Qashqai mild hybrid vs e-power

Now in its third generation, Nissan has added the new e-Power to the Qashqai range.

When is a hybrid not a hybrid? For that matter, can an electric car be an electric car if you still put petrol into it? These are the questions that Nissan attempts to answer with the Qashqai e-Power, which manages to both be, and simultaneously not be, an electric car. Officially, the e-Power system is referred to as a series hybrid. This means that, unlike Toyota's parallel hybrid setup, the Qashqai e-Power is only ever driven by its hp, Nm electric motor, which powers the front wheels.

Qashqai mild hybrid vs e-power

By Keith Adams. Devout classic Citroen enthusiast, walking car encyclopedia, and long-time contributor to CAR. Pity poor Nissan. The third-generation Qashqai is a massive improvement over what came before — razor-edged styling means it stands out in a market packed with me-too SUVs, while the interior is simple to use, spacious and trimmed in materials that would shame some so-called premium rivals. What indeed. Nissan told us to wait for the E-Power variant, claiming it would all change once it was launch. According to Nissan, E-Power is unique because the petrol engine has no transmission between it and the wheels. Instead, the 1. This is different to parallel systems found in traditional hybrids such as the Toyota Prius , as in these models the engine still drives the wheels. Total power output for Europe is bhp, which puts it up against some interesting rivals and, more importantly, finally gives the keen-handling Qashqai the power it deserves. You can tell the E-Power models apart from the mild-hybrid Qashqais by their new black grille, E-Power badges and widescreen

With litres of capacity below the luggage cover, it's big enough for most needs, but the cleverest bit is the 'Flexible Luggage Board' system. The head-up display, projected onto the windscreen, is excellent.

Nissan has been at the forefront of the EV revolution, with the Leaf being the true original of the species. This system uses a 1. The new Qashqai itself is a much more upmarket car than the one that pretty much created the mania for crossover. The Qashqai has evolved substantially since , from what was a very compact 5-door crossover, into a generously-sized SUV. The Qashqai is just under 4. The wheelbase of the car has increased by 20mm with the overall length increasing 35mm.

You can think of the Nissan Qashqai e-Power like a suspension bridge, connecting the gap between petrol power and going fully electric. It matches the regular car for looks, except for starting on slightly bigger alloy wheels. Hybrid batteries often eat into boot space, but the Qashqai e-Power gets the same litre boot as the rest of the range though you get a bit less in higher specifications because of the boot separator. That makes it bigger than a Ford Kuga but smaller than a Kia Sportage. Unlike most hybrids, the engine is purely there to generate the electricity that powers an electric motor on the front axle of the car, meaning it drives like an electric car — quiet and smooth — most of the time. Official tests have the Qashqai e-Power returning Not only do you get better economy in town, the Qashqai is in its favourite environment here too. It rides comfortably over lumps and bumps, and is easy to navigate through tight streets. The downside is that when you need more power, the petrol engine is called into play and groans quite a bit when accelerating up to motorway speeds, killing the pleasant refinement you enjoy at lower speeds.

Qashqai mild hybrid vs e-power

While the majority of family SUVs today are available with full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid power, Nissan has adopted a different approach with the latest Qashqai. Instead of having to plug in to charge the latter, energy for the battery comes from a 1. The benefits of this setup, according to Nissan, are better fuel economy up to 53 miles per gallon and lower CO2 emissions grams per kilometre compared to the rest of the Qashqai line-up.

Cfr part 91

Equally, the sense of serenity you get from having - technically - an electric car that never needs plugging in is quite something, especially if you do have to undertake regular long journeys. With many flexible finance options available, you could experience the Nissan Qashqai for less than you think. On the road, the extra power of the e-Power is apparent, as is the supreme smoothness of the transmission. Check stock Book a test drive Request a quote. My estimates — based on modest new car prices over the next three years and past experience — are that the Qashqai is still a good car to buy. Please enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. For starters, even the revised That motor is fed power by a 1. Find out more here. Update Success! Though it's not just a straight transplant; the Japanese-market Note e-Power has been tuned and specified for Japanese driving conditions, which means lots of slow, stop-start city driving. The head-up display, projected onto the windscreen, is excellent.

By Keith Adams. Devout classic Citroen enthusiast, walking car encyclopedia, and long-time contributor to CAR. Pity poor Nissan.

The new model has lots of positive changes, but more critical diesel power is replaced by a new electric drive system. Now in its third generation, Nissan has added the new e-Power to the Qashqai range. What is the Nissan Qashqai e-Power? Powertrain 1. On the centre console, there's some nice, brushed inlay that does a decent impression of wood that's repeated on the dashboard and up front there's a wireless phone charging tray. Please enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. Indeed, there are plenty of surveys out there which seem to prove that point, that drivers prefer to go hybrid first, before taking the plunge into fully electric power. The wheelbase of the car has increased by 20mm with the overall length increasing 35mm. The cabin of the Qashqai e-Power Driving the Qashqai e-Power On the road, the extra power of the e-Power is apparent, as is the supreme smoothness of the transmission. That unlocks goodies like a The seats are really excellent, with the top-spec SVE getting 4 way electric lumbar seats. The Qashqai e-Power could potentially have been dismissed as an oddity or an oddball, but it manages to provide pretty well-rounded performance and economy. Update Success!