The Qashqai is one of the UK public’s most popular cars.

That’s a statement frequently used to describe the Qashqai, but it’s a true one.

The crossover is to be found regularly in the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ top ten list of best-sellers every month, and Nissan sells on average more than 2000 units every month.

The car is also a top-seller in Europe too. The Qashqai has recently passed the 1,000,000 sold mark worldwide after just four years in production. This impressive record is due to the car offering its customers the ‘best of both worlds’ believes Guillaume Masurel, Nissan’s global chief marketing manager for Qashqai.

‘Qashqai is clearly the pioneer when it comes to ‘Compact Crossovers’, setting the trend that others in the industry follow,’ said Masurel.

‘Its balance of key SUV attributes like robust design, roomy interior and higher driving position combined with the benefits of a hatchback such as great fuel economy, compactness and driving dynamics, resonates well with customers around the world.

‘Combining the innovative concept with customer-oriented technology features, the Qashqai clearly demonstrates Nissan’s unique approach to meet customers’ changing expectations of their cars.’

Five key facts about the Qashqai…

The name

The Qashqai borrows its name from a desert-dwelling nomadic tribe living near the Zagros mountains in South Western Iran. The car has been designed with that heritage in mind – Stephane Schwarz, Design Director at Nissan Design Europe, describes the Qashqai as an ‘Urban Nomad’. ‘It’s tough and compact for the city but sleek and agile for journeys away from the town,’ he says. ‘That’s been achieved by fusing a light, elegant and sporty upper body to a tough, planted lower body.’

New Pure Drive model

2011 model year saw one of the car’s biggest changes. A new Pure Drive variant was launched meaning it is one of the most environmentally efficient cars Nissan produces.

A weight reduction programme and the adoption of aerodynamic wheel covers, combined with the blanking of the fog lamp sockets, the fitment of low rolling resistance tyres and the lengthening of the final drive ratio all work to maximise the Qashqai Pure Drive’s efficiency. Emissions are a paltry 130 g/km while combined fuel consumption is 57.6mpg.

Around since 2003

The Qashqai might have been launched in 2006, but work on the car started well before then. Engineers began their work on it in 2003, with a show car appearing at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. Few believed that Nissan would be bold enough to enter the car into the C-segment.

Nissan Europe developed

The Qashqai was signed off by Nissan in Japan, but the development phase was undertaken by Nissan Development Europe. The Qashqai was the first car to have been developed by NDE which went on to become not just a car for Europe but for the world as well.

First with ‘C’ Platform

It’s the first European vehicle to have been built on the now highly regarded Nissan/Renault ‘C’ Platform. The Qashqai was such a success that popular models like the Renault Megane Mk. III, Renault Kangoo Mk. II, Renault Scenic Mk. III, Renault Fluence and the Nissan X-Trail Mk. II all used the Qashqai’s platform.

What do the press think of it?

What Car? said…

The Qashqai makes a brilliant family car because it’s roomy, comfortable, refined and affordable to run. The king-of-the-road driving position is another plus point, and standard equipment is good.

Auto Express said…

Ever since it replaced the uninspiring Almera as Nissan’s family car offering, the Qashqai has been an Auto Express favourite. The Qashqai still makes a convincing family 4×4, because it looks good and is affordable to run.

Parkers.co.uk said…

The Qashqai is described by Nissan as a crossover. This may sound like an odd notion but the result is a real success and the modern, chunky styling looks great. If you’re after something different from the norm the Qashqai fits the bill perfectly. All versions are well equipped, comfortable and good to drive.

The Times said…

The Nissan Qashqai is an illusion, and a pretty successful one at that. Designed to appeal to consumers who can’t quite bring themselves to live with the social stigma or financial burden of driving traditional 4x4s, it replicates their best features.