Nearly two decades ago, Nissan was one of the first car manufacturers to produce a small SUV. This tradition has continued with the new European-designed Qashqai.

The Qashqai isn’t the cheapest SUV on the market, so you need to ask the question: “what do I get for the extra money?”

The design

While the Qashqai is a small SUV, it still has a large cabin and plenty of cargo space. There’s lots of room for the kids, high-quality finishes and even massage front seats in the top-end Ti model. Safety features include seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

There’s a $14,000 difference between the lowest spec Qashqai, but for me, the ST-L is probably the best-value package. Weight is a big problem for SUVs, but Nissan has put the Qashqai on a 60kg weight-saving diet, using aluminium for all side doors, the front fenders and bonnet.

Wider door openings and higher seating might not seem like important design features, but they make access easier, particularly if you have mobility issues or need to load children into baby seats.

The powered rear tailgate is a great asset for people juggling parcels or other items when opening the boot.

In the cargo area, the Ti model has a hide-and-divide panel that covers a hidden storage area, giving the boot a flat floor when the seats are folded down.

The ride

One of the benefits of the Qashqai being a small SUV is that it’s easier to get the ride and handling sorted, and with its multi-link suspension this is particularly noticeable on normal roads.

Pushed along by the 1.3-litre turbo engine and CVT transmission, the Qashqai delivers surprising drivability for a little engine, but it comes at the cost of using the dearer 95 RON fuel. Love it or hate it, the Qashqai has an idle stop-start system.

Although dearer than a lot of competitors, the Qashqai is a well-rounded package with great space, a 5-star ANCAP safety rating and lots of features in a small but spacious SUV.