Nissan’s small Qashqai SUV impressed me recently. A great small SUV engineered by Nissan UK, and with lightweight aluminium body panels now 60 kilos lighter yet 41 per cent torsionally stiffer – four front-wheel drive models powered by a 1.3-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder linked to a CVT automatic. I’d previously tested the top spec Ti but recently drove the next model down the ST- L, perhaps the Qashqai’s best seller at $45,900 driveaway, not the most affordable in small SUV’s but nevertheless well-equipped and packaged. The ST-L gaining 1- inch larger 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, heated combination cloth / synthetic leather seats, power driver’s seat and manually adjustable passenger seat, thankfully with height adjustment, front parking sensors, a wireless smartphone charger, privacy glass, rear air vents but disappointingly lacking a rear power door which is just so handy. The Nissan Qashqai cabin well sized and packaged for a small family with excellent ISOFIX child tether points and with above average boot space and importantly, a five-star ANCAP crash safety rating. The Qashqai ST-L gains a great 12.3 inch touch screen, the usability and clarity of which is first class with great menus. Service costs on the expensive side at $670 per year over six years.

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