Summer has just arrived, but already I think we could have a Car of the Year for '07. The Nissan Qashqai is certainly worth all the hype, and all this despite my initial scepticism. Basically, I refused to believe-that such a beautiful, quality performing and cheap automobile would ever be available to Irish motorists.

Just where was the catch, I harked? Was it under the bonnet? 'Nope', in fact au contraire. Was the styling all airbrush and no substance? Again, 'No'.

In fact, under close scrutiny the Qashqai was everything it said on the tin, and more. So much more.

Firstly, and most surprisingly, the new revolutionary new Nissan gave a much bigger behind-the-wheel impression.

In the driver's seat the Qashqai ably gives the impression of big SUV. The keyless entry is an immediate attention grabber, followed quickly by the sizzle of a quite superbly performing engine.

Bizarrely, an extremely respectable motoring organ recently described the interior as plain. It was beautifully uncomplicated, far from plain, in fact.

It was a superb assortment of easy on the eye aesthetics, which blended beautifully with a very slick interior.

It's the whole package combined that gives the Qashqai bagfuls of female appeal, which is surely the sector that will have been most taken with this sensational new model.

While neither SUV nor MPV, the unconventional Qashqai is very much out on its own, a pioneer of sorts.

In fact the far from conventional Japanese take absolute pleasure in offering alternatives to the norm.

While not a traditional 4x4 - I was disappointed, in fact, not to get my mitts on the off road version - it certainly looks the part.

The Qashqai's front-wheel drive version that will in fact make up almost 95 per cent of sales in Ireland.

There are three engines available in the front wheel drive sector, two petrol — one a 113bhp 1.6 litre and 18bhp 2.0 litre — and a 105bhop diesel, There will be a delicious 14Sbhp 2.0 litre oil burner out in June. With that large female audience, there will be huge numbers of the smaller petrol unit shifting from Nissan showrooms nationwide.

So then, is there anything wrong with the Qashqai?

Visibility.

Well I did find visibility a slight problem, thanks to the ultra thick pillars and the absolutely monstrous rearview mirror which seemed to dominate the windscreen. I did find space behind my driver's seat a little limited, but I do tend to sit right back when driving. And, I've experienced far more impressive onboard enter–tainment systems.

But hey, none of this really managed to sour my first Qashqai experience. By the way, did you know the Qashqai is an Iranian tribe? No, well now you do. The Qashqai ranges in price from EUR23,995 to EUR30,495 for the two wheel version, and EUR31,395 to EUR32,995 for the 4x4 version.