The Nissan Qashqai – also known as the Nissan Dualis in Japan and Australia – has been in continuous production since its introduction back in 2006. The second generation of the vehicle was introduced in 2013 with a new, sleeker look, redesigned interior and a range of gasoline and diesel engines that range in output from 108 horsepower up to about 161 horsepower, depending on market and model. By July of 2015, the 500,000th Qashqai rolled off the production line in the U.K. which, according to Nissan, broke the record for the fastest time a U.K.-built vehicle has hit the half-million mark.

The Qashqai is available in a number of trim levels, but the second-gen model has never had a special edition – at least not until now, that is. Dubbed the Black Edition, the special-edition model is being called a new flagship by Nissan, despite the fact that it will be a limited production model. It is based on the current range-topping Tekna trim level with a number of extra enhancements that represents a $1,200 savings, according to Nissan.

With that said, let’s take a look at this new special edition model and see what all the hype is about.

Continue reading to learn more about the Nissan Qashqai Black Edition SV.

What makes the Nissan Qashqai Black Edition SV special

In the last year or two, automakers have fallen in love with the whole “black” or “dark” theme for special edition vehicles and, as the name of this one suggests, it takes on that them as well. It used to be cool to murder out a car, but manufacturers are starting to take that away. This model, for instance, starts off with Pearl Black Metallic paint, along with trim inserts in the front and rear in the same color. And, to further enhance that dark ambiance of the ride, Nissan threw on a set of 19-inch Black Ibiscus alloy wheels. In fact, the only parts of the car that aren’t black are the exterior light units, window trim, and skid plate inserts in the front and rear. Don’t get me wrong; the Qashqai looks good this way, but the style itself is starting to get a little old.

On the inside, the biggest point of interest is probably the panoramic roof with a one-touch shade. This is typically a $516 option on the Tekna trim but comes standard on the Black Edition. There are also door entry guards that sport the “Black Edition” label and full black leather upholstery to further darken the mood. The center stack is graced with a NissanConnect infotainment system with a seven-inch display that offers DAB digital radio and satellite navigation, among other things.

The special-edition crossover is offered with just one engine: a 1.5-liter dCi 110 four-cylinder that delivers 108 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard, as is the six-speed manual, but that's okay considering the 70.6 mpg combined fuel economy rating on the Euro scale. Of course, performance specs for a model like this are rather scant but expect the 62-mph sprint to take somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 seconds with a top speed around 110 mph.

On the safety side of things, the Black Edition includes Nissan’s Safety Shield – a system that includes lane departure warning, high beam assist, traffic sign recognition, forward emergency braking, blind spot warning, driver attention alert, and moving object detection. There is also intelligent park assist, bi-LED headlights, and Nissan’s 360-degree Around View Monitor as standard equipment. Needless to say, the Qashqai Black Edition is pretty well equipped, but at what price?

The Qashqai Black Edition is on sale now at £27,310, which computes to about $35,240 at current exchange rates. That price is only £450 more than the standard Tekna the Black Edition is based on, representing a savings of around £1,200 or just under $1,550 over a Tekna that is similarly equipped. Kieran McMenamin, the Section Manager for Qashqai at Nissan, said, “Top-grade Tekna versions represent around one in three Qashqai purchases and recent reveals like the Qashqai Premium Concept identify a desire and demand for Qashqai to extend towards the higher end of the segment. As a new flagship for the range, the Black Edition is the definitive statement for Qashqai – luxury styling and generous specification but maintaining an accessible price point.”

Nissan Qashqai

Read our full review on the Nissan Qashqai here.