CAP AWARD
A panel of judges consisting of used car market, and vehicle experts, at the independent car pricing benchmark site, rated the Qashqai as the best based on a number of criteria. These included affordability, practicality, brand reputation, retail popularity and innovative impact on the motor industry.
CAP’s Used Car of the Year is designed to acknowledge all-round excellence from the perspective of everyone touched by the vehicle, including private owners, company car drivers, fleet operators and even used car dealers themselves.
The Qashqai scored highly in every area of CAP’s judging criteria, delivering significant benefits to everyone in the chain of supply, from dealers to owners and drivers.
Judging panel chairman Mark Bulmer, editor of CAP Black Book, commented: "It is a great all-rounder that is perfect for its purpose, delivering on style as well as practicality for the motorist and providing a great retail proposition for used car dealers."
The panel of judges chose the British-built Qashqai from a from a strong shortlist of Citroen DS3, Nissan Qashqai, Vauxhall Zafira, Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio.
The CAP panel noted that, even on the question of depreciation, the Qashqai is a consistently strong proposition that tends to outperform the general market.
WHAT CAR? AWARD
Used Car of the Year Award 2011 went to the Sunderland built Nissan Qashqai. It was voted the overall used car of the year and best used small family car.
Chas Hallett, What Car?'s editor-in-chief, said: 'The quality was great when new and, three years later, they make unbeatable-value used buys.'
Judges praised the Nissan Qashqai's styling, price and family-friendly cabin, while its maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating and comfortable ride also impressed. Add low running costs and reassuring dependability, and it was a worthy winner.