The Nissan Qashqai e-Power has been revealed in Europe, and will likely be the first hybrid model to be offered by the brand in Australia later this year
Under the bonnet there’s a 116kW 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine.
The engine can vary its compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1, with the low compression ratio used in high demand driving, and higher compression ratios utilised for steady driving or when the battery has a high level of charge.
With the e-Power system, the petrol engine acts as a generator to recharge the battery pack, or, when necessary, deliver energy directly to the electric motor via an inverter.
As the electric motor is solely responsible for driving the front wheels, the Qashqai e-Power can be driven in one pedal mode — e-Pedal Step in Nissan speak — that can brake the car at up 0.2g when the driver lifts off the accelerator. That’s enough to turn on the brake lights, and bring the car down to a creeping speed, but not a complete stop.
Total system output is said to be 140kW and 330Nm. Using the European WLTP method, the Qashqai e-Power drinks at a rate of 5.3L/100km.
In order to improve the driving experience, the company’s European engineers have developed a “Linear Tune” system for the new drivetrain, which progressively increases the revs of the 1.5-litre engine under acceleration in order to remove the “‘disconnect’ between what the occupants experience in terms of performance and sound”.
Visually there’s little to distinguish the e-Power model from other models in the Qashqai range. The most noticeable differences are the e-Power badges on the front doors and tailgate.
The Qashqai e-Power is expected to land in Australia towards the end of 2022, with other members of the family due to set foot Down Under soon.
The models will be fitted with a 110kW/250Nm 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a CVT. Unlike European versions, Australia-bound models miss out on the 12V mild-hybrid system.
Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is said to be 6.1L/100km.
Measuring 4425mm long, 1838mm wide, 1635mm tall, and riding on a 2666mm wheelbase, the third-generation Qashqai is a little bigger in every dimension over the car it replaces.
In addition to a new, crisply-styled new body, the new Qashqai is available with a 12.3-inch instrumentation display and a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, automatic high-beam, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.
