The Nissan Qashqai usually spends its life doing normal crossover things. School runs. Grocery hauls. The odd weekend getaway.
This one, however, helps rescue baby seals off the coast of northern Scotland.
Nissan has built a one-off, rescue-ready Qashqai e-Power for Caithness Seal Rehabilitation and Release, a sanctuary near John O’Groats that looks after injured, abandoned and unwell seal pups before sending them back into the sea.
Since opening in 2022, the charity has treated and released more than 130 pups.
To make the family SUV fit for flipper duty, Nissan added all-season tyres, a waterproof boot liner, roof bars, a towbar, emergency lighting and rescue livery.
The result is a Qashqai that looks rather more lifeguard than lifestyle.
It is not just for show. Founders Phil and Clare Boardman and their volunteers cover more than 320km of coastline, often in rough weather and on awkward roads, to reach seals in trouble.
The Qashqai’s e-Power hybrid system, which drives the wheels with an electric motor while a petrol engine supports the setup, suits that job well.
It is quiet, smooth and does not need plugging in. That is especially important, since the next rescue call could come from a remote bay rather than a neat charging hub.
Better still, the hushed cabin helps keep stressed seal pups calmer on the journey back.
Not every hero car wears mud-terrain tyres and a winch. Some just carry seals.
