The New Nissan Qashqai e-Power Drives Like An EV But Doesn’t Need Charging | Review

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There’s no scarcity of compact SUVs in Australia or, for that matter, in a lot of the world nowadays. Among the common mainstays just like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson, and newer arrivals such because the MG ZST and Haval Jolion, consumers don’t have any scarcity of selection. Somewhere in that busy combine sits the Nissan Qashqai.

In its earlier technology, the Qashqai was offered in North America because the Rogue Sport till Nissan ended manufacturing in late 2022, leaving the bigger Rogue as its major contender on this in style class.

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While there’s no query that Nissan has been within the information for all of the unsuitable causes over the previous yr, that doesn’t imply it’s forgotten the right way to construct an excellent automobile. The present, third-generation Qashqai, which was launched in 2021, ticks loads of containers for consumers and impressed us once we examined it in e-Power guise final yr.

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Now there’s a facelifted model, bringing sharper appears and a brand new flagship trim known as the N-Power. While we didn’t get behind the wheel of that exact mannequin, we did spend time with the mid-range Ti e-Power to seek out out whether or not it nonetheless holds its floor on this relentlessly aggressive section.

What’s Actually Changed?

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

The updates made to the Qashqai for 2025 aren’t enormous, however they’re noteworthy. The most blatant is the fitment of a brand new entrance fascia with distinctive LED headlights and a redesigned grille.

It appears slightly extra trendy and modern than the outgoing mannequin, providing up a pleasant stage of aggression with out going excessive. In addition to altering the entrance, Nissan has tweaked the rear finish, including clear LED taillights and a brand new bumper.

Unfortunately, it has not made any adjustments to the accessible powertrains, which implies that there are two engine choices on provide. For these on a finances, Nissan sells the Qashqai with a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 110 kW (148 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque and is mated solely to a CVT.

Then there’s the e-Power model, which is the one which we examined. As earlier than, it comes fitted with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 115 kW (154 hp), which serves solely as a generator for the two.1 kWh battery and to energy the electrical motor, rated at 140 kW (188 hp) and 330 Nm (243 lb-ft).

For 2025, the Qashqai vary continues to start out from AU$39,037 ($25,500), together with all charges, for the entry-level ST and AU$43,205 ($28,200) for the ST-L, each of that are offered solely with the petrol engine.

Shoppers can then step as much as the Ti mannequin, which is the one we drove, accessible with both the 1.3-liter engine from AU$46,990 ($30,700) or AU$50,990 ($33,300) with the e-Power.

Sitting above the Ti within the household is the Ti-L, priced from AU$51,990 ($34,000) for the petrol and AU$56,990 ($37,200) for the e-Power, whereas positioned on the prime quality is the N-Design for AU$58,990 ($38,500) and solely supplied with the e-Power hybrid system.

A Familiar Cabin

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

Nissan has made only a few adjustments to the Qashqai’s inside for 2025; not that it actually wanted any main upgrades anyway. In Europe, the tweaked cabin features a new Android-based infotainment system with built-in Google Maps and Google’s private assistant. Sadly, Aussie fashions don’t get these updates.

Instead, the 12.3-inch infotainment display stays the identical because the pre-facelift mannequin, persevering with to supply help for wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Nissan has additionally retained the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster from final yr, although it’s solely accessible on the Ti, Ti-L, and N-Design fashions.

The match and end is nice and does really feel as much as scratch for a car at this worth level. Our tester’s cabin was bathed in a mix of black and brown leather-based with white distinction stitching. The Ti-L fashions additionally get some soft-touch Alcantara throughout the dashboard for an additional premium really feel.

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

The infotainment system is snappy sufficient, however it’s inferior to some rivals’, like these from Hyundai and Kia. Fortunately, Nissan has retained some bodily shortcut buttons and a quantity knob under the display, though I wasn’t notably keen on the piano black plastic end.

One half that I did like was the digital instrument panel. It provides a number of show modes and has heaps of settings hidden inside.

Read: New Nissan SUV Drives Like An EV But Runs On Gas

Other key options embody configurable ambient lighting, an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat, and a six-speaker audio system. Sadly, the latter leaves quite a bit to be desired. For audiophiles in search of one thing higher, the Ti-L is a must have, because it comes with a 10-speaker Bose system.

Overall, the cabin house within the Qashqai is nice, nevertheless it’s not fairly as expansive because the Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia fashions it’s designed to compete with. This gained’t be a problem for {couples} who personal one, nevertheless it might be slightly too small for some households. In that case, the Nissan Rogue – offered because the X-Trail in Australia – can be a greater choice.

Smooth Operator

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

It’s no shock that Nissan sells its e-Power hybrid powertrain in so many fashions. Although it isn’t a plug-in hybrid and might solely journey a number of miles earlier than the engine kicks in, there’s no denying it’s environment friendly, and it’s a pleasure to make use of for the every day grind.

As the petrol engine by no means truly drives the wheels, and as a substitute solely serves as a generator, it’s straightforward to neglect that you just’re driving a hybrid and never an EV. It’s potential to drag away within the Qashqai in full silence, and when the engine does kick in, it stays quiet and unobtrusive.

Nissan says the Ti e-Power can sip simply 4.8l/100 km (49 US mpg) in a mixture of driving circumstances. I wasn’t fairly capable of match that, however I did finish my week averaging 5.3 l/100 km (44.3 US mpg), which is spectacular. By comparability, I averaged 5.8 L/100 km (40.5 US mpg) in final yr’s mannequin, however that included extra freeway driving.

Obviously, the Qashqai e-Power isn’t a efficiency mannequin, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel wanting energy. It can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in round 8 seconds, which is greater than fast sufficient for the kind of people who shall be purchasing for a household SUV.

However, it’s value mentioning to any potential consumers on the market that the engine doesn’t sound notably nice once you stamp on the throttle and rev it out. It’s additionally down on energy when in comparison with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, which packs 172 kW (231 hp) and 367 Nm (271 lb-ft) of torque.

Driving the Qashqai is surprisingly pleasing. I’m reasonably keen on how Nissan has tuned the steering. While it’s brief on really feel, identical to so many new automobiles available on the market, it’s properly weighted and direct.

Like earlier than, the 2025 Qashqai Ti e-Power retains a wonderful regenerative braking system. While there’s no one-pedal mannequin, the e-Pedal system can deal with braking in most situations.

Verdict

As I suspected, the 2025 Qashqai retains the identical stage of enchantment because the previous mannequin. It now appears extra fashionable and retains all the good elements, together with the superb hybrid powertrain.

While some consumers could also be hesitant to get behind the wheel of a brand new Nissan amid the corporate’s present monetary turmoil, the Qashqai is unquestionably value contemplating. However, it fails to face out in opposition to the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, which begins at AU$47,664 ($31,100) and tops out at AU$63,811 ($41,700).

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

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