Latest news with #Qashqai
Stuff.tv
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Stuff.tv
I think the Nissan Qashqai e-Power is the best compromise if you can't charge at home
Stuff Verdict The hugely popular Nissan Qashqai e-Power has been spruced up and looks and performs noticeably better than earlier editions, but it's got some tough competition to beat. Pros Refreshed design works a treat Offers most of the appeal of an EV Interior has had a real boost Cons Average driving experience Boot space could be better Feels a bit lumpy on rough roads Introduction One of the biggest hurdles with buying an electric car is where to charge it. Things have got better in terms of infrastructure but costs to charge are high. Charging at home therefore makes a lot of sense, but not everyone is able to do that. One possible answer is the new Nissan Qashqai e-Power. This hugely popular family-friendly SUV has sold by the bucketload, and it's also built in the UK. The new edition looks like it could make even more friends. In many ways it feels like a proper EV, but it never needs to be plugged in. This is, in essence, a petrol-engine hybrid, but the engine charges a small battery that in turn supplies electric power to the wheels. While the Nissan Qashqai e-Power isn't quite as smooth and silent as a genuine EV all of the time, it actually works very well when driven on frequent around town-type journeys. Nissan has worked hard to refine the latest iteration, promising longer service intervals that can lower running costs, along with some cosmetic tweaks and a quieter driving experience. Underneath the tasty new bonnet lines, the powerplant has been reworked into a more condensed and much leaner setup, which promises a much more refined experience than older cars. That said, it's up against the new Kia Sportage, which I've just driven and is a hard act to follow… How we test cars Every electric car reviewed on Stuff is tested on a range of road surfaces and, where possible, in varying weather conditions. We use our years of experience to compare with rivals and assess ergonomics, technology features and general usability. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. The styling Nissan knows it's got a good thing going on with the Qashqai, so there's not a huge amount of difference with the exterior of the new version compared to the old. I'd say it's a case of tweaking, rather than transforming, but the overall effect makes the Nissan Qashqai e-Power great to look at. The front end is the best example, with a more prominent grille area that's particularly striking. It's the same at the back, with revised taillights that bring the look bang up to date. Adding to the external design appeal is a nice balance between shiny black trim and chrome flourishes, with the icing on the cake being a very decent selection of alloys across the trim levels. This rather more premium tone continues on the inside, with an interior that both looks and feels a lot more impressive than some of the older trim grades. It didn't feel quite as snazzy as the Kia Sportage, but it's acceptable enough. The drive Nissan's engineers have done a fine job with the new powerplant, so this Qashqai feels like a much more refined car than the last one. Setting off for the first time, I found the car to be effortless to drive, and the vibe is the same one delivered from a proper EV. It's super quiet, offers lightweight but positive steering and delivers a commanding view of the road ahead. To enhance the feeling that I was driving an EV, I also made full use of Nissan's e-Pedal mode, which delivers a regenerative feel to the braking. It's still very good. The six-speed automatic gearbox didn't deliver any unwanted surprises and shifted effectively without too much in the way of fuss. Hitting the open road and pushing it up to faster speeds, the Nissan Qashqai e-Power did change its tune a little though, but the engine noise does seem less pronounced than its predecessor. Delivery of said power seemed a lot smoother as well, although at motorway speeds it was also patently clear I wasn't behind the wheel of a full-blown EV. There's a Sport mode option from the drive selections, which is worth exploring even if it only adds a little colour to the driving experience rather than transforming it entirely. I'd imagine most owners who buy the new Nissan Qashqai e-Power will probably be fine pottering around in the standard drive mode. As a bonus, the efficiency of this car has been improved, so it should prove reasonable economical to run with up to 62mpg achievable on average. The technology One of the best improvements to the tech setup in the Nissan Qashqai e-Power is the revised suite of Google infotainment tools. They sit within a landscape screen that's okay rather than brilliant. Meanwhile, the dedicated camera views around the car are a real valued added extra if you're looking to squeeze into tight spots. Nissan is still pushing its ProPilot system, which has been around for a while but that too has been tweaked and functions as a useful assistant. This is especially so if you find it hard to stick to speed limits as ProPilot can help do that for you automatically thanks to its adaptive capability, with cool lane-keeping prowess as well. Heading for the middle of the range N-Design trim seems to get you most of the good stuff in terms of tech, which is topped off by a workmanlike audio system that gets the job done. Nissan Qashqai e-Power verdict The Nissan Qashqai e-Power will make a lot of sense for many folks, especially anyone who likes the appeal of going electric but doesn't have the means to charge at home. There are strong rival options, however, like the latest Kia Sportage, which I also love. That feels like a slightly better car too, especially when it comes to the interior. Nevertheless, the Nissan Qashqai e-Power looks and feels better than the outgoing model. It's noticeably quieter too. Stuff Says… Score: 4/5 The hugely popular Nissan Qashqai e-Power has been spruced up and looks and performs noticeably better than earlier editions, but it's got some tough competition to beat. Pros Refreshed design works a treat Offers most of the appeal of an EV Interior has had a real boost Cons Average driving experience Boot space could be better Feels a bit lumpy on rough roads Nissan Qashqai e-Power technical specifications Powertrain Petrol engine, electric motor Battery 1.8kWh Power 203bhp Torque 243lb-ft 0-62mph 7.9sec Top speed 105mph Fuel economy 62mpg (745 miles per refuel, estimated) Cargo volume 455 litres
