Nissan Qashqai vs Peugeot 3008: used car comparison

Published: 22 December 2023

If you’re looking for a mid-size SUV that’s family friendly, fuel-efficient and packed with features, both the Nissan Qashqai and the Peugeot 3008 are solid choices. But what are their relative strengths and weaknesses and which one would be best for you? Our guide has the details.

We’re looking here at the second-generation Peugeot 3008, sold new from 2016, and the second-generation Nissan Qashqai, sold new from 2014 to 2021.

The Nissan Qashqai is 4,394mm long, 2,070mm wide including door mirrors and 1,590mm high. The Peugeot 3008 is slightly bigger in all areas, but unless you’re absolutely squeezing your car into a tight space, you’re unlikely to notice much difference. For the record, the Peugeot is longer at 4,447mm, wider at 2,098mm and higher at 1,624mm.

By contrast, some rivals like the Hyundai Tucson are slightly larger still, but others like the Seat Ateca are a couple of centimetres smaller in all dimensions. Essentially, the Qashqai and the 3008 are pretty average sizes for this type of car.

The design of the Peugeot 3008 is one of its key selling points, with a very modern, eye-catching look both inside and out, especially in cars from 2020 onwards which have new bumper and headlight designs for an even sharper look. The interior has a very high-tech appearance, and the unusual small steering wheel (you look over the top of it to  see driving information) makes it stand out among its rivals.

The Nissan Qashqai, by contrast, is more conservative in its styling, although it still has sleek elements. It was updated in 2017, so cars from after that look a little more contemporary. The Qashqai’s interior looks more traditional but all the materials are of a high quality.

Nissan and Peugeot took very different approaches to design when it came to the interior of the Qashqai and the 3008.

The Qashqai looks more traditional, with an understated but smart dashboard design and an infotainment screen in the centre. If we’re honest, it looks a little dated by modern standards, especially in cars made before 2018, which is when the Qashqai received an update. Cars made from the end of 2018 have an upgraded infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The quality of materials used is high, feeling durable and solid.

The quality of the materials is also high in the Peugeot, but the design is very different. The 3008 is unashamedly flashy and futuristic, with a digital display instead of traditional dials, and you peer over the small, low-mounted steering wheel to see it. (Incidentally, it’s worth checking that your preferred seating position gives you a good view of the display – some people may find the wheel sits right in their field of vision unless they drop it very low.)

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on every 3008. While the infotainment system looks great, it can take a while to learn how to use and it isn’t the fastest to respond to your touches, but it’s still very usable.

Both the Nissan Qashqai and the Peugeot 3008 have more than enough space to carry four adults in comfort over long distances. Neither is as roomy as the Skoda Karoq, but unless you have six-foot-plus people in the back, it’s unlikely to be an issue. Be aware that with both cars, models with a sunroof have slightly less headroom in the back.

It’s worth mentioning that if you need to carry seven people, consider the Peugeot 5008: it’s essentially a stretched version of the 3008 with an extra row of seats.

The Nissan Qashqai has a decent-size boot with a 430-litre capacity, a jump up from what you get in most mid-sized hatchbacks. However, if you want the maximum load space, the Peugeot 3008 is a clear winner with a roomy 591 litres. That’s  one of the biggest boots for this type of car.

Remember, however, that the hybrid versions of the 3008 have smaller boots, because of where their battery packs are located.

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Both the Nissan Qashqai and the Peugeot 3008 put comfort at the fore, so if you’re after a sporty experience they might not be for you. Consider instead something like the Seat Ateca.

The Qashqai has light steering that makes it easy to manoeuvre in town and the suspension does a great job at taking the sting out of lumps and bumps in the road. It feels composed and comfortable on winding roads or on the motorway, and a range of petrol and diesel engines gives you lots of choice. None of the engines are hugely powerful, but some do prioritise efficiency and others offer a little extra oomph when you accelerate. While the post-2021 Qashqai is available as a hybrid, the previous-generation model we’re looking at doesn’t offer any electric or hybrid option.

There are hybrid and plug-in hybrid 3008 models, as well as regular petrol and diesel models. Comfort in the 3008 is really impressive thanks to its especially smooth ride. Its engines are quiet, too, while the plug-in hybrid models can travel for 40 miles or so on electric power alone when their battery is fully charged.

These cars cost much the same to buy when new and, like for like, there’s not a huge difference in how much you’ll pay for one now. Because the Qashqai was introduced two years before the 3008 you can find older, more affordable cars, however and it generally will cost you a bit less to buy.

Running costs for these cars are similar for petrol and diesel versions. Plug-in hybrid versions of the 3008 could reduce the amount you spend on fuel if you keep them fully charged but they cost more to buy in the first place.

Both the Nissan Qashqai and the Peugeot 3008 received maximum five-star scores from the safety organisation Euro NCAP. However, the Qashqai’s is from 2014 and standards have moved on since then. Still, many advanced driver safety features are fitted, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning and a driver-attention monitor. Different models have different features, so check the details on the Qashqai you’re interested in to find out what you’d get.

The 3008 was tested in 2016 and while standards have moved on since then, the car does come with a lot of safety features, including automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning.

The J.D. Power 2019 UK Vehicle Dependability Study (the most recent) ranked Peugeot as the most reliable brand of all the major car manufacturers, while Nissan wasn’t far behind in fourth place. That means you can be fairly confident in the reliability of both cars.

Nissan Qashqai

Length: 4,394mm

Width: 2,070mm (including door mirrors)

Height: 1,590mm

Boot space: 430 litres

Peugeot 3008

Length: 4,447mm

Width: 2,098mm (including door mirrors)

Height: 1,624mm

Boot space: 591 litres

Both the Nissan Qashqai and the Peugeot 3008 are well-equipped and comfortable family SUVs, and there is much to recommend about both. For us, however, the breadth of choice that the Peugeot 3008 offers, not just in trim levels but in petrol, diesel, as well as its impressive boot space and comfort, makes it the better option. It’s also sharper to look at both inside and out.

That said, because the Qashqai has been around for longer, you’ll likely find cheaper examples that are older or have a higher mileage, which could make the difference if you’re on a tighter budget. We doubt you’ll be disappointed with either model; they both do a great job at catering for family life, and both have a great reputation for reliability.

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