Is this the new Nissan success story? It’s safe to assume so, although competition in the SUV business has increased significantly since the first Qashqai model was launched in 2007.

Nissan Qashqai owners are probably already waiting for deliveries of the new, third-generation Qashqai to start. We had a chance to get a quick feel of the new model.

Qashqai users are unlikely to be disappointed with the new model. I think it’s everything you’d expect from a family car like this. The car is pleasant to drive and there’s a bit more interior space, although the exterior dimensions haven’t been increased. The biggest increase is in boot space, which now stands at over 500 litres.

Nissan said it had asked existing Qashqai owners for their views on the car. One wish has been that the car should not increase in size.

The car has received a host of additional driver assistance and safety features.

Pleasant to drive

Nissan has done well with its new Qashqai. The test drive was a pleasant experience and there was nothing to complain about.

The driver feels comfortable and the adjustments are quickly put in place. Everything you need is within easy reach.

The driveability is spot on. The steering has been improved by moving the power steering to a rack and pinion. This gives a slightly better feel to the steering.

The suspension works well and copes well on Finland’s poor roads.

The car is available with both manual and CVT automatic gearboxes. The automatic’s ‘rubber band-like’ rev rise has been corrected by artificial bumps in the gearbox.

The Qashqai has never been a rocket ship, and it doesn’t need to be. The engines are powerful enough for everyday family use.

The chassis performs well on the road. Tyre noise doesn’t intrude into the cabin, only at motorway speeds does it start to hiss a little more.

Versatile safety equipment

The Qashqai will initially be launched with a 1.3-litre petrol engine. Next year, a series hybrid will make the car an “electric car”. This means that the car is driven solely by an electric motor and the internal combustion engine recharges the battery.

There are now 138 and 158 hp engines available with the light hybrid system.

Nissan offers a comprehensive range of safety equipment. Best of all, a comprehensive safety package is standard on even the cheapest model.

These include intelligent cruise control, cross-traffic alert, emergency braking in reverse, automatic headlight replacement, driver alertness monitoring, predictive rear cross-traffic alert and emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. Lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition are also standard.

The cheapest version of the new Qashqai costs €28,050. The cheapest model with a more powerful engine costs €34 350.

The first customers will receive their car in August. The majority of customers are likely to be existing Qashqai users.