No other car in Nissan’s history had been teased ahead of launch as much as the new Qashqai. Now it’s here in its full glory, so let’s see what is so special about this car, which at first sight appears to be a shrunken version of the Murano with weirder headlights.

2014 Nissan Qashqai carries a lot of weight on its shoulders because it was one of the first cars that established the crossover segment back in 2007, and because it has sold more than 2 million units to date. So expectations are high from the new Qashqai, and Nissan believes they have delivered.

The new Qashqai is physically larger than the outgoing model – 49mm longer and fractionally lower and wider – which makes it look more like a SUV now than a crossover. Every body panels seems to be new, and with all-new head and taillights, as well as the grille, it also gets a totally different look than the current version. It is not very pretty, but then the current Qashqai is not exactly a looker either.

Inside the cabin the 2014 Nissan Qashqai boasts greater occupant space and a larger luggage capacity enhanced by a variable floor system. Finer materials have been used and the design is all-new. What’s more, the riving position is raised compared to the old model. The car wants to be an SUV.

What really set the new Qashqai apart, though, are the engines and technology features. Every single engine in the range is turbocharged, and they offer CO2 emissions as low as 99 g/km. While front-wheel-drive variants will account for the majority of sales in most markets, four-wheeldrive ALL-MODE 4×4-i versions will also be available to match a choice of six-speed manual or all-new Xtronic transmissions.

Segment-leading technology features packed into the 2014 Nissan Qashqai include Chassis Control; Full LED headlamps which consume 50 per cent of the power of previous Xenon lamps; Intelligent Parking Assist; New NissanConnect with smartphone app integration; and Around View Monitor.

In terms of safety, it comes with the Shield package, consisting of Front Collision Avoidance; Driver Attention Support; Traffic Sign Recognition; Lane Departure Warning; Blind Spot Warning; Moving Object Detection; and High Beam Assist.