Is the Nissan Qashqai Coming to America?

The Nissan Qashqai is a compact crossover that bears a strong resemblance to the Nissan Rogue, but it is actually smaller. The model, built at Nissan’s Sunderland Plant in the UK, and is one of the automaker’s bestselling models in Europe. Come January, the Qashqai will reportedly set its sights on a new market: the United States.

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According to AutoBlog, the Nissan Qashqai is gearing up for an appearance at next month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Its showcase, however, won’t be just to show off Nissan’s engineering and design, but to introduce it to American buyers. Experts think that the move would be a good choice by the Japanese automaker, as the smaller Qashqai would fill a gap in Nissan’s crossover lineup under the Rogue, which is currently Nissan’s bestselling model of 2016. It is also speculated that the Nissan Qashqai would be more suited to take on the Honda HR-V in an increasingly competitive vehicle class. The crossover segment as a whole is continuing to grow in popularity thanks to lower gas prices and customers demanding more versatility from their vehicles.

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This is not the first time that a rumor of the Qashqai coming to America has surfaced, but we will know its validity when the Detroit Auto Show opens to the press. If the Nissan Qashqai comes to America, it is being reported that it could go on sale as early as late 2017, but there are no details as to whether it will retain its name, which could be seen as confusing to some consumers. However, teaching drivers how to pronounce Qashqai (cash-kai) could also be a great opportunity for an advertising campaign to introduce the model to Americans, in the same vein as ads from years ago teaching Americans how to pronounce Hyundai like Sunday.

News Source: AutoBlog