Overview

THE Nissan Qashqai E-Power is one of those vehicles we enjoy spending time in, and one we would hasten to recommend – if only it wasn’t so damn expensive.

Priced from $54,365 plus on-road costs in N-Design trim it is ridiculously expensive when viewed against its competitor set; a point compounded by the fact Nissan only offers its hybridised Qashqai in high-grade Ti-L or N-Design guise.

Elsewhere, we find the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid available from just $32,990 drive-away, the Honda HR-V e:HEV from $39,990 d/a, Hyundai Kona Hybrid from $36,500 + ORC, and Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid from $36,480 +ORC.

No doubt you see the issue…

Is it worth the premium price tag?

No.

Is it a well-packaged car whose clever driveline technology and handsome styling make it enjoyable to live with? Absolutely.

As explained at the launch of the new-generation Qashqai earlier this year, the e-Power driveline works quite differently to others in the market. Its turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine serves only to charge the battery, offering no direct mechanical link to the wheels.

Nissan claims a combined cycle fuel use figure of 5.2 litres per 100km on required 95RON or higher premium unleaded.

The benefits of the e-Power arrangement are EV-like smoothness and fluid acceleration, with all 330Nm of torque on offer right from the get-go. The single electric motor offers up 140kW of power, giving it something of an edge over many in its competitor set.

Standard features on the Qashqai E-Power N-Design include body-coloured sill and wheel arch trims, 20-inch alloy wheels, gloss black wing mirror scalps, blackened roof rails, a striking three-dimensional grille, LED headlights and DRLs, and Super Red tail-lights with clear lenses.

Moving inside, we find patterned finishes adorning the centre control and decorative insert between the upper dashboard and glovebox. The N-Design also offers Alcantara inserts on the dashboard, door card inlays, door armrests, centre console lid, and front-seat knee pads.

Ambient LED cabin lighting joins technology highlights including a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, connected car services via the Nissan Connect app, a wireless device charging pad, active noise cancelling, and a long list of active and passive safety technologies.

The Qashqai scored an excellent five-star ANCAP safety rating when it was last assessed, the credentials list including a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse), blind-spot monitoring and intervention, front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, seven airbags, and tyre pressure monitoring to name but a few.

ISOFIX and top-tether child-seat restraints are standard on all grades.

Nissan offers the longest warranty in the business at 10 years/300,000km while also offering included roadside assistance, and five year’s flat price servicing. Service intervals for the Qashqai E-Power Ti are set at 12 months/10,000km with each maintenance visit costing $399.

Driving Impressions

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – the Nissan Qashqai E-Power N-Design is a handsome and beautifully finished vehicle that really stands proud in a sea of ho-hum counter offers.

Quiet, agile, and easy to use, the Qashqai also delivers sensible packaging which, excusing the high-set driver’s seat, offers a supportive ride and a good view of one’s surrounds.

The rear seat is easily accessed through wide-opening doors, and like all in the category offers 60:40 split-folding functionality to make better use of the rear cargo area.

In the variant tested we find 404 litres of cargo space, which is more than is offered in a comparable Toyota Corolla Cross (380 litres). A total of 1328 litres’ carrying capacity is available all told.

The human-machine interface is reasonably easy to wrap your head around and the ADAS systems well sorted. While some confusion came from poor markings and crumbling road edges, we must say the driver assistance technologies were a welcomed change for the better and leave many of the Qashqai’s rivals in the dark ages.

While the Qashqai’s turning circle of 11.1m is not the best in this segment, it pairs with effortless steering to make parking a breeze. Around town the Qashqai E-Power is light and easy to live with, the steering gaining weight and responsivity as speeds increase.

On the open road the Qashqai provides a confident and nimble-footed attitude that suits its sporty looks. That said, the larger wheel and tyre combination can border on brusque when tackling choppy surfaces, detracting from an otherwise fuss-free ride.

We appreciated the Qashqai’s responsiveness when called to pass and the ease with which it tackles steeper grades. Yes, the petrol engine can be heard working here, but it’s not felt when making the traditional petrol-electric ‘switch’, simply because it doesn’t. If you want an EV-like drive without the hassle of charging, then this is the car for you.

That petrol-electric driveline also offers benefits at the pump. While not as economical as some of the rivals listed above, we achieved an around-town average of 4.5L/100km and an open-road figure of 5.9L/100km. On average, that results in a combined figure of 5.2L/100km, exactly where Nissan says it should be.

Given the Qashqai’s 55-litre fuel tank capacity, that means owners should get close to 1060km of driving between fills.

Depending on where your priorities lie and how much you’re willing to spend, the Qashqai E-Power is a terrific option.

Balanced with the Nissan ecosystem’s competitive finance rates, aftersales support, extensive warranty, and strong resale guarantees and there is very little not to like – excusing of course the price of entry.

Get past that issue, and we’re certain Qashqai ownership will be something you enjoy, and not simply endue, for many years to come.