Nissan Qashqai +2 SUV review, test drive

Nissan’s mould-breaking Qashqai shook the European market by its roots in 2007. Car buyers loved it because it was the ideal compromise between a hatchback and an SUV, and sales soared. Known as a crossover because it allegedly stood at the crossover point between the two body styles and made no pretensions about having any off-road ability, it was successful enough to spawn a whole host of “me-too” cars. 

A crossover craze is currently sweeping across the length and breadth of India too. Ford’s EcoSport is currently India’s most wanted car, with demand outstripping supply several times over. It’s not difficult to understand the appeal of these cars; they look like off-roaders but drive like cars. And that’s exactly what the Nissan Qashqai promises. 

But what’s the car really like? It’s no off-roader for sure, but it certainly looks like one. The chassis sits a fair way off the ground, the SUV stance is all there and many of the details make it look like a pukka 4X4. It has cladding running around the bottom of the car, there are roof rails on the top, and it also has a sort of squared-off bonnet. I say “sort of” because, stylistically, the nose of the car is probably its most attractive bit. The cladding blends nicely at the bottom of the nose in a ‘V’ and this is reflected in Nissan’s grille. The nicest bits, however, are the twin, snout-like ridges on the bonnet.