|  The QashQai is designed to appeal to those buyers who want a more dynamic design than a regular C-segment car, but who don´t want to dip their toes into the compact SUV market.
The Qashqai is described as a crossover as it inhabits the area where passenger car attributes meet those of a 4x4. In terms of design, the top half of Qashqai is reminiscent of a dynamic passenger car, with a sleek, dynamic form that features a distinctive shoulder line which rises at the rear – a design cue similar to that of the Murano. The interior has been designed to give the driver a focused cockpit feeling, with a clear separation between them and their passenger. The deeply recessed instruments give a sporty feeling to the driving environment – a feeling reinforced by the raised central console. However, the front and passenger environments have been designed to feel airy, spacious and relaxing.
In terms of size, QASHQAI sits between C-segment hatchbacks and SUVs. It has a wheelbase of 2630mm, it is 1610mm tall, 1780mm wide and 4310mm long. It is about 100mm longer than a typical hatchback but 150mm shorter than a typical SUV. Similarly, it is taller than rival hatchbacks by between 100 -150mm yet up to 130mm lower than an SUV. All models will be offered with 5- and 6-speed manual transmissions, plus a traditional 6-speed automatic gearbox will be available alongside an advanced CVT gearbox, the latter of which will most likely return the best fuel economy figures. The 2.0-litre versions of the Qashqai will benefit from the electronically controlled All-Mode 4x4 system (as pioneered in X-TRAIL) which can provide greater traction for safer driving and extra control in all weather. It is a front-wheel drive system to save fuel, and only diverts torque to the rear axle when the front wheels are slipping.
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