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Press Information | 18/09/2026
Christopher Sharp, who writes for the Daily Express and Daily Mirror, assessed the UK’s five best-selling cars of the year so far: the Ford Puma, Kia Sportage, Jaecoo 7, Nissan Qashqai and Vauxhall Corsa.
Qashqai, which sits fourth in the year-to-date sales rankings with 26,326 registrations in 2026, emerged triumphant.
The new 52kWh LEAF is designed to give buyers a more affordable way into Nissan’s latest EV.
With prices starting from £28,849 after the Electric Car Grant, it brings the all-new LEAF into a very appealing part of the electric car market. It’s not simply a lower-priced version, either. With up to 280 miles of WLTP range, it should have more than enough battery capacity for the vast majority of everyday driving.
For commuting, school runs, shopping, visiting family, weekend trips and regular longer journeys, the 52kWh LEAF looks like a very sensible fit. Many drivers will not need the biggest battery available, especially if they can charge at home or at work.
Nissan also says the new 52kWh LEAF stands out as one of the most efficient EVs in the UK, with one of the highest miles-per-kWh ratios available. In other words, it’s designed to make excellent use of the energy it carries — which is exactly what EV buyers want to hear.
Beginning his assessment of Qashqai with a look back to 2007, the year the model first arrived in UK showrooms, Christopher wrote: ‘‘This was the car that truly kickstarted the SUV revolution. Want to trace the genesis of all those posh non-Land Rover SUVs? Look no further.’’
He said Nissan did a good job with the original Qashqai and praised the manufacturer for doing a ‘‘great job’’ with the versions of the car currently on sale.
He added that he liked Qashqai’s aesthetics and found it ‘‘easier and quicker to set up’’ than the Kia Sportage he drove as part of the group test.
Christopher continued: ‘‘Qashqai felt like a car that was easier to one-pedal motor too, with a better regenerative braking system that was less sensitive to hills. On the road, the whole system was quieter and, being longer, it felt a little more practical.’’
In conclusion, and again comparing Qashqai to the Sportage, he said: ‘‘The Nissan was the easier car to learn and get used to, and its longer wheelbase meant it felt more stable in the corners … it was more engaging to drive overall.’’
To sum up, Christopher described the Nissan Qashqai as ‘‘very good’’ and awarded it a score of eight out of ten – the highest mark he gave.
Qashqai has been in the headlines for all the right reasons recently. In July, it surpassed four million sales in Europe, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s most successful SUVs.
Since its introduction, Qashqai has become one of Nissan’s greatest success stories by combining practical design, everyday usability and clever technologies – and its popularity shows no sign of waning.
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