy? If diesel, does it have known DPF issues (some cars are programmed to require a new one at a certain mileage whether it needs it or not). How much is insurance?
6. Does it have the equipment you actually want? You mention automatic in which case you want a DSG as they are sublime and not like automatics of yesteryear.
7. What is its depreciation like? How long am I likely to keep it?

That sort of thing.

Japanese aalways and for max reliability Toyotas come out top often.

Tiguan was top of my list (R model) but actually found the 300bhp Cupra Ateca to be a much better drive. (Same engine and gearbox, slightly smaller car.)

Would expect the lower spec Tiguans to be pretty sluggish. It’s a very heavy car.

Appreciate your car requirements may be different to mine.

Could also disable all the “car does it for you” aspects permanently and with ease. Most cars switch those back on every time you turn them on.

I know you say you want the all singing and dancing model but it just means more to go wrong especially in an older car .

We had MIL's Qashqai for a good while when we had car trouble. DH and I both hated driving it and the boot was tiny. We've been happier with our cheaper Tucson (although that was the one that gave us lots of trouble, in general they're very reliable) and Sportage. MIL also disliked it and has swapped it for a hybrid Rav4 which is fabulous.

No experience of the Tiguan but they always look very nice and VW is a good brand.

(Very much not a car person, just our experience.)

@HappiestSleeping sorry whats a DSG?

Thanks for the replies lots to think about. I don't think I would turn all the bits off tbh our current car we were given was a high spec so we are used to having those things really!

Automatic gear box.

We always have high spec cars - I like a sunroof, awesome sound system and heated seats but I absolutely don’t want it braking for me, putting lights or windscreen wipers on, silencing the stereo when I’m reversing, trying to pull me into a lane or determining my speed. I have a brain for that. I can just about live with an auto gearbox but would really rather not. I genuinely think it’s a big part of the de-evolution of human intelligence.

My 18 year old rally car is the best car on the planet to actually drive. It has zero bells and whistles or safety features because they put all the money into the engine and handling.

DSG is a double clutch automatic gearbox. DSG is the initials for the German words which I can't rightly remember.

Depending on how long you've been driving, automatic gearboxes used to be horrible. They would be noisy, rev a lot before they changed gear and would also be much less fuel efficient. Admittedly modern automatics are less like this, however the DSG gearboxes used modern wizardry to preselected the next gear you are likely to want making it as smooth, if not smoother than driving a manual but without the clutch. They can be more fuel efficient than a manual too. It's likely that the VW will have a DSG, but less so the Nissan. Test drive both, but be warned, once you've been in a DSG, you'll never want a 'normal' automatic, or a manual ever again.

If you want a VW, look at Skoda, which is the same platform and pretty much the same everything else. Karoq, Kamiq or Kodiaq.

We had a Qashqai on hire and we hated it too. Not nice to drive, not a very roomy interior and boot not big enough.

After looking at various ones, reading reviews and test driving some, DH just bought a seat ateca. I've not driven it yet but he's happy with it.

We've just had a very similar discussion between Qashqai and a Tucson. So, at the weekend we went to look at both in a showroom and have subsequently gone for the Qashqai following a test-drive. Also keen on the specs (we've gone Tekna for the heated windscreen and glass roof!).

You mention budget, so I will say this. The Qashqai has a new design for 2024 out right now (snazzy front houndstooth type grill). That means that the brand new, un-driven 24 registration Qashqais of the previous "look" are being sold off now with a heavy discount. Our dealer is doing £10k off one of these cars but understandably it's "while stocks last". It was an obvious benefit for us. We get the specs, the newness (these cars aren't even registered yet, haven't been driven, etc) and for the same cost as a secondhand two year old model with a previous owner. Bingo. This isn't on the website, talk to a sales person.

Neither brand are especially reliable, VW have been going downhill for years and Nissan have suffered quite a bit from their tie up with Renault. Generally the Germans can’t touch the Japanese for build quality. Something like a Lexus NX would be a far better choice.

Ooh interesting. Funny people didnt like the Qashqai as we test drove one from 2018 and we both loved it! But then our current car is v old so probably just felt better than that. Both the automatics we tried felt really smooth and nice to drive. We will need to get an older car as budget is only £15k

The Qashqai we didn't like was a manual, so the automatic may well be better. Plus it can be very personal - if you like it then that's much more important than strangers not

@ChefsKisser apologies I'd missed you were looking at second hand. All the same, it's worth knowing the deals that are on! I loved the Qashqai we tested. So smooth and quiet, and going over speed bumps was a dream.

We've had Qashqai's for the last 7 years. First one was Tekna Plus diesel. Second one is a Tekna automatic (also diesel).

I've really liked them. I love the extras (heated seats, windscreen and I couldn't live without the 360 camera which is invaluable where we live where parking is on street and at a premium). We've also found them to be reliable and big enough for our needs.

I don't like the new Qashqai though (primarily because we want another diesel and they're no longer available). But if you can get a good deal on the "older" style then I'd say it's well worth it.

@DappledOliveGroves how come you go for diesel out of interest? we ruled it out as only do short journeys which I understand diesel isnt great for and DH says diesel is more expensive?

Diesel per litre is more expensive, but you get so many more miles per tank. Also, whilst we live in a city and do some short journeys, we also do a fair few lengthy motorway journeys which it's great for. Also, the diesel engine is the only one with any real power (IMO) - I want to put my foot down and feel the car shift. The petrol engines are so small and sluggish.

There's nothing much Japanese about the Qashqai, they're as French as a Renault given the Renault/Nissan partnership. If you like the Qashqai you should look at the Renault Kadjar as they're the same underneath. The 1.3 petrol engine is decent and is in both of those, they did a higher output 160bhp version if you want more poke.

Tiguan's are just typical VW, you either like that or you dont. You're paying for the brand as it's seen as a more upmarket brand than Nissan. If you're not a try hard then go for the Nissan/Renault.

VW Tiguan, hands down.

I’ve got a 21 plate automatic diesel which I absolutely love. I have had a Nissan automatic but would never have another. The gearbox was lumpy, stuttery and not smooth at all. It used to stick, causing the car to over rev then almost cut out, which wasn’t fun in front of HGVs. When it was a year old, with 7k on the clock it needed a full gearbox rebuild, fortunately it was leased so we sent it back.

My Tiguan is the polar opposite of the Nissan. It’s comfortable, reliable, trustworthy, the gearbox is smooth and it’s economical. If definitely get the Tiguan,

Diesels cost more to service, so they are more cost effective if you do higher mileage. Also, since you do short journeys, it is unlikely that you would get heat into the exhaust recirculating systems which will cause you issues later.

Also, you now have to factor in the additional cost of ad-blu which is an additive that goes in the fuel to reduce emissions.

None of that would put me off a diesel if I were doing long journeys, but for short journeys I think your husband is right. Probably a hybrid would be a good option.

I’d also look at the Seat Ateca and Škoda Karoq/Kodiaq. All are similar cars to the Tiguan, just have different badges, but will be cheaper.

Are you definitely going for petrol OP? Worth having a look at engines. The VAG lot (Tiguan/Ateca/Kodiaq) tend to stick piddly little 1 litre 3 cylinders in their basic models whereas Nissan/Renault have a proper 4 cylinder 1.3 in them which is more suited to a car carrying round some weight in it.