EARLIER this year the Nissan Qashqai reached a landmark birthday. It had been 10 years since it first went on sale.

As the pioneer of the crossover segment as we know it today, it established itself as a family favourite. No vehicle had previously mixed the practicality and desirability of an SUV with the size, efficiency and dynamic performance of a compact hatchback so successfully.

And yet the Qashqai very nearly did not happen. During the development process for what was originally intended to be the new Nissan Almera, the creative team decided to go back to the drawing board and conceived a car which reflected what buyers really wanted.

The first generation went on sale in February 2007 and was an instant success. Close to 100,000 examples were sold across Europe before the end of the year, and Nissan has never looked back.

In 10 years of the Qashqai, more than 2.3 million examples have been produced in Sunderland and sold in Europe, and it has won more than 80 awards, including 19 recognising it as the ‘Car of the Year’.

Last year saw it become the UK’s fifth best-selling car overall as innovations and new technology added to its attractiveness. In April this year it was the second best-selling car in the UK

Really useful new features such as the around view monitor that uses a 360-degree parking camera and intelligent park assist have kept the Qashqai out in front in a segment where almost all mainstream automotive brands now have a rival offering. At the last count, there were 21 direct competitors in the market place.

The Qashqai was not a standalone product, and a seven-seat version – the Qashqai+2 – was launched, offering extra practicality for larger families. Key to its appeal was its compact dimensions; the footprint was only 21cm longer than the Qashqai itself yet there was room for two extra passengers in the rear. Eventually more than 235,000 examples of the Qashqai+2 were sold in Europe.

The Qashqai is now almost five centimetres longer, as well as being lower and wider, and features a more sleek and athletic exterior design plus a higher quality interior.

It maintains its original crossover DNA, elevated driving position and efficient running costs, but has more of what customers required from an everyday family car.

Key to its appeal was the range of new technologies on offer. This includes Nissan's Safety Shield systems, which incorporated forward emergency braking, driver attention alert and traffic sign recognition.

Three new versions of the Qashqai in 10 years, coupled with positioning as the ultimate urban vehicle, has led to it remaining the class leader and the most successful European model in Nissan's 83-year history.

Step inside and you are greeted by a modern cabin with – depending on trim level – every convenience a motorist might desire.

It drives more like a hatchback than an SUV and returns a genuine fuel economy figure of nearly 50mpg.

I have tested several versions over the past 10 years and I reckon the 1.6-litre petrol version tested here provides the best experience of all. The days when diesel ruled the roost are gone.

In a sector where the competition is more fierce than ever, the Qashqai is a winner in virtually every area. New technologies, better engines and the improved cabin make it hard to see any rival knocking it off its pedestal.