Latest news with #Qashqaie-Power
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Nissan confirms cheapest e-Power hybrid yet for Australia
Nissan Australia has confirmed a new, more affordable Qashqai e-Power hybrid that will become the most accessible model to utilise the brand's electrified tech Down Under. The 2025 Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power joins the Ti-L and N-Design in the local lineup, bringing the price of entry down to $47,165 before on-road costs. It's the first time the Qashqai e-Power has dipped below the $50,000 barrier. It's also more affordable than the larger X-Trail ST-L e-Power (from $49,490), though its larger sibling not only offers more space but a more powerful twin-electric motor drive system. As for spec, the Qashqai Ti e-Power emulates the standard specification of the petrol-only Qashqai Ti, which is priced $4200 lower at $42,965 before on-roads. Orders are open now, with initial stock already arriving in the country. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: Nissan Qashqai Ti interior Qashqai Ti + Ti e-Power highlights include: Features carried over from lower grades include: As with existing model variants, the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power is powered by a series hybrid system that combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine running a variable compression ratio with a power generator, inverter and electric motor. System outputs are rated at 140kW/330Nm, driving the front wheels only. Nissan includes its e-Pedal driving mode and regenerative braking to "further enhance the EV-like drive experience". The lack of a traditional gearbox means the Qashqai e-Power is driven only by the electric motor, whereas the turbocharged petrol engine generates electricity transferred via the inverter to either the front e-motor or the 1.8kWh battery pack – or both, depending on driving conditions. Nissan quotes combined fuel consumption of 4.8L/100km compared to the petrol Qashqai's 6.1L/100km, though the gap is widened in real-world conditions such as city driving. Emissions are also down to 112g/km compared to 134-138g/km for the non-e-Power Qashqai range, with the hybrid model also homologated to Euro 6 emissions regulations rather than Euro 5. MORE: Explore the Nissan Qashqai showroom Content originally sourced from: Nissan Australia has confirmed a new, more affordable Qashqai e-Power hybrid that will become the most accessible model to utilise the brand's electrified tech Down Under. The 2025 Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power joins the Ti-L and N-Design in the local lineup, bringing the price of entry down to $47,165 before on-road costs. It's the first time the Qashqai e-Power has dipped below the $50,000 barrier. It's also more affordable than the larger X-Trail ST-L e-Power (from $49,490), though its larger sibling not only offers more space but a more powerful twin-electric motor drive system. As for spec, the Qashqai Ti e-Power emulates the standard specification of the petrol-only Qashqai Ti, which is priced $4200 lower at $42,965 before on-roads. Orders are open now, with initial stock already arriving in the country. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: Nissan Qashqai Ti interior Qashqai Ti + Ti e-Power highlights include: Features carried over from lower grades include: As with existing model variants, the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power is powered by a series hybrid system that combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine running a variable compression ratio with a power generator, inverter and electric motor. System outputs are rated at 140kW/330Nm, driving the front wheels only. Nissan includes its e-Pedal driving mode and regenerative braking to "further enhance the EV-like drive experience". The lack of a traditional gearbox means the Qashqai e-Power is driven only by the electric motor, whereas the turbocharged petrol engine generates electricity transferred via the inverter to either the front e-motor or the 1.8kWh battery pack – or both, depending on driving conditions. Nissan quotes combined fuel consumption of 4.8L/100km compared to the petrol Qashqai's 6.1L/100km, though the gap is widened in real-world conditions such as city driving. Emissions are also down to 112g/km compared to 134-138g/km for the non-e-Power Qashqai range, with the hybrid model also homologated to Euro 6 emissions regulations rather than Euro 5. MORE: Explore the Nissan Qashqai showroom Content originally sourced from: Nissan Australia has confirmed a new, more affordable Qashqai e-Power hybrid that will become the most accessible model to utilise the brand's electrified tech Down Under. The 2025 Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power joins the Ti-L and N-Design in the local lineup, bringing the price of entry down to $47,165 before on-road costs. It's the first time the Qashqai e-Power has dipped below the $50,000 barrier. It's also more affordable than the larger X-Trail ST-L e-Power (from $49,490), though its larger sibling not only offers more space but a more powerful twin-electric motor drive system. As for spec, the Qashqai Ti e-Power emulates the standard specification of the petrol-only Qashqai Ti, which is priced $4200 lower at $42,965 before on-roads. Orders are open now, with initial stock already arriving in the country. