New family is complete

27th August 2006

The Qashqai is the final piece of Nissan's family car jigsaw. The SUV is the third in a trio of new models that will succeed the brand's long-serving Almera hatchback.

Rather than replace the family car with one model, the firm will rely on three all-new machines to win over buyers. The Note supermini-MPV has already impressed us with its bargain price and unbeatable versatility, but customers wanting more space will be able to opt for the larger Versa.

This car is already on sale in the US - and in Japan, badged Tiida - and a UK variant will be a more conventional Ford Focus-style hatch. Tuning is still ongoing to adapt the Versa for European tastes, and a version modified for British tarmac is expected to arrive next year.

That leaves the Qashqai to cater for buyers who want an off-roader-style model, with a higher driving posi-tion and chunky bodywork.