Auto Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: this mid-size French SUV is a steal at £188 per month
Comfortable to drive; hybrid power Spacious interior; well equipped Just £188.50 a month Almost overnight, Renault has gone from having hardly any SUVs in its line-up to offering one of broadest range of high-riders in the business. The Renault Symbioz is the newest of the lot and offers pretty much everything a family buyer could want. One of those requirements is value for money. This mid-size SUV is one of the cheapest of the lot right now, even undercutting such family favourites as the Nissan Qashqai. Advertisement - Article continues below Through the Auto Express Find a Car service, is offering the Symbioz for just £188.50 a month, giving you a lot of bang for your buck. It's a two-year deal that requires a £2,611.94 initial payment, while mileage is capped at 5,000 miles a year. Nudging this up to a more flexible 8,000 a year only costs £14.46 extra a month. This deal gets you a Symbioz in Techno trim. It may be the entry-level model, but it's packed with equipment. The standard list of features includes 18-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch digital driver's display and a 10.4-inch touchscreen with an excellent Google operating system. Powering this Symbioz is a full-hybrid system, comprising a 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 1.2kWh battery. It blends performance and frugality very well, giving a smooth and refined driving experience, plus wallet-pleasing fuel economy of more than 61mpg. The Symbioz isn't a thrilling car to drive, but nor should it be. It offers the type of driving experience that's perfectly in-step with its customers' needs: safe, composed and comfortable driving manners. The interior is a nice place to be, too. It's nicely trimmed and well put together, and it's pretty practical. The rear bench slides forwards, opening up more space in the boot – an impressive 624 litres to be precise. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Renault Symbioz leasing offers from leading providers on our Renault Symbioz page. Check out the Renault Symbioz deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here…
Auto Car
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Could "SUV bashing" mean the comeback of people carriers? Renault's design boss thinks so
Renault design boss Gilles Vidal predicts the people carrier could make a comeback to shake up the family car market as designers explore new ways of boosting efficiency and depart from the hallmarks of conventional SUV styling. People carriers, or multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), used to be big business in Europe, with the likes of the Renault Scenic, Vauxhall Zafira, Ford Galaxy and Citroën Picasso claiming a huge share of the regional car market (the segment accounted for more than 10% at one point) on the basis of their ability to accommodate seven occupants in a tall cabin, while occupying a footprint comparable with an estate car. The decline of the MPV began in 2006 when Nissan launched the Qashqai - effectively the genesis of the crossover segment, which would come to be the default choice for family motoring and dominate Europe's car market. Currently, SUVs account for more than half of all European car sales, while MPVs have dropped to a market share in the low single digits. But Gilles Vidal says the transition to electrification could bring about a renaissance for the MPV segment, as car makers strive to make their vehicles as efficient as possible and exploit the packaging freedoms of EV 'skateboard' architecture. He said: "SUVs won the battle against the MPVs because MPVs are cars that you need but you don't desire, and suddenly SUVs with the same engines, same weight, same everything - they are shapes that you will desire. "Now there's an SUV bashing going on in Europe, especially. You would never do MPV bashing because it's a very respectable family car - but it's equally polluting, equally heavy, equally everything, so that's a weird society twist." Vidal added that the general concept of an SUV "is still attractive today for most people, and still a functional car in terms of size, roominess and practicality". But he said that as cars become more aerodynamic in pursuit of efficiency, we could see a return to lower, sleeker and more MPV-like silhouettes. "What will probably happen with SUVs is they will try to be more and more efficient, so maybe slightly lower and better in aerodynamics. They will morph into a very efficient car, less energy consuming, with equivalent habitability and roominess and everything that's probably the trend." He said Renault's segment-straddling Emblème concept (pictured below), due in production in the coming years as the first of a new-generation electric car line-up, is a 'morphing of all of that' – with a raised ride height but a sleeker, lower profile than any of Renault's current SUVs.
