Keen to stay ahead of the competition Nissan has launched their all-new Qashqai writes Geraldine Herbert 1) Nissan’s Qashqai defined the crossover segment back in 2007. 2) 50,000 Qashqais have found a home in Ireland and over 3 million cars have been sold in Europe and 5 million globally since its launch. 3) Still unmistakably Qashqai the new version sports sharper lines and a more modern edgy look. A slightly increased wheelbase means the new crossover is still small enough to park in tight spots but comes with 50 litres more boot space and a more spacious cabin. 4) Inside it gets a big splurge of luxury with more impressive materials and cleaner lines, the Qashqai promises to be pleasing to look at and to touch. The old 7-inch touchscreen has been replaced with a new 9-inch high-definition multimedia touchscreen and there is also an all-new digital instrument cluster and a 10.8-inch head-up display which according to Nissan is the largest in its segment. 5) Parents of young children, in particular, will welcome the ease of access to the back seats thanks to doors that now open up to 90 degrees. 6) For the tech-savvy the  NissanConnect smartphone app is a dedicated app that allows users to pair smartphone apps to the vehicle to control functions such as the horn, lights and central locking remotely. 7) New to the Qashqai is the e-Power hybrid option which will debut next year. Despite combining a petrol engine and an electric motors Nissan’s new system operates in a different way to most hybrids on the market as the petrol engine is used solely as a generator to charge the car’s batteries while the wheels are completely driven by the electric motor. 8) The 1.3 petrol now comes with a 12V mild-hybrid systems to improve performance and efficiency and will be available with either 138bhp or 156bhp. Both models will come with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, while the more powerful of the two will also be available with a CVT automatic gearbox. If you are looking for something that drives like a car but handles bad weather like an SUV then the new 4WD is the one to go for. Available with five driving modes – Standard, ECO, Sport, Snow and Off-Road it is offered on the 156hp...