Hi Daniel,

It’s not impossible to use a diesel engine for mostly short journeys, it’s just that there is a mechanical and financial side to it. Short journeys don’t allow the engine and exhaust systems to warm up properly so you’re dealing with increased fuel consumption and eventually problems with the diesel particulate filter (and potentially other parts like the EGR vale) clogging up, which can be very expensive to fix. Equally, diesel cars tend to cost more than their petrol counterparts, so you’re paying extra to get a car with a capability you’re not really using – long range economy.

All three cars you’ve mentioned can be had with excellent petrol engines – a 1.2-litre turbo in the case of the Qashqai and a 900cc three-cylinder turbo for the Stepway and Captur, both of which have good economy, are smooth and powerful to drive and are much, much better suited to life in town than a diesel.