NISSAN’S British-built Qashqai is the car that looks like a 4x4 but isn’t.

It also doesn’t look anything like a van, but by the time I had finished with it, the Qashqai+2 — the seven-seater version — proved it was more than capable of transforming itself into a capacious carry-all of the first order.

Despite its 4x4 style, it has more in common with much larger, three-row people carriers.

Considering it takes up only compact hatchback-sized space on the driveway, the Qashqai+2’s clever seating layout allows you to transport seven people in remarkable comfort.

But it is the shape-shifting abilities of the two rear rows of seats that really open up the Qashqai’s possibilities. A tug of a handle here and a cord there and the seats fold completely flat to allow real furniture-moving ability — four large garden chairs, a garden table, parasol and eight other bags to be precise.

It’s the versatility of vehicles like these that have made them an increasingly popular alternative to a standard compact hatchback.

It takes up roughly the same space on the road, but gives the appealing extra height and added vision that comes with a 4x4-style vehicle and maximum flexibility inside, a perfect set-up for families or people with active lifestyles.

It also has the driving feel, ride comfort and refinement of a sharp hatchback with the added benefit of the practical interior of a bigger car.

Longer and taller than the five-seat Qashqai, this year’s model has new frontal styling, standard rear privacy glass and roof bars and a huge panoramic roof is standard on Acenta trim models and above. The car comes in a choice of four trim levels, a choice of 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol engines, and 1.5 and 2.0-litre diesel engines, with electronic stability programme standard across the range.

If you think a 1.5-litre engine might struggle to power a Qashqai, think again. The test model’s 103 horsepower, turbodiesel engine proved nippy and surprisingly relaxed when motorway cruising, while delivering day-to-day fuel consumption of more than 50mpg.

Little surprise then that the car has proved popular. Since its launch in March 2007, the Qashqai crossover has turned into the fastest-selling model in the history of Nissan Europe — with more than 500,000 delivered by the end of last year. This year it snuck into the top six best-selling cars in the UK.

As well as the frontal styling changes, the brake and tail lights use 12 LEDs. Inside, there’s a new design to the main dials and the redesigned drive computer features a new white LCD screen. Low-level lighting is also fitted around the front footwells, and there is extra oddment storage.

Oh, I just remembered, to add to the list of luggage that I crammed into the Qashqai+2, there were also 16 sunflowers. In short, a blooming useful all-rounder.

Auto facts Nissan Qashqai+2 1.5d Acenta

Price: £20,195

Ins group: Six

Fuel consumption (combined): 54.3mpg

Top speed: 108mph

Length: 454.1cm/178.8in

Width: 178cm/70in

Luggage space: 15.6 cu ft

Fuel tank capacity: 14.3 gallons/65 litres

CO2 emissions: 138g/km

Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles