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Nissan Qashqai vs Toyota C-HR: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Toyota C-HR does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 8.4 percentage points ahead of the Nissan Qashqai on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 73,321 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict; the common faults below cover the rest.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Nissan Qashqai
Pass rate73.5%
Age-matched national78.6%
Difference-5.2
Tests62,848
Toyota C-HR
Pass rate90.6%
Age-matched national87.3%
Difference+3.2
Tests10,473

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Nissan Qashqais registered 2007–2022 and Toyota C-HRs registered 2017–2022.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Nissan Qashqai

J11 2014–2021, J12 2021+ · compact crossover SUV

The Nissan Qashqai J11 (2014–2021) suffers from 1.5 dCi DPF and injector issues pre-2018, plus CVT (X-Tronic) judder on the 1.6 petrol. The J12 (2021+) has fewer owner-reported faults, mainly minor e-Power inverter and rear-wiper concerns, but DVSA lists J12 recalls too (R/2025/424, a fuel pipe that can wear and leak, 101,557 vehicles built 4 May 2021 to 17 October 2024). Best-buy: J12 2022+. Worst: J11 1.5 dCi pre-2018.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2020/220recall
    Possible reduced retention force of the rear door child lock switch
    299,631 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 28 September 2015 and 3 March 2018
    Large recall — 299,631 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2025/424recall
    Qashqai (J12) Fuel Pipe
    101,557 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 4 May 2021 and 17 October 2024
    Large recall — 101,557 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • 1.5 dCi DPF + injectors (J11)major
    Engine warning light; limp mode; DPF full message
    J11 1.5 dCi 2014–2018 · Typical issue from 50,000 miles · DPF clean £400–£700; injector set £1,400+; combined often £2,000+
    Check: Avoid 1.5 dCi if possible. Diagnostic scan mandatory. Service history showing repeat DPF events is a red flag.
  • CVT (X-Tronic) judder (J11 1.6 petrol)major
    Shudder under acceleration; rubber-band feel; warning at high speed
    J11 1.6 DIG-T petrol · 50,000+ miles · CVT replacement £2,500–£4,000
    Check: Long test drive including motorway acceleration. Any judder = walk away.
Typical asking price:
£4,750–£11,985, median £7,850 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
J12 e-Power: 44–51 mpg. J11 1.5 dCi: 47–57 mpg when running well.
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2022, 2023, 2024
Years to avoid:
2014–2017 (1.5 dCi)
Used Nissan Qashqais for saleFull Qashqai fault guideUsed Nissans

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Toyota C-HR

Mk1 (2016–2023) · B/C crossover SUV with a distinctive coupe-SUV styling. Launched in the UK in late 2016 with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol and the 1.8 Hybrid (122 PS); the 2.0 Hybrid (184 PS) arrived in 2020 and the line-up later became hybrid-only. No diesel variant.

The Toyota C-HR Hybrid has a strong reliability record — the hybrid system is proven and needs little unscheduled maintenance. The trade-offs are a cramped rear seat under the coupe roofline and a 377-litre boot. Some 2017–2022 builds are covered by DVSA brake-pedal and fuel-pump recalls, so check by registration.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2022/055recall
    The initialization of the radar sensor may not have been completed correctly
    42,554 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 20 March 2020 and 26 July 2021
    Large recall — 42,554 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2018/240recall
    Engine wire harness connected to hybrid vehicle power control unit could contact cover
    32,393 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 26 May 2016 and 8 May 2018
    Large recall — 32,393 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • CVT transmission whine or noiseminor
    High-pitched whine from transmission under hard acceleration; "rubbery" CVT feel above 60 mph
    All years (1.8 Hybrid CVT) · Above 50,000 miles — noise can increase with age · £0 — often normal CVT characteristics; ATF fluid change (£150–£250) can reduce noise on older units
    Check: Accelerate firmly from 35–60 mph and listen for transmission noise. The 1.8 Hybrid CVT makes a characteristic high-pitched tone under hard acceleration — this is normal. Persistent grinding or rattling (rather than the characteristic tone) should be investigated.
  • 12V auxiliary battery failuremoderate
    Car fails to start; warning lights at startup; hybrid system fault codes; "ready" light does not illuminate
    All years approaching 4–5 years old · From 4 years old regardless of mileage · £120–£250 12V auxiliary battery replacement
    Check: On any C-HR approaching 5 years old, proactively budget for 12V auxiliary battery replacement. This is the most common unscheduled repair on the C-HR — the main traction battery is excellent, but the 12V auxiliary battery that wakes the hybrid system is a wear item.
Typical asking price:
£10,995–£19,834, median £13,995 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
53–58 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.8 Hybrid, 50–54 mpg for the 2.0 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheets).
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2020, 2021, 2022
Years to avoid:
2016
Used Toyota C-HRs for saleFull C-HR fault guideUsed Toyotas

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Nissan Qashqai

Good for: Family buyers wanting practical compact SUV. Strong UK-spec features (heated seats, large boot).

Less good for: Buyers tempted by sub-£11k J11 1.5 dCi without service history — repair bills can quickly exceed purchase price.

Toyota C-HR

Good for: Buyers who prioritise reliability and low ownership costs above all else. Urban and suburban drivers who don't need large rear space or a big boot. Buyers who want Toyota's proven hybrid system in a compact crossover body.

Less good for: Families with teenagers or tall passengers in the rear — the C-HR rear headroom is significantly compromised by the coupe roofline. Buyers who regularly carry large loads — the 377-litre boot is small for the class. Buyers who need to tow more than a light trailer — Toyota rates the C-HR Hybrid at 725 kg, braked or unbraked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Nissan Qashqai or the Toyota C-HR?
On the MOT measure, the Toyota C-HR: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 8.4 percentage points ahead of the Nissan Qashqai on first-time MOT passes, across 73,321 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Nissan Qashqai and the Toyota C-HR compare?
73.5% of Nissan Qashqais pass their MOT first time (62,848 tests in DVSA's records) and 90.6% of Toyota C-HRs pass their MOT first time (10,473 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Nissan Qashqai's age average 78.6% and cars of the Toyota C-HR's age 87.3% — so the Nissan Qashqai runs 5.2 points worse than its age group and the Toyota C-HR runs 3.2 points better than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Nissan Qashqai and Toyota C-HR should I avoid?
Nissan Qashqai: J11 1.5 dCi pre-2018 had cascading DPF and injector issues; ownership in the UK often stacked £2,000+ in repairs by 60,000 miles. Toyota C-HR: 2016–2017 launch cars: a small number of CVT transmission noise complaints and early infotainment software issues. Also, pre-facelift 1.8 Hybrid's CVT can feel sluggish on motorway overtakes. These are minor concerns — the C-HR was reliable from launch, just less polished. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2017 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid.
Is the Nissan Qashqai or the Toyota C-HR cheaper to run?
On fuel it depends on the engine. Nissan Qashqai: J12 e-Power: 44–51 mpg. J11 1.5 dCi: 47–57 mpg when running well. Toyota C-HR: 53–58 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.8 Hybrid, 50–54 mpg for the 2.0 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheets). WLTP figures are official lab results; your own driving can return a different figure. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Nissan Qashqai or Toyota C-HR registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.