Thoughts on semi-autonomous systems?
Hi,
I'm interested in one of these semi-autonomous driving systems, where, as long as you keep your hands on the steering wheel, the car will keep within the white lines and possibly include changing lanes. I'm thinking of it in the context of driving long distances on continental motorways. There seems to be any number of systems out there - some more in the line of adaptive cruise control (keeping a set distance from the car in front) - to something more autonomous along the lines above allowing lane changes. While they are at different price points I was wondering if you have had the opportunity to try the Pro Pilot on the Nissan Qashqai and the Drive Pilot by Volvo and if you are in a position to comment on their relative merits.
Thanks
Philip
Philip Donegan (Ballina)May 2019 Filed under: optional extras
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
Yes, we have tried them and in both cases they work fine, but please don’t go thinking of them as truly autonomous driving systems — they’ve very far from that, far even from semi-autonomous. In both cases (in fact in all current cases, no matter what some car makers would have you believe) these systems are just glorified cruise control, with a radar to keep you a safe distance from the car in front, and cameras and sensors to detect the lines on the road and keep you steering more or less straight. They’re not fully active, though, and you still need to drive the car, keep your eyes up and on the road and be in control at all times. They do reduce fatigue on long journeys right enough, but only be a small amount to be honest, and they’re not to be relied upon.
Should this Qashqai's belt be changed?
Hi all,
I am close to buying a 2012 Nissan Qashqai+2 Tekna model with 89,000 miles on the clock. When I asked the garage about the timing belt and water pump, they said it was too early, that it's usually done at 120,000 miles; is this true? I am worried because it's a lot of money to spend to be screwed over...
Timothy O'Sullivan (Killarney )Mar 2019 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Timothy,
The timing belt on the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine (and hence the water pump) should be changed every 150,000 kilometres or six years - whichever comes first. If the belt on that car has never been changed, it really should be as soon as possible.
All other engines in that car use timing chains, incidentally.
Can I tax a Nissan Navara privately?
Hi,
Can a 2016 Nissan Navara be taxed privately? Or only commercial?
Marcin Posiewka (Dublin)Mar 2019 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Marcin,
It can be taxed privately. Oddly, as it's a commercial, to tax it privately, the rate is calculated on the old by-engine-capacity regime, regardless of the fact that it's a 2016 model.
Looking for a spacious family car...
Looking for recommendations for a family car for a two-year old and a newborn. Petrol, good legroom and boot size, affordable and doesn't feel 'huge' to drive or difficult to park. Already checked out Skoda Octavia and Nissan Qashqai so any advice on these? We weren't looking to buy a brand new car but they both seem to have good scrappage deals...
Orla Greaney (Dublin)Mar 2019 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Orla,
Get the Skoda. Trust me, as the father of two growing boys a Qashqai is just not big enough inside. The Octavia, on the other hand, has lots of rear legroom (crucial for people in rear-facing child seats or boosters) and a massive boot, especially if you go for the very practical Combi estate version. If you’re looking for other alternatives, stick within the mid-size estate market — they’re much more practical for families than a compact SUV, and usually cheaper too run too. Oh, and they’re not much bigger than the hatchbacks they’re based on, so parking etc. is still a doddle.
Good alternatives to the Skoda are the Ford Focus Estate, the Kia Ceed Sportswagon, the Hyundai i30 Tourer and the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. Click on those links to read our reviews of each.
Which used crossover to go for?
Hi,
Out of Hyundai ix35, Tucson, Kia Sportage or Qashqai, all 2015, which to go for? Drove ix35 today with impressive kit, heated seats, windscreen, dual-zone climate etc. Will be going to UK to buy as will save at least €2,000. Which would you choose considering two small kids and about 20,000km per year?
Gerry Coen (Galway)Feb 2019 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Gerry,
At 20,000km a year, you’re just on the cusp of choosing between diesel and petrol, so I’d tread carefully, and make sure you do your sums before you decide. Of the four cars you’ve mentioned, the ix35 is the oldest in tech terms and, although it’s a decent car, it’s feeling pretty out of date by now. The Qashqai is the nicest to drive, but both the Tucson and the Sportage are more roomy, so with kids to cart around, I’d go for one of those. It sort of doesn’t matter which — mechanically, they’re identical, so it comes down to which one you prefer on a personal level, and which one you can get the better deal on. Also, do consider a SEAT Ateca. They start from 2016, and the 1.4-litre turbo petrol is a terrific combo of performance and economy. Here are links to the relevant reviews to help you decide further:
Should I buy a new electric car now?
