The Nissan Qashqai, one of the Japanese carmaker’s most successful cars, made its Korean debut Tuesday.

Buoyed by the new launch, the Japanese carmaker predicted that it would have its best year in Korea in 2014, with a record 4,500 unit sales.

“The Qashqai arrives at the right time when diesel-powered SUV sales are soaring in Korea. We target to sell more than 200 Qashqais per month,” Nissan Korea CEO Takehiko Kikuchi said during a news conference in Seoul. 

The Qashqai is the first diesel-powered Nissan car, slotted between the Juke and Pathfinder SUVs. Designed and built in the United Kingdom, the compact crossover is Nissan’s best-selling car in Europe.

Its 1.6-liter turbocharged diesel engine churns out a maximum torque of 32.6 kilogram meters and 131 horsepower. Its fuel economy is rated at 15.3 kilometers per liter.

Adding to its modern feel and look, generous high-end features, such as front emergency braking, land departure warning and blind spot warning, are offered to customers as basic options.

The price ranges from 30.5 million won to 37.9 million won ($28,000-$35,000) ― comparable to rival models like the Hyundai Tucson ix and the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Korean officials said the weakening Japanese yen didn’t affect the Korean pricing as all the vehicles sold here come from Nissan’s U.K. plant in Sunderland.

On Tuesday, Nissan Korea also celebrated its sixth anniversary. In a move to show the carmaker’s commitment, Takao Katagiri, executive vice president who oversees Japan, Asia and Oceania, joined the Qashqai launch event.

“Korea is one of the fastest-growing markets in Asia and we are pinning high hopes on the market,” he said. “To attract more customers, we will continue to introduce new models, including the Nissan Leaf.”

The Nissan Leaf is the best-selling full-electric car globally, having sold more than 150,000 units. The car is expected to hit the Korean market in December, according to the company’s Asia chief.

By the end of this year, the Korean unit plans to operate 16 showrooms and 13 service centers nationwide.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)