Qashqai Evolves: Nissan Polishes Its Hybrid Pitch with a Smoother e-POWER System

Nissan’s Sunderland plant is now rolling out the latest Qashqai, headlined by the next-generation e-POWER hybrid system. But don’t mistake it for an all-electric revolution—this is still very much a combustion engine at heart, fine-tuned to mimic the smoothness of electric driving.

On paper, the new e-POWER setup can stretch a full tank to roughly 1,200 kilometers, with an average fuel consumption of 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers under the WLTP standard. CO₂ emissions have been trimmed from 116 to 102 grams per kilometer. Promising numbers, though ultimately the result of meticulous tweaking on a familiar platform.

As before, the 1.5-liter petrol engine never drives the wheels directly. Instead, it powers a generator that charges a battery, which in turn feeds an electric motor. The result is driving behavior that feels like an EV, even though it still drinks gasoline. The new version adds 11 kW in sport mode and boasts cabin noise reduction of up to 5.6 decibels.

Qashqai production in the UK dates back to 2006, with over 4.5 million units built—an achievement the company proudly highlights. Meanwhile, the Sunderland plant is also gearing up for the next-generation all-electric LEAF and the upcoming Juke EV.

All told, this is a smooth, incremental upgrade rather than a seismic shift—but a welcome one nonetheless.