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: Nissan Qashqai Ti interior Qashqai Ti + Ti e-Power highlights include: Features carried over from lower grades include: As with existing model variants, the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power is powered by a series hybrid system that combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine running a variable compression ratio with a power generator, inverter and electric motor. System outputs are rated at 140kW/330Nm, driving the front wheels only. Nissan includes its e-Pedal driving mode and regenerative braking to "further enhance the EV-like drive experience". The lack of a traditional gearbox means the Qashqai e-Power is driven only by the electric motor, whereas the turbocharged petrol engine generates electricity transferred via the inverter to either the front e-motor or the 1.8kWh battery pack – or both, depending on driving conditions. Nissan quotes combined fuel consumption of 4.8L/100km compared to the petrol Qashqai's 6.1L/100km, though the gap is widened in real-world conditions such as city driving. Emissions are also down to 112g/km compared to 134-138g/km for the non-e-Power Qashqai range, with the hybrid model also homologated to Euro 6 emissions regulations rather than Euro 5. MORE: Explore the Nissan Qashqai showroom Content originally sourced from: Nissan Australia has confirmed a new, more affordable Qashqai e-Power hybrid that will become the most accessible model to utilise the brand's electrified tech Down Under. The 2025 Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power joins the Ti-L and N-Design in the local lineup, bringing the price of entry down to $47,165 before on-road costs. It's the first time the Qashqai e-Power has dipped below the $50,000 barrier. It's also more affordable than the larger X-Trail ST-L e-Power (from $49,490), though its larger sibling not only offers more space but a more powerful twin-electric motor drive system. As for spec, the Qashqai Ti e-Power emulates the standard specification of the petrol-only Qashqai Ti, which is priced $4200 lower at $42,965 before on-roads. Orders are open now, with initial stock already arriving in the country. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: Nissan Qashqai Ti interior Qashqai Ti + Ti e-Power highlights include: Features carried over from lower grades include: As with existing model variants, the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power is powered by a series hybrid system that combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine running a variable compression ratio with a power generator, inverter and electric motor. System outputs are rated at 140kW/330Nm, driving the front wheels only. Nissan includes its e-Pedal driving mode and regenerative braking to "further enhance the EV-like drive experience". The lack of a traditional gearbox means the Qashqai e-Power is driven only by the electric motor, whereas the turbocharged petrol engine generates electricity transferred via the inverter to either the front e-motor or the 1.8kWh battery pack – or both, depending on driving conditions. Nissan quotes combined fuel consumption of 4.8L/100km compared to the petrol Qashqai's 6.1L/100km, though the gap is widened in real-world conditions such as city driving. Emissions are also down to 112g/km compared to 134-138g/km for the non-e-Power Qashqai range, with the hybrid model also homologated to Euro 6 emissions regulations rather than Euro 5. MORE: Explore the Nissan Qashqai showroom Content originally sourced from:
Canberra Times
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Canberra Times
Nissan confirms cheapest e-Power hybrid yet for Australia
The lack of a traditional gearbox means the Qashqai e-Power is driven only by the electric motor, whereas the turbocharged petrol engine generates electricity transferred via the inverter to either the front e-motor or the 1.8kWh battery pack – or both, depending on driving conditions.
