The Qashqai Acenta grade features all of the extras which the Visia grade lacks, without going to expensive and extravagant extremes. This particular model comes with its 1.6l 16v engine through 5 speed manual 2WD, giving you 42.2 (combined) mpg and 159 g/km of CO². Not too shabby for such a versatile vehicle. The overall size of the Qashqai means that there is room for a team of basketball players in comfort. And all of their kit. With a +2 edition with even more space, you'd be tempted to think that this is simply a good urban SUV.

Well, yes and no. It is an urban SUV, in the same way that QEII is a boat. It is accurate, but it doesn't convey the whole story. The Qashqai has a remarkable small footprint for its capacity. It is almost Tardis like, with acres of space on the inside of a car which you could swear couldn't contain it.

Its smaller size means that the Qashqai performs beautifully in the city, despite the increased height it handles well. The 1.6l petrol engine handles the Qashqai's weight admirably.

No one else really produces a suitable rival to the Qashqai for a direct comparison. While the Qashqai is easier around town than a Focus, while the elevated cabin makes it more family friendly, giving the driver and any passengers excellent all round visibility. The Qashqai impresses from the moment you sit in the driver's seat.

Also available with 1.5 diesel or 2.0 petrol or diesel engines, the 1.6l 2WD model offer the best balance of performance, handling and fuel economy.