Nissan is to be applauded for the route it has taken with the development of the Qashqai – its Ford Focus rival.
The exterior styling really offers something different in this class. It goes beyond what Honda did with the introduction of the latest Civic in terms of producing a car that stands out in the segment.
However, driving the car in the UK you can’t help feel that people will think it’s a four-wheel drive, even though it’s not (at least in the majority of cases). And the downside to that is that people who don’t know cars think you’re killing the environment.
On the car’s launch we tested the diesel engines and we’ve now driven the range-topping 165PS 2.0-litre petrol. At £16,171 it feels good value, until you look at the running costs and find rivals such as the Honda Civic, VW Golf and Ford Focus are all cheaper.
It all comes down to how much you’re willing to pay to be different.
Verdict: Great, but petrol lets the costs side down