The Advertiser
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power gets next-gen hybrid tech with 1200km of range
The2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power debuts the next-generation e-Power drivetrain, bringing claimed reductions in fuel consumption and running costs plus a smoother driving experience – and it should be in Australia early next year. Nissan has announced the third-generation Qashqai e-Power will go on sale in Europe this September with a lighter, five-in-one hybrid powertrain that includes an all-new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. Nissan e-Power system is a range-extending hybrid system, meaning the petrol engine doesn't drive the wheels but charges the vehicle's battery, with an electric motor responsible for power. The updated system is also expected to be fitted to the large Nissan X-Trail SUV later in 2026. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The latest generation gives the Qashqai – a Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross rival – fuel consumption as low as 4.5L/100km (WLTP), down from 5.1-5.3L/100km in the outgoing model. The Japanese automaker says the improved fuel economy gives the Qashqai e-Power – which has a 55L fuel tank – a range of up to 1200km, with emissions falling by 12 per cent to as low as 102g/km of carbon dioxide – with 5.6dB less cabin noise. On the excitement side, the next-gen e-Power will also have a new Sport Mode which delivers a 10kW power boost. With global supply coming from Nissan's Sunderland, United Kingdom factory – said to have its future assured amid the automaker's plan to cut staff and close plants – the new powertrain is set to be fitted in the current Qashqai for Australian showrooms in early 2026. The current Qashqai e-Power was introduced in Australia in 2024 – a year after the e-Power tech was introduced in the larger Nissan X-Trail SUV – and is currently offered in Ti and N Design model grades. It uses a 140kW/330Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery. The new e-Power system uses a new lighter, more compact five-in-one powertrain made up of the electric motor, generator (petrol engine), inverter, reducer and increaser. As well as better fuel economy, power increases by 11kW to 151kW. The updated Qashqai e-Power uses the same 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The new 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine is claimed to be all new – despite its similarities with the existing engine – and includes a larger turbocharger, which Nissan says lowers revs and brings fuel savings at highway speeds. The official claim is 14 per cent better economy on the highway and a 16 per cent improvement in 'real-world conditions' over the current Qashqai e-Power. Scheduled servicing intervals are now longer, with the new-gen Qashqai e-Power only needing attention every 20,000km compared to the current version's 15,000km. Nissan has also confirmed the Qashqai will also be updated with more connected car tech, adding voice command via Google Assistant with access to apps via Google Play, as well as 'Nissan Trip Stories' which stores journey info which can be access and shared through the Nissan Connected Services smartphone app. The Qashqai was facelifted earlier this year, bringing bolder exterior styling and debuting Nissan's Connected Car Services in Australia among other upgrades. Nissan Australia has cashback offers of between $1000 and $3000 on Qashqai – depending on the model grade – as part of its end of financial year (EOFY) sales. MORE: Explore the Nissan Qashqai showroom Content originally sourced from: The2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power debuts the next-generation e-Power drivetrain, bringing claimed reductions in fuel consumption and running costs plus a smoother driving experience – and it should be in Australia early next year. Nissan has announced the third-generation Qashqai e-Power will go on sale in Europe this September with a lighter, five-in-one hybrid powertrain that includes an all-new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. Nissan e-Power system is a range-extending hybrid system, meaning the petrol engine doesn't drive the wheels but charges the vehicle's battery, with an electric motor responsible for power. The updated system is also expected to be fitted to the large Nissan X-Trail SUV later in 2026. