Nissan is banking on a return to fleet strength with the Qashqai crossover after business sales slumped 31% last year.
The crossover 4×4/hatchback, on sale 1 March, fills the gap left by the Almera, which struggled to its death in 2006 without a diesel. A similar fate fell to the Primera, whose out-going models were petrol-only after Euro4 regulations killed the diesel versions.
“The Qashqai is a car people will choose to drive, and I don’t think we’ve had that [in fleet] for the past two or three years,” said new sales director James Douglas.
“We had no problem getting onto choice lists, but getting the driver to choose us was a problem, particularly when you’re pitching against Golf and Passat.”
The Qashqai is styled to look like a junior 4×4, but Nissan estimates that three-quarters of sales will be the two-wheel-drive version. Prices and engines broadly match those of the higher-end C-sector hatchbacks, starting at £13,499 for the 1.6 2wd version.
Around 40% of Qashqai sales are estimated to go to fleets.
