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Original poster

Nissan Qashqai or BMW X3?

25 replies

annamaple101 · 04/09/2014 11:53

I am looking for a 4x4 to replace our 8 year old Honda SUV and am considering the Nissan Qashqai and the BMW X3. Safety is important (especially not skidding in snow and ice) and I want to feel comfortable. I have never driven either and I'm a bit worried that the Nissan Qashqai will feel like I'm driving in a tin can. Will it? Getting good quality features for the money is also important to me - heated seats, good sat nav and a well-placed coffee holders :) would be ideal. All opinions and advice gratefully received

OP posts:

IHeartKingThistle · 04/09/2014 11:58

Have never driven a BMW but we have a Qashqai +2 and bloody love it. We've got the built in sat nav and heated seats and the 4x4 mode works well in snow. The acceleration doesn't always kick in as fast as you'd like but it's a minor niggle tbh. It's DH's car atm but I'm getting it when he changes his car in April - can't wait! He chose to have the cheaper Nissan and pay for the bells and whistles rather than get the more expensive brand and a more basic model. Right choice for us!

I'd recommend test driving if you can though.

Original poster

annamaple101 · 04/09/2014 13:48

Thank you. That's really helpful!

OP posts:

Original poster

annamaple101 · 04/09/2014 16:28

I have also been also been recommended a Toyota Rav4. What does everybody think?

OP posts:

WMittens · 04/09/2014 17:00

Safety is important (especially not skidding in snow and ice)

There's next to no difference on a car's ability to skid or not skid when braking or cornering on snow and ice between 2WD and 4WD, it's entirely down to the four tyre contact patches.

Original poster

annamaple101 · 04/09/2014 17:05

Thank you. What would you go for in my situation?

OP posts:

Sidge · 04/09/2014 17:22

I'd rather have a BMW than a Nissan in terms of reliability and build quality.

ramrod757 · 04/09/2014 21:08

I'd rather have a BMW than a Nissan in terms of reliability and build quality

Are you joking? The X3 is likely to be much less reliable than the Nissan and gets an aweful reliability rating. I love BMWs, I drive a BMW. Buy a Qashqai OP.

ramrod757 · 04/09/2014 21:08

*awful even!

AngelsWithSilverWings · 04/09/2014 21:15

I love my qashqai plus 2. It feels quite solid and safe to me. The 360 parking assistance is brilliant especially the birds eye view.

caroldecker · 04/09/2014 22:18

Get an evoque - much better cars - love mine

Original poster

annamaple101 · 04/09/2014 22:33

Interesting to hear the 360 parking is good. How long have you had your Qashqai? do you think you get enough mod cons for the money?

OP posts:

Sidge · 05/09/2014 07:29

Are you joking? The X3 is likely to be much less reliable than the Nissan and gets an aweful reliability rating. I love BMWs, I drive a BMW. Buy a Qashqai OP.

Oh gosh I didn't realise the X3 had a poor reliability rating. I was under the impression that BMW were generally a good reliable brand, far better than Nissan.

My brother had a Qashqai and had nothing but trouble with it, another friend has a Juke and it's spent more time in the garage than out of it, it seems!

Only1scoop · 05/09/2014 07:34

I looked at both and went with X3 have had it almost 4 years and its been fantastic. Friend has the Nissan and likes that also. I love the huge boot in mine.

rockpink · 05/09/2014 07:36

Have heard reports of mpg on that BMW (and the Volvo x-90) being in the realms of 19 miles per gallon!!!!
My friend has a Qashqai and thinks . its. ok, my parents have a Rav4 and love it. I would like a suzuki s-cross personally.

Only1scoop · 05/09/2014 07:40

I thought my Mpg would be awful in X3 but its pretty good. I was so suprised.

thatsn0tmyname · 05/09/2014 07:43

We have a qashqai and the only niggle is the rear belts are too short for a baby seat although they fit group 1 seats. It's a heavy car to drive and a bit clunky changing gear but we're happy with it

ramrod757 · 05/09/2014 08:23

Get an evoque - much better cars - love mine

Define better? They look nice and are quite a pleasant place to be but I'm not convinced about the build quality and reliability. You can also tell that it hasn't been designed that well, the same with the new £100k full fat Range Rover - things that BMW for example would've got right. My friend's Evoque has also had to be recovered a couple of times. My verdict - all fur coat and no knickers.

CMP69 · 05/09/2014 18:39

I have a Ford Kuga it's fab. We tested the Nissan too and the acceleration and build were much better in the Ford

ReadyToBreak · 05/09/2014 19:00

BMW all the way. Build quality, the way it feels to drive, customer service, added extras to name a few reasons.

Get a diesel. My folks had the 2008 3.3ltr turbo diesel X3 and used to get 50/60mpg from it. Their new X5 is even better though.

ramrod757 · 06/09/2014 15:58

The X3 scores well below average for reliability. Don't mistake a nice interior for good build quality. If you want reliability and great service get a Lexus - they make BMW look like a bunch of jokers. BTW Ready there isn't and has never been a 3.3 litre X3 in either petrol or diesel guise.

WMittens · 06/09/2014 16:09

BMW all the way. Build quality, ... Get a diesel.

Except for the swirl flaps, which break up, get blown into the engine doing a very nice job of destroying it.

"Swirl flaps are a BMW system to aid cylinder combustion and efficiency on diesels as diesels do not have throttles plates to regulate air/fuel mix, so naturally tend to run between lean and rich conditions wildly because throttle is controlled solely by the fuel injection on diesels..

"Unfortunately swirlflaps are also a bit of a design abomination as well and responsible for countless destroyed engines and expensive repairs due the flaps disintergrating from fatigue and the metal parts of the swirlflap are ingested into the relevant cylinder of the engine causing catastrophic damage."

ReadyToBreak · 06/09/2014 16:29

Correct, the X3 was a 3.0ltr turbo charged diesel m sport and their X5 is a 3.0ltr turbocharged diesel m sport. My bad.

Still doesn't change the fact they're getting fantastic mpg and in 20+ years of continual BMW ownership they've never had a car off the road.

Likewise, my BMWs have been the best out of all the cars I've owned - Citroens, Peugeots, Land Rovers, Vauxhalls and Audis.

But as any car thread will show that we have all had good/bad experiences with different brands.

Best OP can do is test drive the hell out the ones they're interested in and see which one they like the best.

WMittens · 06/09/2014 17:03

Citroens, Peugeots, Land Rovers, Vauxhalls and Audis

Sure, BMW is 'least worst' in that company

ramrod757 · 06/09/2014 17:42

Ready I've grown up with BMWs. My folks have had them exclusively since the early 80s. I've had a few and have one currently. All have had issues. The highlights include replacement engines in a 5 and 7 series both owned from new, both with under 30k miles. Add an endless list of other problems in cars under 3 years old from blown turbos on the 3 litre diesel to untraceable electrical gremlins on an 18 month old 7 series. One 320d in the family threw a £2.5k bill just after its 3rd birthday and was swiftly replaced with a Lexus which has been utterly trouble free. I would not wish to own a BMW out of warranty unless I had the ability to repair it myself which I am in the fortunate position to be able to do. The reliability ratings seem to back up my experiences.

ReadyToBreak · 06/09/2014 18:47

That's the thing we are just a handful of people giving our experiences. I have to say my parents have not kept their every day cars for more than a year or two, so perhaps that's why they've been so lucky. Although my ex had a few older BMW estates that just ran and ran. Time will tell with mine.

I've got friends who swear by Fords and others that have had no luck with them. And some who swear by Audi but i wouldn't touch one with a bargepole.

And so on.

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