Motoring

CAROLINE GETS MOTORING

Bunclody native Caroline Kidd brings us reviews of the latest new cars to arrive in Ireland. Caroline is the founder and editor of the online automotive magazine Changing Lanes and a jury member for Irish Car of the Year. Find out more about her editorial and commercial copywriting services at www.changinglanes.ie NISSAN QASHQAI

The Nissan Qashqai is back. The Qashqai started the trend for crossovers and rose to fame in Ireland, for a time Ireland's bestselling car and a former Irish Car of the Year.

Now in its third generation, the Nissan Qashqai has grown up. More visually imposing than the previous generation of the car, it has the kerb appeal of a top SUV. Following on from the 2020 launch of the all-new Nissan Juke, the new Qashqai translates Nissan's new design language and technology to the family SUV segment with great success.

Pricing kicks off from €30,500 for the range, with all models powered from launch by a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine with mild hybrid technology.

Inside the Qashqai benefits from a new interior that feels a lot more modern than the previous generation of the car. The quality of the materials and the fit and finish is high for a rock solid feel required of a family car. Qashqai gets a suitable digital upgrade too with a digital instrument panel for the driver and a slick looking infotainment screen that's smartphone ready.

Standard equipment includes LED headlights, auto headlights with high beam assist, rear parking sensors, 8" infotainment screen and wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Safety features include blind spot intervention, traffic sign recognition, Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, and Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking.

The SV Premium model on test (from €37,395) includes a wireless phone charger, 9” touchscreen, 18" alloys, panoramic glass roof, rear view camera and rear privacy glass.

The Qashqai has grown in stature, which benefits passenger space too. The new car is a bit wider and has a longer wheelbase than the car it replaces, with good sized footwells in the rear as a result. It feels more spacious inside than the previous Qashqai. There's also 50 more litres of boot space and the boot has a number of clever features to boost practicality like a

false floor that can be used to separate items or give a flat loading sill. A powered handsfree tailgate is also available. The most impressive feature is refinements to the ergonomic design of the door openings the rear doors now open to 90 degrees and it's easier to step in and out of the new model. Small things but it helps Qashqai function better as a family car than ever before. Sitting on a new platform and Interior powered by the 1.3-litre mild hybrid petrol engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox, my test car felt agile and supple on the road. The steering is faster, more defined and responsive. For a large SUV it's surprisingly agile and easy to drive with the manual gearbox, though a CVT automatic is also available (from €36,700). It's very comfortable, even on large wheels. The engine is refined and there is plenty of power from the 156 hp unit. It is very pleasant to drive. Nissan says the manual gearbox has been enhanced for a quicker, more direct and sportier shift feeling, and I can say it certainly felt good from behind the wheel. This is the only engine option for now. Some buyers might lament the demise of the diesel Qashqai. My average fuel consumption over a week of driving was 6.8 litres per 100 km so it's not the cheapest car in the park at the moment to run, over long distances at least. But the arrival of a new Qashqai 'e-POWER' hybrid in early 2022 will be one to watch, using a petrol engine to generate electricity, while the wheels are completely driven by an electric motor. The Qashqai has been an amazing success in Ireland since it launched here, with over 50,000 already on the road and a further 20,000-30,000 estimated to have been imported here in the car’s 14 year history. Nissan has sold over 3 million units of the car in Europe since its launch 13 years ago. It's an incredibly important car for Nissan. The new generation model has seriously grown up with the presence of a larger SUV. At launch the engine range does look very narrow but the 1.3-litre petrol is fun to drive and refined, though the upcoming hybrid is one to watch. Space matters and the Qashqai has grown in all the right directions. This car is still a solid buy, even more stylish than before with a well-finished cabin to see it into the next few years. Nissan has definitely upped the quality of this car. The legend returns! Model tested: Nissan Qashqai SV Premium Price: €37,395 Engine: 1.3-litre turbo petrol Power: 156 hp Torque: 260 Nm Top speed: 206 km/h Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 9.5 seconds CO2 emissions: 145 g/km Motor Tax: €270 per year n

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Gorey Mot Wells House

Thumbs up from Evan Harris and Senna Sheane in their uncle’s 1954 Volkswagen car at the Gorey Motor Club day at Wells House & Gardens, 12th September 2021.

