Anthony wouldn't blow an additional $10,000 on a few extra bells and whistles

Let's get one thing straight, I'm not the kind of person who would blow hundreds of dollars on a pair of sneakers (you know who you are). Neither would I spend an additional $10,000 on a few extra bells and whistles. That kind of dough could be put to better use.

It's no secret that car ownership in Singapore requires exorbitant amounts of money. However, it doesn't mean you can't get a good deal on a great car.

Enter the Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T, this baby gets the job done just as well as the 2.0 Premium; but at a fraction of the price. It's a downsized, stripped down version of its more extravagant brother, of course; but that comes with a few perks.

For one, it gets better fuel economy (we managed 12km/L out of its claimed 17.9km/L). It also has a lower COE premium thanks to its 1.2-litre DIG-T (Direct Injection Gasoline - Turbocharged) engine, which places it in Cat A with a premium of $51,507 (as of 5^th October 2016).

Both variants of the Qashqai are the exact same size, with the same amount of boot space - 430 litres (1,585 litres with the rear seats folded). A trip to Ikea would have the 1.2-litre engine working a little bit harder but it can hold the same amount of hauls as its 2.0 brethren.

The 1.2-litre variant sports 17-inch rims, compared to the 2.0's fancy-schmancy 19-inch alloys. It doesn't look as good, but heck, it contributes to making the car 94kg lighter and offers better fuel economy. Couple that with the ECO drive (not present on the 2.0 Premium) and you've got yourself a money saver any Asian mother would be proud of.

When I buy a car, I look for one that gets the job done without breaking the bank. It's not about getting a pimped out ride, it's about managing your finances so you don't have to cut back on other luxuries for the next couple of years. The novelty of having seat warmers and larger rims will eventually wear off, and you'll be $10,000 in the hole.

Desmond believes that you should cough up a little more dough to be a little more gungho

Are you a sensible, grown-up adult that calculates how long one tank of fuel can last? Are you a practical, level-headed parent of two that needs a decent-sized sport-utility vehicle (SUV) that will fit the kids and the weekend groceries? If so, when deciding which Qashqai to buy, the answer is definitively the 1.2-litre variant.

However, I'm not that person. I'm the sort of free-spirited, 'no family, no worries' kind of person who is less concerned about the numbers and more concerned about what the car can do for me. And when choosing between the two, I would have to pick the 2.0.

The Qashqai 2.0 is better specced - I've got cool LED headlamps, a rear view camera, heated seats, as well as sunroof that makes the car feel roomier and more airy. I've got roof rails that augments the car's hauling capabilities, good for taking a bunch of bicycles or even a wakeboard around.

Under bonnet, I've got more power, and that's always a plus. And perhaps most importantly, independent multi-link rear suspension (as opposed to a torsion beam) means that ride is more comfortable and pliant.

The Qashqai 2.0L Premium is perhaps more suited for people like me, people who embrace their lifestyle habits a little more than their practical sensibilities. People who enjoy taking their SUV up North a little more than heading to Sheng Siong. It's the better car, even if it's the less economical and practical choice. 

Of course, such pandering to arguably impractical bells and whistles (as Anthony puts it) comes at a cost, and if it were a steep jump between the two, I would have to seriously reconsider. But for $10,000 more, which amounts to about $83 more a month, I'd gladly form out that little bit more for the Qashqai 2.0.