- Craig Baker has a strong bond with a car that has never let him down
- Qashqai continues to demonstrate its durability, reliability and longevity
London, UK – The Nissan Qashqai was introduced in 2007, when it pioneered the crossover market. Today, more than four million cars have been sold across Europe and the family friendly Qashqai remains one of the UK's most popular models.
One such owner is Craig Baker, whose 17-plate Nissan Qashqai has recently reached a major milestone: it has travelled an incredible 250,000 miles. Not surprisingly, Craig, who lives in Lanarkshire Scotland, is full of praise for a car with which he has a strong emotional bond. He purchased the vehicle with money left to him by his mother Jeanette, who sadly passed away after being diagnosed with cancer.
"That's what makes my car so incredibly special to me," he says. "Every time I get behind the wheel, I am reminded of her and in many ways, the car has become a lasting connection to her memory."
Thousands of motorway miles travelled, year after year
Recalling the day he took ownership of his car in December, 2017, Craig said: "I never told my family that I was going to buy it. I travelled all the way from my home in Forth to Louth in Lincolnshire – around 280 miles each way – to collect it. I managed to keep the whole thing a secret from my family."
Craig had selected a 1.5-litre dCi diesel example in Tekna trim which had covered 3,000 miles as demonstrator at the dealership.
He said: "When I finally arrived home late that evening in my new Qashqai, my family were absolutely over the moon. It was a very special moment that I will never forget."
Craig said that at first, he didn't need to drive his car that often, but it came into its own due to a change in his circumstances.
"I became self-employed as a plant operator, working on flood defence projects all over the UK. That is when the car really began to earn its keep. I travel huge distances every week, covering thousands upon thousands of miles, mainly on motorways.
"My work takes me to places as far apart as Cornwall and Ashford in Kent, and my Qashqai has been with me every step of the way. Through all those years, all those journeys and all those miles, it has never let me down."
Craig said he was extremely proud of his Qashqai, which he Christened 'Wee Netty' as a tribute to his late mum.
He added: "Despite the mileage, it is still going strong, with its original exhaust, original clutch, and even some of its original rear brake components. Of course, I have replaced tyres and other wear-and-tear items over the years, and I have always made sure the car has been serviced and maintained to a high standard.
Thank you to Nissan for building such a fantastic car
"My Nissan Qashqai is one of the most reliable and economical cars I have ever owned. It has been absolutely brilliant."
'Now, having passed the 250,000-mile mark, I'm keen for people to know just how fantastic this car has been for me. A quarter of a million miles is a milestone I am incredibly proud of. It has travelled approximately the distance between the Earth and the Moon, and it continues to put a smile on my face every time I drive it."
"For me, this Qashqai isn't just a car. It represents my late mother's generosity, my working life, the thousands of miles I have travelled around the UK, and a whole lot of memories along the way. So, to the Nissan team: thank you for building such a fantastic, reliable and economical car. 250,000 miles and still going strong!"
A Nissan spokesperson said: ''It was wonderful to hear from Craig and learn about the Qashqai ownership experience he has enjoyed – and continues to enjoy – and the remarkable distance he has travelled in his car.
"Qashqai is a model everyone at Nissan is particularly proud of and we are delighted that its popularity shows no sign of waning. In fact, it is one of our greatest success stories thanks to its compelling combination of practical design, everyday usability and clever technologies."
"Long may its success continue and thank you to Craig for sharing his story with us."
# # #
About Nissan in the UK
Designed, engineered, built and loved by Britain: Nissan employs around 7,000 people across the UK including at its design centre in Paddington, London, and its R&D engineering centre in Cranfield. Sunderland is home to the UK's biggest single car plant, which builds two of the nation's best-selling cars – the Juke and Qashqai.
These models have now been joined by the European version of the new LEAF, which is manufactured in Sunderland as part of Nissan's EV36Zero project.
EV36Zero is Nissan's vision for the future of sustainable manufacturing – a blueprint that will transform Sunderland Plant into a flagship EV hub, bringing together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production. This is part of Nissan's goal to become a truly sustainable company and usher in a cleaner, safer and more inclusive world.
Designed, engineered and built in Britain.