The Nissan Qashqai, Mazda CX-5 and Dacia Duster are aimed at people who want a more interesting
alternative to the average family hatch or estate car.
And being available with all-wheel drive means they have some off-roading ability.
But which one of these three is the best buy?
To find out we are going to compare how they drive, how practical they are and what exactly
you get for your money.
But what about fashion Mat?
After all people often buy SUVs and crossovers because of the way they look --so I think
we should start with that.
All right then Rebecca, there's the three car.
After three we will point at the one we think is the best looking...
I'll count then.
One...
two... three....
Okay so that test wasn't particularly objective Shall we move on to something less subjective
then like boot space?
The CX5 has the biggest boot.
And I really like the way the parcel shelf raises up so you don't have to remove it and
see through it.
I like how you can fold the seats flat using the levers from the boot and they spilt three
way.
Look they lie flat and there's no load lip.
The Dusters boot is almost as big as the Mazda's but there is more of a load lip and there
is an annoying ridge when you fold the seats down.
You don't get that problem with the Nissan thanks to a false floor but the overall volume
is smaller.
So what we are saying is that in terms of boot practicality the Mazda is best.
Yes, followed by the Duster and then the Qashqai.
But what about in car cubbies Rebecca?
The Mazda is a bit lacking, the Nissan is, good but the duster rules.
Perfect for carrying large bottles then...
And bananas.
So here we are in the back seats of the Mazda CX5 and the reason for that is...
It's got the most room for rear passengers Mat...
That's right.
It does come with one caveat though the middle seat is quite small so it's not quite as good
for carrying three abreast as the Duster.
But overall it does beat it.
You will probably be fine cos you're short...
The Nissan has the same problem with the middle seat as the Mazda but is also slightly less
roomy in the back than the Duster.
So it's the worst for carrying rear passengers.
Let's move on to Quality and in this respect the Nissan is the most upmarket.
It has the poshest feeling materials and nicest looking cabin.
The CX5 is well made and according to the 2013 Driver Power Owner Statisfaction survey
Mazda is the most reliable brand of the three.
However the CX5 feels a little dull inside.
As for the Duster.
Well oh dear, it's way off the pace here.
And it's the only car here not to achieve a full five star Euro NCAP safety rating either.
Thing is though Mat, the Duster is by far and away the cheapest car here.
The entry car is less than half the price of the Mazda -- which is the most expensive
of the three.
And you can get the range-topping model with all-wheel drive for less than the starting
price of the Nissan.
You can actually get it with a central locking differential so it's surprisingly capable
of road -- the best here definately.
However, you do actually need that range topper as it's the only one which gets air conditioning.
And who would buy a car without that?
Even then though it's still dead cheap -- in fact you can see all the prices of these cars
by visiting Carbuyer.co.uk.
And while I know you can't get any of the fancy gadgets that you have on the Nissan,
like surround cameras and self park, in terms of honest to goodness value for money this
car wins.
That's as maybe Rebecca but as you are always reminding me Rebecca you get what you pay
for.
So come on - how the Duster compares to the other three to drive on the road.
Well visibility is great and comfort is generally good but is compromised by the fact you can't
alter the reach of the steering wheel.
The suspension deals with bumps well enough but the ride isn't as composed as composed
as the other two cars.
And the handling...
well let's just say it's..... wollowy.
Then there's the engines.
There's a 1.6 petrol but really the diesel is the only one to have.
It's alright but even though it's essentially the same Renault sourced 1.5-litre diesel
you get in the Nissan in the duster it's actually noisier, not as economical and feels slower.
Really this car just feels a bit old fashioned doesn't it.
That's right, Mat it does.
But what about the Mazda CX-5?
Immediately this feels so much better.
It's as thought we are back in the 21st Century again...
Actually this is a good car to drive and it does a lot of things well.
It's the most sporty both in terms of handling and how the controls feel.
The gear shift is awesome -- have a go on that Rebecca.
That's nice that is so is the ride quality.
The engines are good too -- the 148bhp 2.2-ltre diesel can do over 60mph and the 178hp version
feels genuinely fast though it's only available with all-wheel drive and that hurts economy.
And anyway the Duster is better off road..
Still Rebecca the Mazda is the better road car and that's where most people will be driving
these things.
Speaking of which what do you think of the Nissan?
Well it's not quite as sporty as the Mazda but it is a touch more comfortable.
In fact I think Nissan have got the balance between comfort and handling just perfect
for this type of vehicle.
My only real problem is visibility.
It's good forward but rear ward it is even worse than the Mazda and nowhere near as good
as the Duster.
Speaking of the Duster -- you know how I said they had a similar 1.5-litre engine.
You'd hardly know would you.
It's just smoother and more powerful.
Okay so it's not quite as good as the diesel in the Mazda but then it can do over 70 miles
per gallon so this Nissan is not only the best car to drive it's the cheapest to run.
Right then Mat -- we know these three cars are the most highly recommended SUVs on the
CarBuyer website, but which one do we think is best.
Well it has to be the Nissan Qashqai -- it's the best to drive, cheapest to run, is the
most stylish, has loads of technology, and while not the most practical of the three
it's still going to be able to accommodate most families.
But what's second Rebecca?
Well it has to be the Duster simply because it offers such great value.
It gives you a spacious 4x4 for supermini money.
And that means that third is the Mazda CX5.
But why?
Well it's the most expensive and I think that if you want this type of car the Nissan does
a better job of it.
So I'll be taking the Qashqai home if that's alright.
I thought you'd might say that...