Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

Nissan

Qashqai

new-nissan-qashqai-long-term-review

<ul><li>The car Nissan Qashqai 1.2 N-Connecta</li> <li>Run by What Car? reviews team</li> <li>Why it’s here To find out if the Qashqai's facelift has improved its everyday driving experience</li> <li>Needs to Prove that a small petrol engine can be just as affordable as a diesel</li></ul><hr />Price £24,380 Price as tested £25,250 Miles 3549 Official economy 50.4mpg Test economy 35.5mpg Options fitted Heat Pack (£295), metallic paint (£575)<hr /><h3>28 December 2017 – Fundamentally honest</h3>Back in 2014, to celebrate the launch of the second-generation <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a>, I took part in a 5000-mile drive to Istanbul and back for an article published by our sister publication, Autocar.What struck me most about Nissan’s SUV as we toured through 21 countries over 13 days was how it placed ease of use and comfort right at the top of its list of priorities. Whether we were negotiating the potholed roads of Romanian villages or the chaotic streets of downtown Istanbul, the Qashqai never felt compromised.When the chance arose to drive our long-term test car (around the slightly less exotic roads of Hampshire and Surrey), I was interested to discover whether Nissan’s recent facelift of the Qashqai had fundamentally changed the character of the car I had grown to know very well.The answer, in short, is no. The changes are relatively subtle ones, and that’s no bad thing: everything feels reassuringly familiar, from the elevated driving position to the way all the main controls are exactly where you’d expect them to be.

There are little details that the Qashqai just gets right: big wing mirrors, for example. It might seem like a trivial detail, but it is one that not all manufacturers get right, and they’re incredibly useful when it comes to manoeuvring on busy streets. We’ve already raved about the Qashqai’s surround-view camera, but even without it, this SUV would be a cinch to park.I also like the cavernous storage bin between the front seats, the lid of which can double as a rest for the driver’s left elbow. As someone who occasionally travels with a demanding two-year-old in the back, the deep space is a godsend for mood-placating snacks, toys and packs of wipes.The recent facelift introduced some plusher materials to the Qashqai’s interior, although you’d need a very keen eye to pick them out without comparing old and new cars side by side. Our car might be fairly modestly specced in the middling N-Connecta trim, but I certainly didn’t feel shortchanged when putting it to daily use as a commuting vehicle.Our car is fitted with the 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system that was revamped as part of the overhaul. It does the job of navigation adequately enough, but in my opinion it isn’t as clear to read or as intuitive to use as the system used in Volkswagen Group cars.The Qashqai we’re running now has a 1.2-litre petrol engine under the bonnet, whereas the car I used on my drive to Turkey was a 2.0-litre diesel. As you might expect, there’s a difference in performance, and this is particularly noticeable on the motorway.

Back in 2014, we took full advantage of the unrestricted autobahn in Germany to really stretch the Qashqai’s legs. Having driven our long-term test car up and down UK motorways, I’m not convinced such an exercise would be as productive in this car. There’s less mid-range power and you really notice it on the motorway, where you need to shuffle up and down the gears more frequently to overtake.Having said that, once you’re up to speed, it certainly feels lively enough, and if you don’t do many motorway miles, this 1.2 could be all you need for urban driving and A-roads.Some rivals that have gone on sale recently may trump the Qashqai when it comes to the glitziest kit and trendiest interior appointments, but there’s something fundamentally honest and correct about Nissan’s SUV. It’s one of those cars that you feel at home in almost immediately, and I suspect that’s why so many car shoppers have been won over by it on the strength of a short test drive from a dealership.If one of my colleagues suggested we reprise our two-week cross-continent odyssey in our 2017 Qashqai, I wouldn’t have to think twice.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/long-term-tests/n15578">Read more long-term tests &gt;</a></h3><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/new-nissan-qashqai-long-term-review/n16249">More on our long-term Nissan Qashqai &gt;</a></h2>

Hatchback

NISSAN

QASHQAI

New Nissan Qashqai long-term review

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.

Small SUV

DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the Stellantis group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

The first DS models were essentially rebadged Citroëns, but more recently its cars are now standalone models in their own right. Yet under the skin, they're still very closely related.

Its models are&nbsp;influenced by the French fashion industry and are designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

