Nissan Qashqai e-Power: The modern urban landscape demands vehicles that can navigate congested streets with grace while offering the practicality families need for daily adventures.
Enter the Nissan Qashqai e-Power, a revolutionary hybrid that’s redefining what it means to drive efficiently in the city. This isn’t just another family SUV – it’s a carefully engineered solution that bridges the gap between conventional motoring and the electric future.
Unlike most hybrid cars, the petrol engine is only there to act as a generator for the battery, with only the electric motor powering the wheels, creating a driving experience that feels remarkably similar to a pure electric vehicle while maintaining the convenience of petrol refueling.
This unique approach positions the Qashqai e-Power as an ideal companion for urban dwellers who want electric-like performance without the infrastructure concerns that come with full electrification.
The Urban Driving Revolution
The heart of the Qashqai e-Power lies in its innovative powertrain philosophy. Rather than following the traditional hybrid approach where both engine and electric motor can drive the wheels, Nissan has taken a different path.
The e-Power system – which uses the engine as a generator for electricity rather than to power the wheels – isn’t used in any other UK Nissan, making this vehicle genuinely unique in the marketplace.
This system transforms the urban driving experience in several meaningful ways. The Nissan Qashqai e-POWER is an excellent option for city driving, as it provides a smoother, quieter, and notably more fuel-efficient ride.
The electric motor delivers instant torque, meaning no waiting for gears to change or engines to build power when you need to merge into traffic or accelerate away from traffic lights.
The practical benefits become apparent within minutes of city driving. e-Pedal Step makes urban journeys easier, letting you accelerate and decelerate using just one pedal. Simply lift off the pedal, and e-Pedal Step automatically applies a braking force of around 0.2g. This one-pedal driving capability reduces driver fatigue during stop-and-go traffic situations that define modern urban commuting.
Engineering Excellence Meets Real-World Practicality
Understanding the technical sophistication behind the e-Power system helps appreciate why it works so well in urban environments.
The e-Power’s petrol engine are quoted at 116kW and 250Nm, but unlike conventional hybrid systems that’s plumbed through a motor-generator and into an inverter. That’s right, there’s no direct connection from the combustion engine to the wheels.
The setup includes a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that exists purely as a power generator, working alongside a 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. When you press the throttle, it sends a command to a single electric motor mounted on the front axle that drives the wheels. The e-motor’s outputs are quoted at 140kW and 330Nm.
This configuration creates what Nissan describes as a range-extender electric vehicle.
The Nissan Qashqai e-Power is essentially an electric car with an inbuilt generator that makes it capable of travelling around 1000km on a full tank of fuel. For urban adventurers, this means the convenience of electric driving without range anxiety or charging infrastructure dependencies.
City Performance That Delivers
The real-world performance in urban settings validates the engineering approach. The Qashqai e-Power, then, is more appealing to city drivers, where the system can leverage its strengths most effectively.
Instant acceleration from the electric motor leaves the Qashqai feeling zesty in town, where Nissan has focussed much of its efforts.
The statistics support urban-focused development. The firm knows its customers, and around 75% of a Qashqai’s time is spent in urban areas, so that’s where it works best. This focus on city driving scenarios has shaped every aspect of the vehicle’s calibration and design philosophy.
The driving experience feels natural and intuitive. A distinct lack of gears – you don’t need them on an EV – makes progress smooth and uninterrupted, leaving the urban crawl almost relaxing.
Unlike conventional automatics that hunt for gears or CVTs that can feel sluggish, the direct electric drive provides consistent, linear acceleration that makes navigating city traffic effortless.
Refined Design for Modern Families
The 2024 facelift brought significant aesthetic and functional improvements that enhance the urban driving experience. 2024 saw the Qashqai receive a little nip and tuck, with a bold new grille and headlight design up front, and new lights at the rear.
The exterior changes give the vehicle a more assertive presence while maintaining the practical proportions that make it ideal for city parking and maneuvering.
Inside, the cabin reflects modern expectations for connectivity and comfort. New for 2024 is a Google-powered infotainment system. Older models had to make do with a smaller screen on lower trims, but now every version comes with the largest 12.3-inch infotainment display.
The integration of Google Maps provides exceptional navigation capabilities that understand real-time city traffic patterns.
The interior design balances functionality with appeal. The Qashqai has a smart, functional interior, though top-spec models now feel more plush thanks to some soft Alcantara upholstery.
This combination of practicality and refinement makes long urban commutes more pleasant while ensuring the vehicle remains family-friendly.
Efficiency That Makes Sense
The fuel economy figures tell an important story about the e-Power system’s effectiveness in urban environments. Claims of 119g/km of CO2 and 53.3mpg feel a touch underwhelming in the context of the effort that’s been funnelled into making this car work, but unlike the eye-boggling numbers quoted by most PHEVs they ought to at least be achievable.
Real-world urban efficiency often exceeds official figures. Around town the e-Power can keep itself in electric-only mode for a decent amount of time, while you get regenerative braking that can be made stronger with Nissan’s ‘e-Pedal’ mode activated. This means that typical city driving scenarios – with frequent stops, starts, and low-speed cruising – play to the system’s strengths.
The efficiency gains become more pronounced in stop-and-go traffic where conventional engines operate least efficiently.
During these conditions, the e-Power system can run in pure electric mode, drawing power from the battery while the petrol engine remains silent. This creates a remarkably civilized urban driving experience that reduces both fuel consumption and noise pollution.
