Designed and built in Britain, the Nissan Qashqai was an instant success when it was introduced in 2007, winning rave reviews and accolades that included Top Gear magazine's 2007 SUV of the Year award.
The acclaim translated into sales, with the Qashqai becoming the fastest-selling model in the history of Nissan Europe.
Three years on, it was time for a facelift, and the new model has just been introduced to Hong Kong. In addition to the makeover, there is a new model in the line-up - the Qashqai +2 - which is a taller, longer version with seven seats and all-wheel drive.
The Qashqai is not technically an SUV; it's a compact crossover, somewhere between a hatchback and a full SUV. Crossovers are built on saloon or estate platforms, with SUV styling and practicality, but with few of the off-road capabilities of that vehicle type.
The changes to the 2010 Qashqai are mostly cosmetic - a redesigned bonnet, front bumper, grille and headlamps, and LED brake and tail lights - but there is a practical benefit in that the body work is more aerodynamically efficient.
Multispoke 18-inch alloy wheels now adorn the standard five-seater, while the Qashqai +2 has five-spoke 17-inch alloys. Both models have additional soundproofing on the bulkhead and an acoustic windscreen to improve refinement.
The styling is identical on both versions from the bumper to the A-pillars, but the +2's wheelbase is 135mm longer, with a 211mm increase in overall length. A 40mm increase in height offers extra headroom, and the cargo space with the rear seats folded is 1,520 litres. Apart from the extra size, the +2 can be differentiated by the standard roof rails.