The Nissan Qashqai remains one of the most popular new cars here in the UK, and once you’ve spent time with one, it’s really easy to see why. I’ve driven my fair share of Qashqais in the past, including the fairly recent model, refreshed and facelifted, as capable and versatile as it is handsome! Still, there’s always room for improvement, and with Nissan continually iterating on the incredibly well-received Qashqai, how does this new, nicely updated model fare? It comes with a uniquely clever e-POWER hybrid powertrain and a rather attractively-priced mid-level trim package, so could this new Nissan Qashqai maintain its legacy as the UK’s beloved people-mover?
What Is The Nissan Qashqai e-POWER 190 N-Design About?
This new-generation and updated Nissan Qashqai, to my eyes, looks pretty handsome in the flesh. It also comes across quite well in these pictures, more so in this very bold and striking Magnetic Blue paintwork. This N-Design model that I have here even comes paired with a distinct grille compared to the other Qashqai models. Admittedly, when the current-gen Qashqai was shown off a while back, I wasn’t too sold on how that front end looked. Granted, I will say, it’s starting to warm up on me over time. Particularly, when it’s contrasted against that blacked-out, two-tone roof and the satin finishing on the badges and emblems.
Elsewhere, the rear end of this new Nissan Qashqai, though, is an easy winner for me, especially with this distinct lighting signature. One notable design element of this new N-Design spec Qashqai are those 20-inch diamond-cut wheels – which wrap around a lovely set of Michelin Primacy 4 tyres – with their cool-looking concentric patterns. Size-wise, the Nissan Qashqai is the perfect form factor for us here in the UK, too. It’s not too large, but as we’ll see with the cabin later, the overall packaging of the Qashqai makes really good use of interior space. I’ll let you judge for yourselves whether Nissan’s done a good job with styling the Qashqai, but I think they’ve done well!
How Does It Drive?
For those unfamiliar with Nissan’s e-POWER powertrains, it’s worth bearing in mind that they don’t work like any other, normal hybrid. In essence, they feel like EVs to drive, mainly due to the fact that their wheels are driven by electric motors. Meanwhile, the engine functions purely as a generator to top up the small battery pack. In this new Qashqai e-POWER 190 N-Design, up in the front, you’ll find a tiny 1.5-litre inline-3 petrol engine, inside of what might appear, at first glance, to be a somewhat conventional and ordinary engine bay. Here, it helps to provide much-needed voltage for the Qashqai e-POWER’s front-mounted electric motor.
Speaking of, while you can drive the Qashqai – specifically, the e-POWER variants – purely as an EV, it’s clear that you’re not really meant to. After all, that battery is really only good for very brief drives. As such, you’re meant to just stick the Qashqai in Drive and let the powertrain decide how to best conduct the symphony between your engine, battery, and electric motor. Still, it’s a handy inclusion for those moments when you need to pull out of your driveway in absolute silence. Or, you could alternatively be selective as to when and where you’d want to cut down on your tailpipe emissions! It’s no doubt a unique approach to hybridisation.
Furthermore, with Nissan’s e-PEDAL one-pedal driving mode, the Qashqai is an extremely easy car to just get in and drive, without having to fuss around with it too much. Behind the wheel, it’s abundantly clear, as soon as you get going, that Nissan’s e-POWER hybrid set-up is certainly distinct in feel. Of course, it’s not going to be it for everyone. Plus, I’d even argue that for most of you out there, the more tried-and-tested, traditional, and cheaper mild hybrid powertrains that you could alternatively spec for this new Qashqai might be a better choice. Still, if you’re looking for something different, Nissan’s e-POWER might be worth checking out.
Ultimately, it aims to be the best of both worlds, somewhere between a proper electric car and a hybrid. In so doing, e-POWER offers you some of the benefits of an EV, with that smooth, seamless single-speed transmission, and that punchy, instantaneous torque that you get from an electric motor. That feeling of having lots of torque, yet while experiencing minimal vibrations and noise are some of the best moments when it comes to driving an EV. On the other hand, unlike driving an EV, you won’t have to deal with any range anxiety, constantly worrying whether you’ll make it to the next charging station on a long drive.
