Car reviews

The Qashqai is described by Nissan as a crossover - in other words it's a cross between a normal hatchback and an off roader. This may sound like an odd notion but the result is a real success and the modern, chunky styling looks great. It's actually an indirect replacement for the Almera and rivals the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Honda Civic - if you're after something different from the norm the Qashqai (pronounced Cash-kai) fits the bill perfectly. All versions are well equipped, comfortable and good to drive - although it's fairly pricey compared to the competition. Four-wheel drive versions are available but the majority of sales in the UK are standard front-wheel drive models. The Qashqai is also a very British car - it was designed and developed in the UK and is built at Nissan's plant in Sunderland.