Hello,
I am holding my breath before taking the EV plunge. The choice so far is between the Nissan Leaf e plus, the Kia e-Niro 64kW and the Hyundai Kona Electric. I know two of these will be 192-reg, but so far I have taken a test drive in the Kona and the current Leaf. Sorry to report that the Kona got the thumbs down on a few fronts.
Sadly the nit pickers have decided that they can throw the scraps to "poor Paddy". Smaller touch screen, standard cruise control and no spare. No height adjustment for front passenger seat. Just compare the UK offerings. Also quite a lot of road noise. To add insult the dealer padded his price to a ridiculous €40,000 after all rebates.
The test in the Leaf, albeit not the desired version, was a pleasure. It even had a slim spare wheel slung outside under the boot. Your review of the e-Niro doesn't mention the spare wheel, which is essential outside the cities. And as some drivers will want to carry one and the tools to fit it a lot of that space will be gone.
The Kona actually has a well under the boot floor, which houses the charging cable. How ridiculous is that! Imagine a young family going on an overnight trip. Pull everything out to find the cable... So finally, the question: should I go for the Leaf when it arrives or wait for the 2020 Volkswagen I.D.?
Peter
Peter Browne (Cavan)Feb 2019 Filed under: electric cars
Expert answer
Hi Peter,
You make a good point about the spare wheel, and it’s something we should look at more often. Actually, it’s a serious issue — a great many cars now come with no spare at all, as car makers trim them to save weight for emissions and economy tests.
Try the Kia e-Niro before you take the leap — it’s mechanically the same as the Kona but roomier inside, and should come with a slightly better standard spec. The Leaf is an excellent car, but we can’t comment on the longer range version as we’ve not driven it yet. Likewise the Volkswagen I.D., which looks set to be a game changer, but obviously as we’ve not driven one it’s hard to tell. Basically, the best advice is if you can hang on for a few months, that might be worth doing.
A few reviews to help you decide:
Hyundai Kona Electric review
Kia e-Niro review
Nissan Leaf reviews
Any advice about buying a Nissan Qashqai?
Thinking of buying a Nissan Qashqai 1.6 SV 4×4 Premium; would you have any advice?
John Haverry (Cavan)Jan 2019 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi John,
The Qashqai is a decent choice, and that 1.6 dCi diesel engine is a superior unit to the older 1.5-litre model. The four-wheel-drive system is useful too, especially if you’re living out in the sticks, but if most of your mileage is in town, then it might be a bit redundant, and doesn’t do any favours to the fuel consumption. The only concern would be that, long-term, the Qashqai does seem to develop its fair share of reliability issues, with electrics being the primary culprits, so make sure you get one with a full service history and check every switch and system.
How much to change my Primera's speedo?
How much does it cost to change the speedometer in a Nissan Primera from kilometres to miles in the UK?
Patricia Conway (Dublin)Jan 2019 Filed under: mileage
Expert answer
Hi Patricia,
That's not an easy one to give you an accurate answer on, I'm afraid as every garage will charge differnt labour rates. You'll need to bring the car along to a few places to get quotes.
Let us know how you get on
Is my Nissan Juke's start-stop ok?
On start-stop on a Nissan Juke, is it normal for the engine to completely cut out so you have to start it again through the ignition if you take your seat belt off?
Lindsay Pidcock (Redditch )Jan 2019 Filed under: miscellaneous
Expert answer
Hi Lindsay,
Yes, that's perfectly normal. Some cars do that when you open the door, others when you take your seat belt off. It's a safety measure.
What's the best hybrid SUV?
Hi,
I’m currently driving a 2017 Nissan Qashqai SVE and looking to trade to a 17 or 18-reg plug-in hybrid of a similar size and spec level. Budget of about €30k including my car's trade value. What would you recommend? I do mainly city driving so hoping the hybrid would offer some savings.
Thanks
Dara Weston (Dublin)Jan 2019 Filed under: hybrid
Expert answer
Hi Dara,
The best plug-in hybrids around at the moment are the Kia Niro PHEV, the Toyota Prius PHEV and the Volkswagen Golf GTE (assuming you can find a GTE in stock...). Now, these are smaller than your Qashqai inside, so you may need to make that compromise in order to get the plug-in hybrid efficiency. The revised Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is massive inside, and rather nice, but thirsty if you’re not plugging it in all the time and making maximum use of the electric part of the powertrain.
A conventional hybrid might also be worth a look, especially given that you’re driving mostly in town. Honda is just about to launch a hybrid version of the hugely impressive new CR-V, and the new Toyota RAV4 is arriving in dealerships around now. Both are well worth considering if you can stretch the budget out to something brand-new.
Here are some relevant reviews: