Used test: Honda Civic vs Nissan Qasqhai interiors

Interiors

Driving position, visibility, build quality, practicality

You might not believe this, but you sit higher up in the SUV than you do in the family car. Shocking, we know. Which one's better is up to personal preference. Both cars offer natural-feeling driving positions and plenty of adjustment.  

General visibility is good in either car, although it's easier to see out of the Nissan Qashqai. Of course, its height grants you a grander view of the road, but its taller rear window makes for a better view out of the back.

You get front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and a 360-degree camera with the Qashqai's Tekna+ trim, while the Honda Civic's SR trim has all of that, bar the 360-degree camera. 

Both of our contenders have rather drab interiors, with the Qashqai's design being and looking more dated. You'll find few soft-touch materials and plenty of scratchy plastics in either car: build quality feels solid, though.

The Civic and Qashqai's infotainment systems show their age, the former one being worse. The Civic's screen can often prove sluggish to respond and there's some unintuitive touch-sensitive controls, too. However, at least the Civic gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – the Qashqai lacks smartphone mirroring.

Points for interior space go to the Qashqai. The Civic is great for rear leg room – better than the already-good Qashqai, actually – but it's coupé-inspired sloping roofline eats into head room and means that taller individuals might struggle.

Both of our contender feature rear seats that fold in a 60/40-split fashion. 

You might be surprised to learn that the Civic has a slightly more capacious boot than the Qashqai does: we managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases in the Civic, while its rival swallowed six. 

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