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The latest generation gives the Qashqai – a Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross rival – fuel consumption as low as 4.5L/100km (WLTP), down from 5.1-5.3L/100km in the outgoing model. The Japanese automaker says the improved fuel economy gives the Qashqai e-Power – which has a 55L fuel tank – a range of up to 1200km, with emissions falling by 12 per cent to as low as 102g/km of carbon dioxide – with 5.6dB less cabin noise. On the excitement side, the next-gen e-Power will also have a new Sport Mode which delivers a 10kW power boost. With global supply coming from Nissan's Sunderland, United Kingdom factory – said to have its future assured amid the automaker's plan to cut staff and close plants – the new powertrain is set to be fitted in the current Qashqai for Australian showrooms in early 2026. The current Qashqai e-Power was introduced in Australia in 2024 – a year after the e-Power tech was introduced in the larger Nissan X-Trail SUV – and is currently offered in Ti and N Design model grades. It uses a 140kW/330Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery. The new e-Power system uses a new lighter, more compact five-in-one powertrain made up of the electric motor, generator (petrol engine), inverter, reducer and increaser. As well as better fuel economy, power increases by 11kW to 151kW. The updated Qashqai e-Power uses the same 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The new 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine is claimed to be all new – despite its similarities with the existing engine – and includes a larger turbocharger, which Nissan says lowers revs and brings fuel savings at highway speeds. The official claim is 14 per cent better economy on the highway and a 16 per cent improvement in 'real-world conditions' over the current Qashqai e-Power. Scheduled servicing intervals are now longer, with the new-gen Qashqai e-Power only needing attention every 20,000km compared to the current version's 15,000km. Nissan has also confirmed the Qashqai will also be updated with more connected car tech, adding voice command via Google Assistant with access to apps via Google Play, as well as 'Nissan Trip Stories' which stores journey info which can be access and shared through the Nissan Connected Services smartphone app. The Qashqai was facelifted earlier this year, bringing bolder exterior styling and debuting Nissan's Connected Car Services in Australia among other upgrades. Nissan Australia has cashback offers of between $1000 and $3000 on Qashqai – depending on the model grade – as part of its end of financial year (EOFY) sales. MORE: Explore the Nissan Qashqai showroom Content originally sourced from: The2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power debuts the next-generation e-Power drivetrain, bringing claimed reductions in fuel consumption and running costs plus a smoother driving experience – and it should be in Australia early next year. Nissan has announced the third-generation Qashqai e-Power will go on sale in Europe this September with a lighter, five-in-one hybrid powertrain that includes an all-new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. Nissan e-Power system is a range-extending hybrid system, meaning the petrol engine doesn't drive the wheels but charges the vehicle's battery, with an electric motor responsible for power. The updated system is also expected to be fitted to the large Nissan X-Trail SUV later in 2026. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The latest generation gives the Qashqai – a Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross rival – fuel consumption as low as 4.5L/100km (WLTP), down from 5.1-5.3L/100km in the outgoing model. The Japanese automaker says the improved fuel economy gives the Qashqai e-Power – which has a 55L fuel tank – a range of up to 1200km, with emissions falling by 12 per cent to as low as 102g/km of carbon dioxide – with 5.6dB less cabin noise. On the excitement side, the next-gen e-Power will also have a new Sport Mode which delivers a 10kW power boost. With global supply coming from Nissan's Sunderland, United Kingdom factory – said to have its future assured amid the automaker's plan to cut staff and close plants – the new powertrain is set to be fitted in the current Qashqai for Australian showrooms in early 2026. The current Qashqai e-Power was introduced in Australia in 2024 – a year after the e-Power tech was introduced in the larger Nissan X-Trail SUV – and is currently offered in Ti and N Design model grades. It uses a 140kW/330Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery. The new e-Power system uses a new lighter, more compact five-in-one powertrain made up of the electric motor, generator (petrol engine), inverter, reducer and increaser. As well as better fuel economy, power increases by 11kW to 151kW. The updated Qashqai e-Power uses the same 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The new 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine is claimed to be all new – despite its similarities with the existing engine – and includes a larger turbocharger, which Nissan says lowers revs and brings fuel savings at highway speeds. The official claim is 14 per cent better economy on the highway and a 16 per cent improvement in 'real-world conditions' over the current Qashqai e-Power. Scheduled servicing intervals are now longer, with the new-gen Qashqai e-Power only needing attention every 20,000km compared to the current version's 15,000km. Nissan has also confirmed the Qashqai will also be updated with more connected car tech, adding voice command via Google Assistant with access to apps via Google Play, as well as 'Nissan Trip Stories' which stores journey info which can be access and shared through the Nissan Connected Services