Nissan Qashqai E-Power hybrid SUV due by the end of this year

The Nissan Qashqai E-Power – a hybrid-electric variant of the award-winning small SUV – is due to arrive in Australia by the end of 2023, according to a company executive.

Guillame Cartier – regional head for Nissan – told Australian motoring media the Japanese car maker is betting on E-Power technology as a bridge towards full electrification.

E-Power denotes Nissan’s take on a hybrid-electric vehicle, which uses a different powertrain setup compared to other hybrids.

Instead of having an electric motor that can run alongside – or instead of – a conventional petrol engine, the E-Power system only uses the internal combustion (petrol) engine to generate power for the electric motor, via a small battery.

A 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which has a variable compression ratio and develops up to 115kW, provides the power for a 140kW/330Nm electric motor at the front wheels.

While the rest of the Qashqai range runs from $33,890 to $47,390 before on-road costs, the most expensive variant of the Qashqai E-Power hybrid SUV is expected to have a starting price of more than $50,000.

Nissan claims the Qashqai E-Power will consume 5.3 litres of petrol per hundred kilometres, which is less than a claimed 6.1 litres per hundred kilometres for a Qashqai with the non-hybrid 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine – but is thirstier than an equivalent Toyota hybrid small SUV.

The 2023 Nissan Qashqai E-Power is poised to join the X-Trail E-Power in Nissan’s local range of hybrid electric vehicles, alongside its sole electric vehicle offering, the Leaf.

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