Mini Cooper Clubman or Nissan Qashqai or something else?!

[funnyfoursome]

I'm torn! This is a head vs heart decision!
I have had the same largish diesel car for 10 years and looking to buy a smaller nippier more economical car with better visibility mostly for school runs and ferrying 2 DC and their school bags plus odd friend around.
Had a 48 drive with the Mini CC last week and loved it to drive!! Amazing fun to drive. I'm petite and it was just my size, split rear doors bit annoying but we all fitted in perfectly. The Nissan Qashqai is the sensible option I quite liked - brilliant visibility, very high, supposedly economical, but it just felt a tad sluggish and DULL after the Mini. Do I need to suck it up and buy a boring Mum car, or have a bit of fun in a practical Mini??!! (interestingly not that much more expensive for a 2 year old car)

Possibly not helpful at all but I've just bought a Citroen c3 aircross which I absolutely love. I wanted a mini clubman but the aircross seemed a more practical choice.

Nissan comes top of the list in most polls for unreliability so...

Look at the Kia Sportage. I love them

Mini.

I got rid of a mini for a qashqai and wished I hadn't.

The qashqai is a false economy - not actually any bigger than say a Ford Focus. I found the room in the back abysmal. Boot disappointing. Not particularly economical. It's just a big bodied car.

Go for the mini!

I've got my eye on the EV version!

Life is too short to have a car you don't really like, the Qashqai although very popular, is not really regarded as a great car, definitely go for the Mini, as you say so good to drive.

You could try a MINI Countryman. I went from a MINI Cooper hatchback to a nearly-new Countryman after getting pregnant and the drive and 'feel' is very similar. The Countryman has the higher driving position you liked in the Nissan and a very generous boot (the clubman's is actually quite small, I considered it and discounted it) with loads of room in the back, but still has the MINI aesthetics and personality.

Agree with a PP that life is too short to have a car you feel "blah" about.

Quashquai. Or VW Tiguan. X

Sorry, both of those cars are shit and unreliable.

Buy something else - and not French either!

I love my Kia Sportage

I live my Clubman. Stylish and solid

Thank you all! I will look up the Citroen and the Kia!
Farting in the Fence - do you have any recommendations? Btw Mini are not French - I use to live in Oxford and they are made there I think ...

Yes good point - life is too short to have a blah car. I've always loved my cars - have had this Honda Civic for 10 odd years. Am wondering if I should look at a petrol Ford Focus for a mix of practicality and great handling?

I never said Mini's were French. I just said avoid French cars.

What do I recommend? Well, depends what you want and what your budget is?

On the one hand you want a small Mini and on the other a Nissan Qashit - sizeable differences. So many cars in between. As long as you go Japanese or Korean, you will be fine.

My last Mini Countryman was made in Austria!

I was looking at at 5 door Mini hatch or a Countryman but ended up going with the Fiat 500l Trekking instead and couldn't be happier.
When I saw the backseats in the Mini, I knew it wasn't right for me. I have 2 DC but often give lifts to their friends. I can fit three booster seats in the back and because its the Trekking model it's quite high up and has good visibility. Cheap to run and fun to drive. Very very happy with my choice.
But in the future I will have a Mini

I've had 2 minis and one was a Clubman. I loved it so much! I wish I still had it but our family outgrew it. Brilliant fun to drive.