Auto Express
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Nissan Qashqai e-Power 2025 review: impressive efficiency in an unusual way
The Qashqai e-Power is a unique, and slightly unusual, proposition in the ever-expanding sea of hybrid family SUVs. Around town, its clever powertrain delivers a genuinely EV-like drive, while the newly enhanced version brings noticeable improvements in refinement and fuel economy on the motorway. The cherry on top is that the updated set-up will be cheaper to run, in terms of trips to the pump and maintenance, which buyers will appreciate in the long term. Advertisement - Article continues below The Nissan Qashqai received much more aggressive styling, an interior overhaul and new Google-backed tech as part of its extensive mid-lift facelift last year, but there were no changes under the bonnet at the time. Presumably because the brand's engineers were still toiling away on the next evolution of its e-Power hybrid system, which is finally ready to be rolled out later this month. The unique set-up is designed to deliver as close to an EV-like driving experience as possible – without the driver having to worry about range or charging – by only using an electric motor to drive the front wheels. The petrol engine acts solely as a generator to charge a 1.8kWh lithium-ion battery, which in turn powers the e-motor. For the third iteration of its e-Power set-up, Nissan has designed an all-new five-in-one electric drive unit that shares core components with the latest Leaf EV. By putting everything into one unit, not only does it mean the system is now more efficient, but it also emits less noise and vibrations, to help improve refinement. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View Qashqai View Qashqai View Qashqai View Qashqai There's also a new, dedicated 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a larger turbocharger so the motor doesn't have to rev as high on the motorway, further boosting refinement and efficiency simultaneously, while the company's 'STARC combustion concept' supposedly improves thermal efficiency by up to 42 per cent. As well as reducing fuel consumption, Nissan has managed to increase the service intervals from 9,000 to 12,000 miles, which will allow buyers to save money on maintenance. Advertisement - Article continues below The result of all this is that the Qashqai e-Power can now average up to 62mpg, compared with roughly 54mpg before. It also consumes less fuel while cruising on the motorway which, in theory, should allow drivers to cover up to 745 miles on a single tank of petrol. Meanwhile CO2 emissions have dropped from 117g/km to 102g/km, and cabin noise has fallen by 5.6dB. Nissan has also tweaked the hybrid system's power output, because customers apparently wanted to feel more of a difference when switching into Sport mode. Now, in Normal mode, the e-motor produces 188bhp and 311Nm of torque, but switching to Sport ups it to 203bhp and 330Nm; that's enough to whittle the official 0-62mph time down from 7.9 to 7.6 seconds. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below To try and appreciate the improvements in the driving experience, we tested the outgoing and new Qashqai e-Power back-to-back, and there is a definite (if very subtle) improvement in refinement. For instance, the old engine sounded harsher and seemed to emit a constant drone while cruising on the motorway, then roaring into life when we floored the throttle. By contrast, the new one is generally much quieter, especially on the motorway, as Nissan promised. Advertisement - Article continues below In town, however, we found it impossible to tell the difference between the two cars, which is understandable because both are propelled by a silent electric motor. We often noticed a delay in power delivery when trying to accelerate, however, which breaks the illusion that you're driving an EV. We still like the stronger regenerative braking setting, which Nissan calls the e-Pedal mode, that you activate easily by a pressing button on the centre console. It might not deliver the genuine one-pedal driving you get in some EVs, but it does slow the car considerably when you lift off the throttle and helps in town-centre traffic. The only downside is that, when you hit the open road, the brake pedal doesn't feel as natural as when you switch the system off. Nissan says it's also updated its 'ProPilot' adaptive cruise control system. Among the improvements are an automatic and predictive speed limit function, which can slow the car down in preparation for a new speed limit to help prevent drivers from getting tickets. Unfortunately, the company hasn't come up with an easier way for drivers to silence the incessant bonging from the various other driver-assistance systems. The speed-limit warning and lane-keep assist were particularly vocal during our test drive. To turn systems like this off, you have to use the buttons on the steering wheel to trawl through various menus on the digital driver's display, which is as slow, overly complicated and distracting a process as it sounds. We're surprised Nissan hasn't found an easier solution for drivers, like