The Qashqai has become as ubiquitous as it is possible for a car to be. To imagine a school run without one would be to imagine fish without chips, cheese without onion, the Lotto draw without that guy from Stokes, Kennedy, Crowley sitting in the corner.
Ubiquity, or familiarity, often breeds contempt, but the Qashqai seems to ride above that, in spite of the hordes of competitors swarming around it.
Refreshed in time for the 2018 model year, it now has a new face (which looks a little more aggressive and a touch less handsome than was previously the case) and a mildly upgraded interior, which is still a little too plain, but which is thoroughly functional.
Nissan fits the Qashqai with impressive safety kit, which is welcome in a vehicle that will be so frequently used for transporting kids, but those in the back seats do get a bit of a raw deal in terms of surprise and delight - there's not much back there to engage the senses.
The 1.5 dCi diesel is the default engine choice, but the 1.2 turbo petrol should not be ignored. It’s also far better to drive than you might expect.
Best model: 1.2T SVE
Prices start from: €26,070
Finance package from: €249
CO2 emissions: 99-129g/km
Sum-up: Essentially a creche with wheels, but it does what it does well.