New Nissan Qashqai 2010

Built in Britain and better than ever - the Nissan Qashqai is being revised for 2010. Nissan's mid-size crossover model will undergo an extensive update in the spring of 2010 to cement its position as the class-leading, pioneering alternative to the traditional hatchback.

Since its European launch in March 2007, the Nissan Qashqai has exceeded all sales ambitions, with the 500,000th customer delivery scheduled to take place later this month. This has helped the British manufacturing industry through the recession, as all Qashqais are built at Nissan's Sunderland plant here in the UK.

Crossover type of car this is the first of its kind, blending SUV styling and practicality with the size and handling of medium-sized hatchback. This may have been an innovator, but the public bought, many young families among them, devouring the new concept with an unexpected happy. Nissan has been struggling to meet demand ever since.

Three years and competitors are multiplying Qashqai. Nissan's rivals may not find a crossover, but they have busied themselves with improving the idea and the last 12 months have seen the introduction of a number of arguably superior car segment, including the Skoda Yeti and Peugeot 3008.

This mid-life facelift is the right time, but Nissan has done the work carefully to understand. The car may have just begun to show its age, but very popular, which means companies will not destroy the golden goose by introducing drastic changes.

So the latest model to get a new nose to replace the sharp end of front bore the original car, but it is in accordance with the DNA Qashqai. New hood and grille give the crossover a Hawkish gaze, but an important profile of the car remains unchanged. Even less has been going on inside. Nissan has replaced the instrument and playing with some materials, but the interior will be familiar to trafficking in persons in older models.

The Qashqai is available in four trim levels, Visia, Acenta, Tekna and the n-TEC. All well-equipped enough, even the entry-level Visia receive air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity and MP3, six airbags and Isofix baby seat anchors. The-n TEC is probably the go for though, when adding navigation satellites, spy cameras and a panoramic glass roof as desired.

Nissan claims to have filled an order for 11 000 new Qashqai shortly after it began taking deposits, and given the success of the original car we can believe that. They exchanged their old crossover parts are unlikely to be disappointed; the latest dramatic step forward Qashqai is not in any way, but with a little breathing a trendsetter Nissan has managed to polish it just enough to collect a few more years the desire.

Ensuring the top quality Qashqai remains a top seller in the UK, prices remain highly competitive. Complete with its new styling and dynamic enhancements, the entry-level model costs £15,395, while ownership of a diesel powered Nissan Qashqai is available from £16,795.

What's more, ESP is now fitted as standard across range adding to the Nissan Qashqai's reassuring safety equipment. The specification of Acenta grade and above has now been enhanced with the inclusion of a standard Speed Limiter, while Tekna gains a Bose speaker system. All equipment upgrades apply to both Nissan Qashqai and Qashqai+2.

Simon Thomas, Nissan's European Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing comments: "When Nissan Qashqai was launched in Europe in 2007, we were optimistic customers would recognise that it offered an alternative to the traditional hatchback or compact SUV. However, we had to increase production to meet demand and two-and-a-half years later, demand hasn't relented. Qashqai has been key at reinforcing Nissan's position as an innovator in the European market. The updates to Nissan Qashqai make it even more attractive and will continue to bring new customers to Nissan for the first time."