NO ONE has yet made the perfect car, but the Japanese have pretty much perfected a certain kind of car, of which the Nissan Qashqai is a perfect example. It's a well-equipped crossover from a known brand, designed to cover the transport needs of 5 people with a minimum of fuss. Lots of people can get behind a package like that, which is why you see Qashqais everywhere.

Years ago I thought of buying a Qashqai myself, mainly because it was then the cheapest new car on the market with half a dozen airbags. That sounds like a hell of a way to choose a car, but if you've seen my driving you'll understand, to say nothing of everyone else's driving.

I also felt pretty certain that over a decade of ownership, none of the Qashqai's switches would come off in my hand, and nothing in the engine bay would develop incontinence. That Nissan badge on the grille means something. I eventually went with something else because I wanted a hybrid car, to atone for past sins.

Times have moved on and the Qashqai has moved up (though it still has 6 airbags). It's even become hybrid, though only mildly so.

Now in its third generation, the Qashqai is on sale here with one engine and two trim levels: a Premium variant for S$162,800 and the better-equipped Prestige version tested here, which costs S$13,000 more.

This third-generation model is bigger than ever, and not just for show. There's more legroom in the back and more shoulder room in front, and the boot is still a big one. It starts at 504 litres, growing to 1,593 litres if you drop the rear seats, and has a trick or two to add versatility, like boards that can divide the cargo space into compartments. The rear doors open out wide to make jumping aboard a cinch, and the neat cabin has loads of places for odds and ends, not to mention four USB points.

GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign UpVIEW ALL

That's the sort of fundamental stuff that makes cars like these so easy to live with, but there's a measure of glam now, too. The Qashqai looks noticeably sharper, and when you start from the striking split headlamps and let your eye wander the body, there's no shortage of creases and taut lines to follow, whether they sweep up to the floating roof or span the crisp flanks. If nothing else, it's nice to see a car these days that doesn't have a front grille the size of the Istana's front gates.

Inside is where the Qashqai most feels like a step up from the ordinary, however. The quilted upholstery is a welcoming sight, and there's an air of quality to the cabin, thanks to soft materials that feel nice to prod, and flourishes such as contrast stitching that give the dashboard a sort of handmade look.

Both Qashqais have touchscreens now, but the Prestige version's is larger and works wirelessly with Apple CarPlay (you'll still need a cable for Android Auto). The Prestige also has a head up display system and digital driver displays with sharp, smooth graphics, the sort usually found in premium cars.

If there's a concrete link to the luxury world though, it's under the bonnet. The Qashqai actually has an engine shared with Mercedes - versions of the 1.3-litre 4-cylinder unit also power a handful of Benz models - only in this application it comes with mild hybrid tech, the kind popularised here by Audi and now spreading through the BMW and Mercedes line-ups. It's a small engine but it pulls with admirable gusto, and irony of ironies, it's quieter and better-mannered in the Qashqai than it is in the Mercedes models.

Nissan says the mild hybrid setup is there to cut fuel consumption - the system stores energy in a small lithium-ion battery and uses it to give the petrol engine an easier life whenever possible - but you can really feel a boost to the acceleration from low speeds when the starter-generator kicks in.

There's enough firepower to make the Qashqai feel like a lively car, though it's more of a steady car to drive than a fun one overall. The steering feels sharper than before and the suspension is tuned along better-firm-than-floaty lines, but it's still a relatively tall family car, so it's never going to sling around bends like a hot hatch.

Instead, it impresses on the move by how solid it feels, with a palpable sense of rigidity as it rolls along. Nothing squeaks or shudders in the cabin. The body is lighter by 60 kg, partly because the doors, fenders and bonnet are made of aluminium while the tailgate is plastic, but it's apparently stronger than before. Again, that multi-material approach to building up a car is the sort of thing premium carmakers do.

Being a Nissan, the Qashqai is never going to be considered posh, but it does at least feel plush. It's worth pointing out that more than half of the Qashqai's price is for the certificate of entitlement alone, meaning it's arrived in the toughest of market conditions. It may be built to a perfected recipe, but the Qashqai would have taken flight if it had also had perfect timing.

Nissan Qashqai Prestige

Engine 1,332 cc, in-line 4, turbocharged Engine power 157 hp at 5,500 rpm` Engine torque 270 Nm at 1,800 - 3,750 rpm Gearbox Continuously variable transmission 0-100km/h 9.2 seconds (estimated) Top Speed 200 km/h (estimated) Fuel Efficiency 5.5 L / 100km Agent Tan Chong Motor Sales Price S$175,800 with certificate of entitlement Available Now