The Nissan Qashqai - The pioneer among crossover models

When the Nissan Qashqai was introduced in 2007, there was nothing like it on the road. It offered a slightly elevated seating position and therefore a better view of the road, despite taking up the same space as a conventional C-segment model. Its gasoline and diesel engines were economical and efficient, and for those who needed a little more grip for challenging conditions, there was also an all-wheel drive version. In short, it combined the compact dimensions of a hatchback with some of the ruggedness and better visibility of a conventional all-wheel-drive model - without sacrificing size, weight or efficiency. The first Qashqai thus combined the best of both worlds, appealing to customers for whom buying an SUV would not have been an option until then. It was not easy to predict sales figures for a vehicle that neither replaced an existing model nor had direct competitors. Internally, the assumption for Europe was around 100,000 units per year. But these estimates had nothing to do with reality. After just a few months, an additional shift was set up at Nissan's Sunderland plant in the UK to meet demand. Sales continued to rise year after year - and the model range became even more attractive with the Qashqai+2, which was launched in 2008 with a longer wheelbase and folding third row of seats.