An interesting story emerged last week from the UK, whereby a Nissan Qashqai travelled from the foot of England to the tip of Scotland on a single tank, finishing the 1,347km trip with fuel to spare. This was thanks to Nissan's unique e-Power electric powertrain which generates electricity from the engine meaning it is fully motor driven. And while I didn't achieve such a remarkable feat during my recent week-long test with the latest Qashqai, it was clear to see just how brilliant Nissan's e-Power technology really is.
Unlike traditional hybrids, the Qashqai e-Power system uses the 1.5-litre petrol engine solely to generate electricity, which powers an electric motor that drives the wheels. The wheels are driven only by electric power, delivering instant torque, smooth acceleration, and a quieter ride – all without the need to plug in. It works incredibly well, and keeps fuel consumption under 6l/100km in the real world.
The Qashqai itself is creeping up on 20 years and has been one of the best-selling cars in Ireland since. But competition in the SUV segment has never been as fierce as it is today, and with Nissan's ongoing global financial issues and cost-cutting measures, the Japanese automaker cannot afford to fall behind.
I believe this e-Power tech will keep the Qashqai near the top for several more years, regardless of what electric vehicle laws and so-called deadlines the EU throws at the motor industry.
Another positive for the Qashqai is that it has never looked as good as it does now. Now in its third generation, the Qashqai has received a comprehensive refresh to its exterior, most notably the front grille which now has patterns inspired by ancient Japanese armour scales. A gloss black bumper is also an option, while higher grades benefits from a new gloss black finish on the body beneath the doors and wheel arches. Mid-grade trims even get 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheel as standard.
Tested here was the top-of-the-range SVE trim coming in at €54,400. That may sound steep, but you can do much worse with that sort of cash in today's market.
In this guise, Alcantara features on the dashboard, door inserts, door armrests and centre storage console lid. Physical buttons and dials prevail under a simple-to-use 12.3-inch touchscreen. The cup holders are even a sensible shape and size – a small area that many brands seem to be making a mess of these days. Families will also appreciate the rear doors, which open to almost 90-degrees. A 504-litre boot lies behind a powered tailgate.
I should note that you can get the latest Qashqai without e-Power, which makes things more affordable. This starts from €39,900 and is the only way to buy a new Qashqai with a manual gearbox (there is no diesel version either, if you are wondering ). The 190hp e-Power range does start from €45k which frankly could be too big of a jump for many people. Hopefully Nissan Ireland can narrow that gap in the future.
The verdict, however is simple: the Nissan Qashqai e-Power is a five-star car.
