Nissan Qashqai Hatchback

1.3 DiG-T MH 158 N-Design 5dr Xtronic [2024]

The Nissan Qashqai isn’t particularly a car that jumps out at you.

Its family-friendly, unassuming nature would make you believe it's just any other motor.

Yet the truth is anything but – it’s stupidly popular.

Not only has it been a regular fixture in the top handful of cars leased or sold each year since its launch, but it's also been a trailblazer for the popularity of SUVs in the United Kingdom.

Before the Qashqai came along, most SUVs were proper 4x4s. But the rise of the Chelsea Tractor – affluent Londoners who lease Range Rovers without any intention of ever taking them off-road – rubbed off on the rest of the country.

The result was that every day, families wanted a slice of the pie.

Once the Qashqai came along, the rest of the automotive world followed suit – and the SUV crossover began to take over from the more traditional family hatchback.

To make things even better, the UK can take some pride in the success of the Japanese manufacturer, as the Qashqai has been built in the northeast of England since it first saw the light of day.

It has been around for 18 years now – and the latest iteration is here. It is a facelifted version of its third-generation model, based on the CMF-C platform from Nissan’s alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi, which was first launched in 2021.

The new car's upgrades include exterior styling tweaks and modifications to the interior, although its outer dimensions remain the same as before.

So, is it any good? We are hoping so – and we’ll now find out.