Hi from young Callum Whelan from his uncle’s Ford Cortina Mark 5.

Four right models: Angela Mulligan, Karen Tripp and Marie Gredley and of course the TRS at the Gorey Motor Club event.

tor Club at e & Gardens

Gorey Motor Club visited Wells House & Gardens on 12th September 2021 for a ‘Coffee and Cars’ event. With a BBQ and music on the terrace it was a great day out for all the family.

Dylan and Sinead Kearns with their 1981 BMW 728i car at the Gorey Motor Club day at Wells House & Gardens, 12th September 2021.

Above: At the Mark 4 Toyota Supra were Charlie and Trish Minpress. Below: Owen Murphy with his 1970 Mini car and daughter Penny with her own car on top.

Age of vehicle fleet rises

Vehicle history and data expert CARTELL.IE and vehicle sales platform CARSIRELAND.IE reported last month that the age of the fleet is increasing as owners hold onto their vehicles longer during the pandemic. The overall picture shows the age of the private fleet, both native and imported, has returned to a level last seen in July 2017.

Cartell.ie tracked the age of the fleet (both native fleet and imported fleet) on the first day of each month between January 1999 and July 2021. Between July 2020 and July 2021 the fleet as a whole has advanced in age by 30 days from an average of 3150 days to 3180 days (+30 days). For the equivalent period the imported fleet has also increased from 3254 days to 3289 days (+35 days). The average age of a private car in Ireland, both native and imported, is now 8.7 years. The average age of an imported car in Ireland stands at 9 years. An indigenous Irish vehicle’s average age is currently 8.58 years.

The age of the fleet oscillates throughout the year as vehicles leave the fleet and others enter. However the increase in age of the fleet since March 2020 (+81 days) has been particularly notable. This coincides with the worldwide pandemic. In March 2020 the difference in age between the imported fleet and the native fleet was +137 days while today the difference in age has widened to +153 days meaning imported vehicles are, on average, older than they had been.

Jeff Aherne, Innovation Lead, Cartell.ie, says: “Obviously there is a lot going on both with the pandemic, which has altered buying habits, and the drop in numbers of imported vehicles, coupled with a chip shortage in the industry for new vehicles. The fleet is certainly getting older at the moment. Whether this is part of a wider trend we can expect to see continue or whether the fleet age will begin to fall again when we leave the pandemic is an open question at this point. We would expect to see the age starting to decline again when things open up.” References: https://www.cartell.ie/2015/01/age-of-fleet-levels-off-as-carindustry-in-recovery/ https://www.cartell.ie/2017/11/age-fleet-falls-imports-timehigh/ https://www.cartell.ie/2018/10/age-private-fleet-dropsyounger-imports/ https://www.cartell.ie/2019/02/age-private-fleet-dropsyounger-import/ n

105,000 waiting for driving test

At the beginning of September, there were 105,000 people nationally waiting on a driving test. Sinn Féin Deputy Johnny Mythen has called for more driving testers to be hired to help clear the massive backlog, with 2,091 people in Co. Wexford alone waiting on their test. The Wexford TD said: “At the Oireachtas Transport Committee in December, the Chairperson of the RSA, Liz O’Donnell, said; ‘In October the RSA made a submission to the Department for the recruitment of 80 extra driver testers, and I am hopeful that that will be approved soon’. “Almost one year on, figures released to Sinn Féin show just 37 extra driving testers are now in place. This comes at a time when 105,480 people are waiting to sit a driving test across the state. It’s absolutely scandalous. “The problem is particularly bad in Co. Wexford where 2,091 people are waiting on a driving test. There are also a further 1,035 individuals who have applied, who are not currently eligible to take the test, but nonetheless will be needing a test in the coming months.

“Minister Ryan has not addressed this problem through his Department. Obviously, he is failing to recognise the scale of the problem. Meanwhile college students and employees trying to get to work are facing huge problems without their driving licence.

“It’s predominantly young people affected by these delays, which is having a massive impact on their lives. Young people deserve better. Minister Ryan needs to take action immediately and put in place the number of driving testers requested by the RSA almost one year ago, that are still not fully in place. The Minister needs to increase driving testing and theory testing capacity immediately to clear these waiting lists. “This should include the fast-track recruitment of staff, longer opening hours, and the establishment of pop-up centres in the areas with the longest waiting lists.” n