Nissan Qashqai+2 (08 - 13) review

Because the Qashqai was essentially the first of its breed, it always had a limited number of direct rivals, and that goes double for the Qashqai+2 because no other compact SUV of the time had seven seats.

You could go for a Mitsubishi Outlander (or the all-but-identical Peugeot 4007 or Citroen C-Crosser) which has the SUV styling and seven seats, but it's bigger, heavier and less engaging to drive than a Qashqai.

Mid-size MPVs such as the Volkswagen Touran, Renault Grand Scenic or Citroen Grand C4 Picasso are far more practical, but lack the sharper styling of the Qashqai – and its pseudo-4x4 appeal.

Perhaps the closest rivals is the Hyundai Santa Fe. The second-generation model, launched in 2006, is handsome, reliable, good to drive and has the necessary seven seats, although it’s bigger and thirstier, so will cost more to run than a Qashqai.

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