Nissan Qashqai test (2021) | Coach Car News

The subject of this week’s test drive has been dubbed the Nissan Cashcow by some in industry circles. That’s because the Qashqai crossover almost single-handedly saved Nissan in Europe when the first generation launched in 2006.

It really popularized the idea that you can have something that looks like an off-roader without it actually needing all of the heavy, inefficient gear to make it capable in mud – and people responded in numbers.

Although virtually every other manufacturer has followed suit and produced a competitor, the Nissan original continues to dominate sales of the crossover class in the UK. With 52,532 registrations in 2019, it was the fifth best-selling car in the UK, beating rival Ford Kuga by over 10,000. It even managed to maintain its position in the extraordinary year of 2020.

As well as being a success story for Nissan, the Qashqai is also a flagship for British car manufacturing, having been produced in Sunderland from the start. As carmaker after carmaker shuts down its manufacturing base in the UK – Honda made its last Civic in Swindon just a few weeks ago – it’s encouraging to see that the new third-generation Qashqai continues to be made here.

Technical specifications

Tested model: Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 158 Tekna

Price: £ 31,565

Tested price: £ 32,710

Engine: 4 cyl in line, 1332cc, turbo, gasoline

Transmission: six-speed manual

Drive train layout: front engine, front wheel drive

Model tested

Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 158 Tekna

See all specs and rivals

Motor

4 cylinders in line, 1332cc, turbo, petrol

Transmission

Six-speed manual

Drive train arrangement

Front engine, front wheel drive

Couple

192 lb-ft at 1800-4000 rpm

Couple

192 lb-ft at 1800-4000 rpm

The second-gen Qashqai has been around since 2013, so it’s remarkable that while it lags somewhat behind the best of the competition, it has kept pace in terms of sales. So it makes sense that Nissan is moving cautiously with the new one. Indeed, its strategy of making its purely electric SUV, the Ariya, a full-fledged model leaves room for the EV to be a little more daring, while the Qashqai remains a pleasure for the crowds.