Nissan’s small Qashqai SUV impressed me recently. A great small SUVengineered by Nissan UK, and with lightweight aluminium body panels now 60kilos lighter yet 41 per cent torsionally stiffer – four front-wheel drive modelspowered by a 1.3-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder linked to a CVT automatic. I’dpreviously tested the top spec Ti but recently drove the next model down the ST-L, perhaps the Qashqai’s best seller at $45,900 driveaway, not the most affordablein small SUV’s but nevertheless well-equipped and packaged. The ST-L gaining 1-inch larger 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, heated combinationcloth / synthetic leather seats, power driver’s seat and manually adjustablepassenger seat, thankfully with height adjustment, front parking sensors, awireless smartphone charger, privacy glass, rear air vents but disappointinglylacking a rear power door which is just so handy. The Nissan Qashqai cabin wellsized and packaged for a small family with excellent ISOFIX child tether pointsand with above average boot space and importantly, a five-star ANCAP crashsafety rating. The Qashqai ST-L gains a great 12.3-inch touch screen, the usabilityand clarity of which is first class with great menus. Warranty five-year/unlimitedkm. Drive details next. I’m David Berthon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.