the 'My Safety Perso' button you get in Renaults and Dacias. We've been told the new Nissan Qashqai e-Power will cost the same as the existing version, which is available from £34,860 – nearly £2,000 more than a mild-hybrid automatic model in the same specification. The first cars featuring the new and improved e-Power set-up are due to arrive on customers' driveways by September. Model: Nissan Qashqai e-Power Tekna+ Price: £39,155 On sale: July Powertrain: 1.5-litre 3cyl petrol hybrid Power/torque: 203bhp/330Nm Transmission: Single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 7.6 seconds Top speed: 105mph Economy/CO2: 62mpg/102g/km Size (L/W/H): 4,425/1,835/1,575mm Got the Nissan Qashqai on your mind? Take a look at our latest deals on a new Nissan Qashqai , or find top prices on a used Nissan Qashqai . Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports While not officially Fords, the MST Mk1 and Mk2 Sports should drive as sharply as they look Car Deal of the Day: Skoda Octavia vRS is the consummate all-rounder and only £255 a month! Car Deal of the Day: Skoda Octavia vRS is the consummate all-rounder and only £255 a month! A three-time Auto Express Family Car of the Year winner, paired with Golf GTI power, is our Deal of the Day for 6 July Car Deal of the Day: Peugeot 208 GT is a sharp supermini for less than £180 a month Car Deal of the Day: Peugeot 208 GT is a sharp supermini for less than £180 a month It may be getting on a bit, but thanks to distinctive styling you really wouldn't know it – Peugeot's 208 is our Deal of the Day for 7 July
North Wales Live
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
Buyers told 'shop around' as car colour could quietly add £4,500 to cost
Car buyers have been warned that the colour of your vehicle could quietly add up to £4,500 onto the price you pay. Auto Express is urging buyers to take a closer look at paint pricing, which can significantly affect the final cost of a vehicle. While it's well known that high-end options such as upgraded audio systems or oversized alloy wheels can inflate the price, a less obvious – and often overlooked – cost is the paint colour itself. But analysis by Auto Express has found that for some mainstream models, buyers will be paying more than £700 over the base price just for choosing a colour that isn't white or red. 'People assume the colour of their car is a cosmetic decision – but in today's market, it can hit your wallet harder than you think,' said Paul Barker, Editor of Auto Express. 'We're seeing huge discrepancies in paint pricing between manufacturers, and they're not always obvious at first glance. It's catching people out – and can turn what should be a fun part of car buying into a bit of a nightmare.' Paint charges vary wildly between car makers, so if colour is a key consideration, Paul urges motorists to shop around. 'It's entirely likely that anyone shopping for a new Nissan Qashqai might also have a Skoda Karoq on their shortlist, for example,' said Paul, 'Unless you want your Qashqai in red, you'll need to budget another £745 above the list price to cover the paint, whereas you can have your Skoda in any one of five colours including a pearl finish and so-called Exclusive Meteor Grey completely free of charge. 'Even the optional bright red or orange finishes are only £410. So, if you're not having your Qashqai in red, the cost of this mid-size SUV has jumped up by at least £335 – and most likely more than £700 – versus the Skoda.' Premium brands take it even further. On a BMW X3, 26 paint options cost from £875 to over £4,500, while Audi only offers white as standard on the Q3, charging £575 for all other colours – or a £4,000 for a custom finish. Even within the VW Group, there's inconsistency: SEAT lets you pick any colour free on the Ateca, while VW's Tiguan includes eight out of nine colours at no cost – yet Audi holds firm on its charges. Paint pricing by model - what you'll really pay for colour Nissan Qashqai - free colour, red only. other colours: £745 extra Skoda Karoq - free colours, five options, including pearl-effect and exclusive meteor grey. optional bright finishes (e.g. red/orange): £410 Seat Ateca - all colours free of charge Volkswagen Tiguan - free colours, 8 out of 9 options, 'exclusive' paint option: £1,310 Audi Q3 - free colour, white only, standard colours: £575, custom finish: £4,000 BMW X3 - free colour, white only, optional colours: £875 to £4,585 Ford Kuga -free colour, white only, other colours: £800 Vauxhall Grandland - free colour, metallic black, other colours: £650 Maserati Granturismo Folgore (premium model example) - optional matte paint: up to £18,000 'Colour should be about personal taste, not personal financial pain,' Barker said. 'In many cases, the price of paint can be the difference between a deal and a disappointment. And if you're financing the car, those costs stick with you every month for years.' 'Don't get dazzled by a glossy showroom finish,' Barker added. 'It might look great under the lights, but it could be hiding a serious hit to your budget. Understand what you're paying for – and don't let colour choice cloud your judgement.'