smartphone app. The Qashqai was facelifted earlier this year, bringing bolder exterior styling and debuting Nissan's Connected Car Services in Australia among other upgrades. Nissan Australia has cashback offers of between $1000 and $3000 on Qashqai – depending on the model grade – as part of its end of financial year (EOFY) sales. MORE: Explore the Nissan Qashqai showroom Content originally sourced from: The2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power debuts the next-generation e-Power drivetrain, bringing claimed reductions in fuel consumption and running costs plus a smoother driving experience – and it should be in Australia early next year. Nissan has announced the third-generation Qashqai e-Power will go on sale in Europe this September with a lighter, five-in-one hybrid powertrain that includes an all-new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. Nissan e-Power system is a range-extending hybrid system, meaning the petrol engine doesn't drive the wheels but charges the vehicle's battery, with an electric motor responsible for power. The updated system is also expected to be fitted to the large Nissan X-Trail SUV later in 2026. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The latest generation gives the Qashqai – a Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross rival – fuel consumption as low as 4.5L/100km (WLTP), down from 5.1-5.3L/100km in the outgoing model. The Japanese automaker says the improved fuel economy gives the Qashqai e-Power – which has a 55L fuel tank – a range of up to 1200km, with emissions falling by 12 per cent to as low as 102g/km of carbon dioxide – with 5.6dB less cabin noise. On the excitement side, the next-gen e-Power will also have a new Sport Mode which delivers a 10kW power boost. With global supply coming from Nissan's Sunderland, United Kingdom factory – said to have its future assured amid the automaker's plan to cut staff and close plants – the new powertrain is set to be fitted in the current Qashqai for Australian showrooms in early 2026. The current Qashqai e-Power was introduced in Australia in 2024 – a year after the e-Power tech was introduced in the larger Nissan X-Trail SUV – and is currently offered in Ti and N Design model grades. It uses a 140kW/330Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery. The new e-Power system uses a new lighter, more compact five-in-one powertrain made up of the electric motor, generator (petrol engine), inverter, reducer and increaser. As well as better fuel economy, power increases by 11kW to 151kW. The updated Qashqai e-Power uses the same 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The new 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine is claimed to be all new – despite its similarities with the existing engine – and includes a larger turbocharger, which Nissan says lowers revs and brings fuel savings at highway speeds. The official claim is 14 per cent better economy on the highway and a 16 per cent improvement in 'real-world conditions' over the current Qashqai e-Power. Scheduled servicing intervals are now longer, with the new-gen Qashqai e-Power only needing attention every 20,000km compared to the current version's 15,000km. Nissan has also confirmed the Qashqai will also be updated with more connected car tech, adding voice command via Google Assistant with access to apps via Google Play, as well as 'Nissan Trip Stories' which stores journey info which can be access and shared through the Nissan Connected Services smartphone app. The Qashqai was facelifted earlier this year, bringing bolder exterior styling and debuting Nissan's Connected Car Services in Australia among other upgrades. Nissan Australia has cashback offers of between $1000 and $3000 on Qashqai – depending on the model grade – as part of its end of financial year (EOFY) sales. MORE: Explore the Nissan Qashqai showroom Content originally sourced from:
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan upgrades Qashqai e-Power hybrid - and we've driven it
Nissan Qashqai is one of the UK's best-selling cars Nissan is leading £2 billion worth of investment into its Sunderland plant to prepare it to build the new Leaf and electric successors to the Juke and Qashqai. The first two of those models are imminent: the Leaf will arrive this year, the Juke soon after in 2026. But plans for the next-generation Qashqai EV have quietly been pushed back, due to uncertainty over EV uptake and regulations. Given the continued popularity of the segment-defining family crossover, that's an understandable move. Instead, Nissan is investing in further developing its hybrid technology and focusing on updating and improving the current Qashqai to keep it competitive against the baying pack of rivals that are all vying to be the 'Qashqai rival' of choice. You know the ones: the Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage, Honda HR-V, Dacia Bigster and many, many others. Of particular focus is work to upgrade the Qashqai e-Power hybrid, which arrived in the UK in 2022 and has quickly become one of the most popular variants. This year it will gain what is classed as a whole new generation of the unusual hybrid system – and Autocar has had a short first taste. Nissan's e-Power hybrid is notably different from the traditional parallel full hybrid systems. Those systems feature a combustion engine and an electric motor that both send power directly to the wheels, depending on the prevailing circumstances. By contrast, Nissan's e-Power system uses only the motor to drive the wheels, with the 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine essentially used purely as a generator to power the motor and charge the 1.8kWh battery. Akihito Shibuya, Nissan's powertrain engineering director, said that the system was derived from technology developed for the Leaf, rather than a ICE powertrain that had been electrified. 