The name is sure to have people scratching their heads. What is a Qashqai? It’s not Japanese as one would think. In fact, the Qashqai is a nomadic tribe that live in the mountains of South-West Iran. They’re named after the horse that’s indigenous to the area. And the latest sub-compact SUV from Nissan is the perfect horse for the urban Canadian nomad.

The 2017 Qashqai is designed to haul 5 plus gear during urban nomadic adventures through the Great White North. It’s stylish, nimble thanks to its size and affordable. “The combination of the new Qashqai and the popular redesigned 2017 Rogue will appeal to a broad audience and offers a wide spectrum of features and price points for SUV buyers,” said Bert Brooks, senior manager of Product Planning for Nissan Canada Inc. “While we expect Rogue to continue to appeal to owners with young families, Qashqai fills a need for singles and couples who want more space and versatility than the average sedan for everyday urban use and social activities.”

The three well-equipped models, S, SV and SL have sporty exteriors but a modern, luxurious interior. Qashqai incorporates Nissan’s signature “gliding wing” interior-cabin design that provides spatial symmetry and a wide-open feeling of space. Standard interior features include:

• USB connection port
• Bluetooth hands-free phone system with streaming audio
• 4-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with auxiliary audio input jack
• Siri Eyes Free6
• RearView Monitor featuring a Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant5
• NissanConnectSM with Navigation, Mobile Apps and Services

Behind the second row seat is up to 648L (22.9 Cu. ft.) of cargo space (up to 1,730L or 61.1 Cu. ft. with the 2nd row seat folded down) which is accessible through the wide rear door. The new Qashqai borrows the Rogue’s innovative Divide-N-Hide Cargo System to maximize storage.

The Qashqai offers a nimble and responsive ride powered by a fuel-efficient 2.0-litre engine. Front-wheel drive is standard but Nissan’s intuitive All-Wheel-Drive system is available as an upgrade.

The nimble handling is the result of the shorter wheelbase and 4-wheel independent suspension. A series of suspension systems include a front independent strut suspension with a stabilising bar and multi-link independent rear suspension with twin-tube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar. The responsive power steering includes Sport mode.

In addition, the list of standard safety and security features includes the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage front air bags with seat belt sensors that can detect front row passengers, front seat-mounted side impact airbags, a system of roof-mounted curtain side impact air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat passengers, 3-point front and rear seatbelts, front seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS).

Want to have a closer look? Stop by and take one out for a test drive. We’d love to show you what Qashqai is all about!