Still in its first year of sales, the Nissan Qashqai is proving to be a success both in South Africa and internationally which has led to capacity expansion at both the Sunderland plant in the UK and Kyushu plant in Japan.

This expansion will speed up supply to other markets including South Africa.

Since its local introduction in October 2007, nearly 2000 units have been sold here.

“The Qasqai was introduced in South Africa at the end of last year, which coincided with the start of the downward trend in new vehicle sales in South Africa, however despite the difficult market conditions the Qashqai has maintained steady numbers with a steady stream of consumer demand,” explained Nathalie Lopez-Ruiz, Nissan Qashqai Product Manager.

So June 2008 saw sales increasing by 10 percent over the previous month.

The car ᰬ which looks like a cross between a traditional hatchback and a robust, elevated SUV — is currently available in three derivatives: the 1.6 Visia, 1.6 Acenta and 2.0 Acenta. The 1.6-litre engine delivers 81kW and 154Nm, while the 2.0-litre model delivers 102kW with 198Nm of torque.

And there are more models to come in the coming month

The Qashqai, which features a five star rating for adult protection in the Euro NCAP safety tests, comes with a three-year/90 000km service plan as well as a three-year/100 000km manufacturer warranty.