Safety and Technology Integration
Modern urban driving demands sophisticated safety systems, and the Qashqai e-Power delivers comprehensive protection. The latest generation Nissan Qashqai was crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2021 and awarded the maximum five-star rating, making it a safe car for families.
The safety technology goes beyond passive protection. Along with the usual automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keep assist, driver attention monitoring and traffic sign recognition, its great to see blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard even on entry-level trims.
These systems prove particularly valuable in busy urban environments where pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles create complex traffic scenarios.
The ProPilot assistance system adds another layer of support for urban driving. Intelligent Cruise Control helps keep you a safe distance from the car in front, while Intelligent Forward Brake and Intelligent Rear Brake will automatically stop the car if the system detects a collision is imminent. These features reduce driver stress during challenging urban driving conditions.
Practical Considerations for Urban Families
Space and versatility remain crucial factors for families navigating city life. Practicality is decent, with a spacious interior and a 504-litre boot that’s fairly average among alternatives.
While not class-leading in cargo capacity, the space proves adequate for most family adventures, school runs, and urban shopping excursions.
The interior packaging demonstrates thoughtful design for urban use. Boasting five comfortable ergonomically tested seats and large windows that give the interior of the Qashqai e-POWER a light, spacious feeling, passengers will arrive at their destination feeling much more relaxed than when they left. The generous glass area helps with visibility in tight urban spaces while creating an airy cabin atmosphere.
Loading and access considerations matter in urban environments where parking spaces are tight. The handsfree power tailgate and wide-opening boot and door apertures also make loading and unloading the Qashqai e-POWER a breeze. These details become particularly appreciated when juggling shopping, children, and urban parking challenges.
The Urban Advantage
What sets the Qashqai e-Power apart in urban environments becomes clear through extended city driving. It’s hushed. Smooth. And a doddle to potter around in, operating like a single-speed electric car and making it easy to conclude Nissan’s achieved what it set out to.
The absence of gear changes, combined with the immediate response of electric drive, creates a driving experience that reduces urban stress.
The regenerative braking system offers multiple levels of intervention. Drive the car around in its stock D mode – just like you do a regular automatic – and you’ll benefit from 0.03g of engine braking when you’re off throttle, which is about what a ‘normal’ car offers.
Slot the slightly weird gear selection lozenge down another notch, into B mode, and this rises significantly to 0.11g. This flexibility allows drivers to adapt the vehicle’s behavior to different urban driving scenarios.
The most aggressive regeneration setting transforms urban driving. Press the e-Pedal button, making this almost a one-pedal car like a number of EVs, and you’ll up that to 0.2g.
You’ll probably only want to use that in town, where it’s exceedingly handy in cut ‘n’ thrust traffic. This level of regeneration enables true one-pedal driving in urban environments, reducing fatigue and improving efficiency.
Value and Positioning
The pricing structure reflects the e-Power system’s sophistication while remaining accessible to mainstream buyers. Prices start from £34,430 for the e-Power in Acenta Premium trim at the time of writing (March 2025).
That’s just under £2,000 more expensive than the DIG-T 158 petrol automatic – a modest premium given the advantages of the e-Power hybrid.
When comparing running costs, the urban efficiency advantage becomes financially significant over time. The e-Power system in the Nissan Qashqai is more fuel efficient than the car’s other engine options, despite having more performance. Official figures show the Qashqai e-Power is around 10mpg more efficient than the mild-hybrid petrol automatic.
The value proposition extends beyond pure economics. Sensible emissions and the flexibility of a petrol engine will appeal to company car drivers, and those who mostly cover lower mileages, while the relatively low purchase price compared with a plug-in hybrid and impressive urban economy will tempt plenty of suburban commuters.
Looking Forward
The Qashqai e-Power represents more than just another hybrid option – it’s a bridge technology that prepares drivers for an electric future. Nissan reckons Qashqai e-Power buyers will opt for a fully-electric car next time around.
Which explains why this car operates like it does; with the engine relegated to being an extremely hushed background singer, the Qashqai e-Power is designed to feel like an electric car in all of its sensations.
This strategic positioning makes the e-Power an ideal stepping stone for families who want to experience electric driving characteristics without fully committing to the infrastructure requirements of pure electric vehicles.
The system delivers many of the urban driving benefits of electrification while maintaining the flexibility that conventional refueling provides.
The Urban Sweet Spot
The Nissan Qashqai e-Power succeeds because it understands modern urban driving demands. Rather than trying to be all things to all drivers, it focuses on delivering an exceptional city driving experience that happens to work well for longer journeys too.
The innovative powertrain provides electric-like smoothness and efficiency where it matters most – in the stop-and-go traffic that defines urban mobility.
For families seeking a practical, efficient, and refined solution for urban adventures, the Qashqai e-Power represents a compelling proposition. It delivers the instant response and quiet operation that makes city driving pleasant, combined with the space and safety features that modern families require.
Most importantly, it does so without the infrastructure concerns or range anxiety that can complicate pure electric vehicle ownership.
The e-Power brings many of the benefits of an electric car without having to worry about plugging in, making it an ideal choice for urban families who want to embrace the future of mobility while maintaining the convenience of conventional refueling.
In the crowded crossover segment, the Qashqai e-Power carves out a unique position as the thinking person’s urban adventure companion – sophisticated enough to appreciate the engineering, practical enough for daily family life, and efficient enough to make economic sense in the modern world.