I HAVE met eight or nine people who have owned or still have a Nissan Qashqai and they have all been delighted with their cars.

The company's claims that the Qashqai was the first crossover are a little uncertain since the original Honda HR-V and Toyota RAV4 were both ahead of it - probably along with a couple more I can't remember.

That said, it was the first company to really capitalize on the genre of a high-riding front wheel drive SUV for the road.

Almost all the completely British-built Qashqais sold have beenfront wheel driveand, in the most recent range introduced in 2014, there is only one available with all wheel drive and that's the larger 130bhp 1.6 diesel.

But even then, most sold have beenfront wheel driveapparently. The majority of owners don't want the extra expense and running costs of a 4x4.

They want the high driving position and the feel of something more bulky and substantial around them while only having to pay the running costs of a normal family hatch.

Other engines in this latest model are a 1.5 diesel with 110bhp and capable of an excellent 74 miles per gallon, and two petrols - a 1.2 turbo with 113bhp and a 1.6 turbo with 160.

The 1.2 is capable of 50mpg while the 1.6 isn't far behind at 48. Both of these offer good performance, as does the 1.6 diesel, but the biggest selling 1.5 is a little way behind.

All are very comfortable over all surfaces and come with safe, sure handling helped by positive and informative power steering.

The clutch is light and easy, the gearchange slick and there's plenty of legroom front and rear.

While comfort is very good the front seats are too deep, which means the front is too high behind the thighs for shorter drivers, who might well need a cushion.

Equipment is good even in base Visia models, which have audio remote, split fold rear seats, front electric windows, heated electric mirrors, remote locking, traction control, air con and cruise.

Mid-range N-Tec adds alloys, height and lumbar adjustment for the driver's seat, parking sensors and sat nav.

Pay about £10,450 for a '15 15-reg Visia 1.2, or £13,300 for an '16 16-reg N-Tec 1.5 diesel.