Meet the Such family – a family of motoring enthusiasts whose enthusiasm for Nissan has seen them embrace the brand’s latest electrified technology while remaining loyal to the same award-winning dealership that has served them for many years: Crayford & Abbs in Holt, Norfolk.
Between them, Denise and Matthew Such and their son Alex own all three of Nissan’s fully electric models currently available in Britain – the All-New LEAF, ARIYA and All-New MICRA.
And the Nissan connection doesn’t stop there. Denise’s father, Derek, is a long-standing Nissan owner who currently drives an X-Trail equipped with Nissan’s innovative e-POWER technology.
It makes this one family with an extraordinary Nissan story – spanning generations, technologies and an enduring relationship with Crayford & Abbs.
Matthew drives the All-New Nissan LEAF, the third generation of the pioneering electric car and current Auto Express Car of the Year.
Denise owns a Nissan ARIYA, the acclaimed all-electric crossover, while 27-year-old Alex has recently taken delivery of the All-New, all-electric Nissan MICRA.
The sixth generation of the iconic MICRA has already earned considerable praise, with What Car? describing it as a “brilliant small electric hatchback” and awarding it the publication’s maximum five-star rating.
Completing the family’s Nissan line-up is Derek’s X-Trail e-POWER, whose space, comfort and versatility make it an ideal companion for his passion for fishing.
One family. One dealership. Years of loyalty.
What makes the story even more special is that every one of the family’s current cars was purchased through Crayford & Abbs.
The relationship began with Derek, who lives close to the dealership and has owned 11 different Nissan cars over the years, all supplied by Crayford & Abbs.
His experience with the dealership – and with owner and director Kevin Abbs in particular – made such an impression that the relationship has now extended to the next two generations.
Despite living near Bishop’s Stortford, around 100 miles away, Matthew, Denise and Alex are happy to make the200-mile round trip to Holt for their motoring needs.
For them, the journey is worthwhile because of the trust, personal service and long-standing relationship they have developed with the Crayford & Abbs team.
Derek said: “I have always been delighted with the service I have received at Crayford & Abbs and, as my motoring history will confirm, I am a huge fan of the Nissan brand.
“The qualities that have appealed to me over the years are the comfort, reliability, appearance and all-round capability of the cars I have owned.
“Just as importantly, I’ve always valued the personal service and care I receive from Kevin and the team at Crayford & Abbs.”
It was Derek who first introduced his daughter Denise to Nissan.
Her Nissan journey began with a Qashqai in 2014, followed by an X-Trail in 2017 and a second-generation LEAF in 2020. Today, she is the proud owner of the multi-award-winning ARIYA – with its cooling seats proving a particular favourite during the summer months.
Matthew has owned vehicles from rival manufacturers as well as previously driving a Juke, MICRA and Denise’s LEAF, before taking delivery of his new All-New LEAF this year.
For Alex, Nissan has been part of his motoring life from the very beginning. He has owned two previous MICRAs and a Juke before becoming one of the latest drivers to get behind the wheel of the new all-electric MICRA.
Electric cars powered by an increasingly sustainable home
The family’s enthusiasm for electric motoring forms part of a wider commitment to reducing their environmental impact.
Their home near Bishop’s Stortford is equipped with solar panels, battery storage and an energy-efficient heat pump, which recently replaced their previous oil-fired heating system.
The three Nissan EVs are used for everyday journeys and commuting and can be charged from the family’s home wall box, making use of surplus electricity generated by their solar panels whenever possible.
And while the cars are ideally suited to everyday driving, the family has found their Nissan EVs equally capable when travelling further afield.
Regular journeys include visits to Derek in Norfolk, while longer trips over the past year have included Cornwall and the Peak District, alongside previous journeys north to Durham and Whitby.
It is a real-world demonstration of how electric vehicles are now comfortably fitting into every aspect of family life – from the daily commute to longer journeys around the country.
In recognition of the family’s exceptional loyalty to Nissan, they were presented with a selection of Nissan-branded gifts linked to their cars, including speakers, tote bags, notebooks and umbrellas.
Kevin Abbs, Director of Crayford & Abbs, said: “It is wonderful to see Derek and his family become such passionate advocates for Nissan, but what makes this story particularly special for us is the relationship we have built with them over so many years.
“They are much more than customers – they have become firm friends of Crayford & Abbs.
“We never take loyalty like this for granted. The fact that Matthew, Denise and Alex are prepared to make a 200-mile round trip to visit us is something everyone here is incredibly proud of.
“Our business has always been built around looking after people properly and building relationships that last. To see that relationship now extending across three generations of one family is tremendously rewarding.
“We thank them all for their continued trust in us and look forward to taking care of their motoring needs for many years to come.”