DS AUTOMOBILES

DS 3

2016-ds-3-revealed-full-prices-pictures-and-engine-details

The new DS 3 has been revealed and will go on sale in the UK on 5 February.What is it?The new DS 3 was formerly known as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ds/ds-3/hatchback/review/n17340">Citroën DS3</a> until the French manufacturer decided to spin off DS as a separate car brand.As a result, this new car, available as either a hatchback or a cabriolet, has made a step upmarket as part of the DS brand’s push into the premium sector to rival the likes of Audi and BMW.The DS 3 is based on the same underpinnings as its predecessor, but it is a much-changed car, boasting a glitzy new design both inside and out, enhanced connectivity and revised engine and transmission options.The front of the car wears the new DS corporate look, with chrome ‘wings’ that extend from a deep-set grille to the swept-back LED headlights. Further back, the 3 retains some of the original car’s distinctive design features, including the floating roof and the shark fin C-pillars.The boot volume is unchanged from the previous car: 285 litres in the hatchback and 245 litres in the cabriolet. As with the previous DS 3, the potential for personalisation is vast: more than three million combinations of roof, body, rear view mirror housings, dashboard and gear knob variations can be selected. On offer will be 78 body/roof colour combinations for the hatchback and four variations of fabric roof for the cabriolet.What engines can I choose from?A total of seven engines will be offered. The petrol options comprise three Puretech three-cylinder, 1.2-litre petrols with 81, 108 and 128bhp, and two THP 1.6 four-cylinder units with 163bhp and 205bhp. There are also a brace of BlueHDi diesels with 99 and 118bhp outputs respectively.Transmission choices are either a six-speed manual or a new automatic gearbox. The PureTech 130 engine is available in the DS 3 for the first time. It produces maximum power of 128bhp at 5500rpm and peak torque of 170lb ft from 1750rpm. Combined fuel consumption for this engine is 62.8mpg and it produces a competitively low 105g/km of CO2.The cleanest variant is the DS 3 BlueHDi 100, which produces 99bhp and emits 87g/km of CO2.Topping the range for keen drivers is the DS 3 Performance, a sporty variant powered by a 1.6 petrol engine that produces 205bhp, 221lb ft and emits 125g/km of CO2.This version gets tweaks to the six-speed manual transmission and suspension, and a limited-slip differential to enhance its performance, as well as a raft of styling tweaks to the exterior and interior.How much equipment does it come with? Inside there are new trims and interior design schemes, but the biggest news here is an upgrade in technology. The 3 gets a new 7in colour touchscreen, which provides simpler access to all vehicle functions. There’s a simplified central fascia, with 20 fewer buttons. The system has Mirror Screen functionality, meaning compatible apps on a smartphone can be operated via the touchscreen.New driver assistance systems include front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and, for cars equipped with a manual gearbox, hill start assist. The five-seat DS 3 is available as a hatchback or cabriolet, with the latter featuring a retractable fabric roof that can be opened and closed at speeds of up to 70mph.How much does it cost?The entry-level DS 3 starts at £13,995 for the hatchback in Chic spec, equipped with the Puretech three-cylinder, 1.2-litre petrol engine. Five other spec-levels are available: Elegance, priced from £16,395; Prestige, from £19,795; Ultra Prestige, from £20,795; Performance, from £20,495 and Performance Black, which starts at £22,495. Add £2300 to these prices for DS 3 Cabrio equivalent models. The current DS 3 range starts at just over £13,000. Citroën sources suggest the price hike reflects the higher kit levels and technology.The range-topping Performance Black spec is new to the DS 3 range, and is marked out by its matte-black paintwork and gold highlights.Britain is the largest global market for the DS brand, and as such the company is putting a major push behind the new car here.How good are its rivals?The previous DS 3, under its former Citroën badge, earned a three-star rating on What Car?, but since then premium hatchbacks have become far more advanced. Key rivals include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a1/hatchback/review/n5">Audi A1</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mini/">Mini One</a> - both of which receive four-star ratings.priced from £16,395,

2016 DS 3 revealed: full prices, pictures and engine details

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

Hyundai

2015-hyundai-i20-coupe-revealed-new-pictures-engines-and-on-sale-date

The 2015 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2015-hyundai-i20-coupe-review/n2881">Hyundai i20 Coupe</a> has been revealed, adding a three-door body style to the range of the recently launched i20. It shares most of its technical underpinnings and engine line-up with the five-door, but has a different design that Hyundai intends to create a more sporty feel.The roofline is 25mm lower than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i20/hatchback/review/n53">five-door i20</a>, and the design of the A-, B- and C-pillars are all different. There’s also a small spoiler at the rear edge of the roof.Other design features includes subtly redesigned front and rear bumpers, matching side sills at the front, a distinct ‘reverse hexagonal’ front grille, different tail-lights and optional 17-inch alloys.The revamped rear-end design frees up more boot space, with the i20 Coupe offering 336 litres, 10 more than the five-door version. Despite the more aggressive angle of the roofline, leg-, head- and shoulder-room for occupants is all claimed to be on a par with the existing five-door.We'd expect the i20 Coupe to get the same line-up of engines as the five-door: a 1.2 petrol and three diesels - a 1.1 with 74bhp and a 1.4 with 89bhp or 99bhp. It's less certain if this more sportily-styled edition would get the i10's three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine. However, it's almost certain to be one of the first models to get performance-themed add-ons from Hyundai's newly created N sub-brand.The three-door i20 Coupe is expected to go on sale next spring. UK pricing and details of trim levels have yet to be determined.

Korean brand Hyundai is a rival to mainstream car makers such as Skoda, Toyota and Volkswagen. However, it's also increasingly taking on premium alternatives&nbsp;– particularly with its electric cars.

At the extremes of the Hyundai line-up you find the tiny i10 city car and the huge Ioniq 9 electric SUV. Meanwhile, other highlights of its line-up include two recent What Car? Awards winners: the seven-seat Santa fe SUV and the Ioniq 5 N hot hatch.

As a bonus, all Hyundais come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas many&nbsp;rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

Matt Burt

Latest Articles

New Nissan Qashqai long-term review

2016 DS 3 revealed: full prices, pictures and engine details

2015 Hyundai i20 Coupe revealed - new pictures, engines and on-sale date

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