Nissan Qashqai E-Power 2022 review
New Qashqai variant uses an unusual hybrid powertrain that will make a lot of sense to a lot of buyers
Probably the easiest way to describe the new Nissan Qashqai E-Power – if not the most accurate – is as an electric car that you fill up with petrol.
As a series hybrid, the new E-Power system differs from a full-, mild- or plug-in hybrid set-up in that the combustion motor’s role in the process of propulsion is limited to powering a front-mounted, 188bhp electric motor, which drives the front axle directly. It’s the only such system currently on the market but in principle it works a bit like the old BMW i3 range-extender, or LEVC’s London taxi, giving an all-electric driving experience while alleviating any concerns about range anxiety (although today’s fuel prices mean no car is really exempt from that…).
Nissan refers to it as a “bridging technology” and says it will help facilitate an all-out shift to electrification by familiarising customers with the EV driving experience without asking them to adjust their driving habits. “We’re trying to get as close as possible to your next car, which will be an EV,” a company spokesman said. Notably, the Qashqai E-Power arrives alongside the firm’s second bespoke electric car – the Nissan Ariya – as part of a multi-pronged approach to achieving a 50% electrification sales mix globally by 2030.
Were it not for a faint thrum emanating from the front end under load, the E-Power drivetrain would do a very good impression of a pure-electric system. Take-up is smooth and brisk, acceleration pleasingly linear and – should you turn the E-Pedal mode on – the brake regeneration extremely (almost too) strong. There’s no gearbox here, so there’s no hesitation on kickdown nor lurching between ratios. All in, it’s a really nicely rounded set-up and one that starts to make more sense the longer you spend at the wheel.
The engine only really makes itself known when pushing on, and while Nissan claims to have tuned the variable-compression petrol lump to better match vehicle speed – a response to criticism of the jarring ‘rubber band’ effect of a CVT gearbox – it’s still a fairly monotonous and uninspiring melody. Best be light with the right foot and let it tick away quietly.
Certainly, this feels like the best-resolved and least compromised powertrain you can have in the Qashqai, as it stands, doing away with both the frustrating manual and droning CVT available on the standard 1.3-litre engine while promising enhanced fuel economy and reduced emissions. It’s not a particularly quick or engaging powertrain by any stretch of the imagination, but it has been tuned to work best in urban and suburban environments (where target buyers allegedly spend three-quarters of their time) and it does indeed make a lot of sense at low speeds.
Elsewhere, the latest addition to the Qashqai range remains true to the safe, predictable and rational formula of the existing Qashqai variants. It’s comfortable, quiet and highly manouvrable - and the new-generation infotainment system, which will soon be rolled out to all Qashqai models, brings welcome improvements in clarity and functionality.
Nissan estimates that the E-Power will ultimately account for 40% of all Qashqai sales, making it one of the most important additions to the firm’s line-up in recent memory. First impressions of the finished car suggest that’s a credible and realistic ambition, if not even slightly pessimistic: it’s easy to imagine any prospective Qashqai customer being sold the benefits of this powertrain.
Where it might fall down is on the basis of its premium over the standard Qashqai – prices range from £32,950 for entry-level Acenta Premium trim to £40,980 for the Tekna+ range-topper – but it’s still broadly cheaper than comparable plug-in hybrids, so if the numbers stack up for the type of driving you do, it could be a very welcome innovation.
