TRYING to criticise the Nissan Qashqai is rather like barking at the moon.

No matter how hard you try, its still there, staring down at you.

With Nissan, the bold fact is that since launch in 2007, it has shifted some one million of its crossovers globally. Over here, that equates to one in four of every like model sold and goes some way to bolstering the company's ambition to oust Toyota from its lofty perch.

You see my predicament.

In the interests of balance, however, I must try to locate the Qashqai's Achilles heel and with the +2 there is the slightest chink in its armour.

It's simply this, that while the third row of seats do allow you to carry an extra couple of people, they are, to all intents and purposes, emergency chairs.

They are like the ones you grab out the garage on Christmas Day, which while you are outwardly happy to sit on to accommodate Aunty Mabel and her dodgy hip, in reality you rather wish you hadn't invited her.

While those in the second row bask in unadulterated comfort, those in the third fare little better than the family pooch, given the limited leg space and lack of support for behind or back.

With that last sentence though, my critique runs out of steam somewhat, for everything else from here on in is akin to blowing large amounts of smoke up Nissan's posterior.

You see the Qashqai is one of those cars which I would happily have sat on my driveway. It looks good, drives well and is impressively equipped, the fact that it's built in the North-East just adds to the attraction.

Though it's got a few years under its belt now, it still looks fresh out of the box and in Arctic White with black alloys, as was the case with our test car, it's even more eye-catching.

The extra length of the +2 - 211mm overall - does nothing to diminish this appeal - if anything it serves to excentuate it.

Keen eyes will also notice alterations to the rear doors and a deeper rear window when compared to the standard car.

Internally, the car is well laid out, though you could be critical of some of the hard plastics used. The seating position is as near as damn it perfect, neither too high nor too low, and it's easy to get comfortable. Our n-tec spec model came with a neat little satellite navigation system that was simplicity itself to use. Hooking up a mobile phone and iPod was also a synch.

The kids in the rear had plenty of room in every direction and, with no one riding shotgun, they were able to deploy the multi-function arm rest in the centre. The cabin is also light and airy and the addition of a full length panoramic glass roof emphasised this feeling still further.

Nissan has sought to ease access to third row by allowing the centre seats to slide forwards, but it has to be said that it still requires the attributes of a limbo dancer to get in. When they are up boot space is severely compromised so it is to be hoped that you are not going too far. Lowered flat, however, you can get a decent amount of luggage in, despite the presence of the space saver spare wheel.

The 2.0 litre diesel engine - which returned an average of 45.1mpg - is probably the unit of choice, giving, as it does, plenty of power through the range of its six-speed gearbox. Four-wheel drive is available, but in normal driving conditions the two-wheel option is more than sufficient for most needs.

You can progress safe in the knowledge that the Qashqai will take all but the worst of our roads in its stride and, while you can feel a little lean if you take a bend at speed, such is the level of grip that there's no chance of parting company with the tarmac.

The steering also has a good feel under acceleration and it turns to an impressive degree to ease parking and manoeuvering at slower speeds.

Take in isolation, the +2 is a nice car, but I think its fair to argue that unless you regularly require the use of the extra seats a standard model would be the most sensible buy.

Whatever you opt for, the numbers will almost certainly add up.