'It's a different course of evolution,' he said, one that gives a driving experience 'close to that of an EV". Nissan launched the e-Power system in 2016, although the first generation was only offered in Japan. The second generation came in 2022 in the Qashqai e-Power, and Nissan has now developed a third generation, which draws even more closely from the Leaf and Ariya. While Nissan claims the new e-Power system offers significant upgrades, you do have to look closely to spot them. The engine is said to be an entirely new unit; it remains a 1.5-litre turbo petrol four and uses the same basic architecture, but the mapping has been reworked to optimise its function as a generator. 'Thermal efficiency is the most important factor for a combustion engine, so we can increase fuel efficiency by making it run at a a lower RPM more constantly,' Shibuya noted. Essentially, the engine is mapped to maintain the speed that most efficiently allows it to generate energy, which Shibuya said also reduces vibrations and noise. Meanwhile, the motor has been more extensively reworked with learnings from Nissan's EVs. It's actually a new 'five-in-one unit' featuring the motor, generator, inverter, increaser and reverter. That reduces the size, which improves the packaging, and aids efficiency by making the system more unified and responsive. The most notable impact of the new system is that output has risen from 188bhp to 201bhp, with torque remaining unchanged at 243lb ft. But more substantially, Nissan claims a 15% increase in fuel efficiency – which would push the official fuel economy close to 60mpg – and a significant reduction in both cabin noise (up to 5.6dB) and vibrations. Autocar had an early taste in a late prototype of a Qashqai e-Power fitted with the new third-generation system at Nissan's Grandrive test facility in Yokosuka, Japan. We were given the chance to test the new model back-to-back with a current-spec Qashqai e-Power, allowing for a direct comparison of the upgrades. The Grandrive facility features a reasonable mix of high-speed straights and bends, along with some sections emulating bumpy and uneven road surfaces, but a few laps of a test track offered no chance to judge that promised fuel economy improvement – likely to be the key selling point of the upgraded hybrid to potential Qashqai buyers. Still, the test did hint at the increased refinement the upgrades powertrain offered. It's a small step, rather than a giant leap, but one that is discernible. The extra power is hard to detect, although given this is a Qashqai, you're hardly likely to be calling upon the far extremes of the torque or output very often anyway. But the car does run notably quieter, with the engine a bit smoother. In the current car, hard acceleration can cause the engine to whine as it pushes to deliver the energy the motor is calling for. In the new one, it seems notably more chilled, running at a more constant speed, with the power more freely available when called upon. That said, it does create a little bit of dissonance between your pedal inputs and the engine note. It's a little smoother too, although claims of offering an EV-like driving experience are relative. With Nissan's e-Pedal system applied, you can drive it somewhat like an EV, and at slow speeds it's very calm, but ultimately all the energy being deployed still comes from burning petrol. Still, it's an amiably pleasant drive, just as you would expect from a Qashqai. It's maybe a little smoother too. Just don't expect any added dynamism or pep. Which, let's be honest, you probably weren't, because this is a Qashqai. Practical family motoring, this, and nothing wrong with that. Quieter than before? I'd say so, although again it's relative. Ultimately, the new e-Power system doesn't make this hybrid feel like a Qashqai EV. But while we wait for that, subtle improvements are probably enough to keep the crossover's huge success story rolling along nicely. The key though, will be whether that promise of improved fuel economy is delivered in the real world. Nissan Qashqai e-Power prototype Price £33,000 (est) Engine 3 cyls, 1498cc, turbo, petrol, plus electric motor Power 201bhp Torque 243lb ft Gearbox 1-spd reduction gear, FWD Kerb weight 1612kg 0-62mph 8.5sec (est) Top speed 105mph Economy 60mpg (est) CO2, tax band TBC Rivals Kia Sportage Hybrid, Toyota C-HR ]]>