With Nissan’s e-POWER and that peppy little engine acting as a generator, all you need to do is pop down to your local petrol station and fill it up like any ICE vehicle. All in all, as technologically advanced as this might sound, for anyone just jumping into any Nissan, with their sci-fi e-POWER propulsion, you might not even notice that it’s too different from any other hybrid. In fact, I’m sure you could trick a bunch of people into thinking that they’re just driving a CVT, with how smooth e-POWER can be. That ought to make transitioning into EVs and hybrid vehicles, for those who are reluctant or think they’re not ready for it yet, a lot easier.
What Is It Like Inside?
From a utilitarian point of view, this is where Nissan typically excels, and that includes the older Qashqai, too. While it might be a hybrid, there’s a rather sizeable boot in the back, and it even has two floor dividers. With this, you could use those to divide and segment parts of your boot to better organise your luggage or cargo, and they further open up to additional underfloor storage, as well. With extra space atop the wheel arches, you can really store a lot of stuff in this new Qashqai! Moving further to the front, your rear passengers ought to have a decent time back there, with a good amount of headroom, knee-room, and legroom, even with my driving position.
However, the front is truly the star of the show. With this N-Design trim in mind, and especially so by your usual Nissan standards, this is one of the best cabins I’ve been in. The upholstery in this Nissan Qashqai is beautifully done, with a lovely mixture of soft leather (coupled with nice stitching, too!) and an abundance of supple, posh Alcantara. The latter is especially luxurious and hard to find in any car at this price point (it’s proper Alcantara too, not just suede). Moreover, you’ll find a tonne of faux carbon-fibre-like material adorning the rest of the interior, which looks and feels great in the hand, topped off with a subtle application of ambient lighting.
It’s an extremely modern-feeling and contemporarily-designed cabin, made even better with the panoramic glass roof, making the entire cockpit feel that much more airy and open. This new Qashqai is definitely a great place to spend time in. Yet, it’s not all just form either, as there is a lot of function to go with it. You get a nice mixture of hard, physical, analogue buttons and switches throughout, paired with a couple of large displays. There’s the 12.3-inch infotainment system, with the power of Google, as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. As with other Nissans using this system, it’s one of the best on the market; intuitive and super easy to use.
Besides that, there’s the 12.3-inch instrument cluster, offering you a neatly curated set of gauges, including e-POWER-specific hybrid readouts, like the energy flow meter. I’ve found that this is actually a great way to learn more about how Nissan’s e-POWER system works, as you’re able to visually see and understand how the engine is charging the battery, or how much power is being discharged to the driven wheels, and so on. As a whole, the cabin of this new Qashqai – in N-Design spec, to be specific – is a huge step up from most of the Nissans that I’ve driven thus far, with a harmonious blend of avant-garde design and useful techy gadgets.
The Experience
On the subject of tech, there’s a myriad of neat additions to this N-Design trim that’s worth a shout, too. Inside, you might’ve been able to spot that handy wireless charging pad on the centre console for your phone. Aside from that, I’m definitely a fan of Nissan’s 360-degree surround-view cameras as well, which makes parking and manoeuvring about tighter spaces a breeze. Oh, and speaking of ease, the keyless entry system – just like that new Nissan Juke that I drove not too long ago – is surprisingly reliable, and not as fiddly as some other cars. It’s worth mentioning too, that the N-Design model includes a feature-packed suite of driver aids and safety systems.
Of course, this does depend on the trim level. Some of these are what you’d find on other cars, such as the rear cross-traffic alert system, intelligent automated braking, forward collision warning, high-beam assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Additionally, you get a traffic sign recognition system, a driver attention alert system, and intelligent cruise control. Apart from those, there are a few unique ADAS suites that you’ll only find with Nissans, such as their ProPILOT with Navi-Link system. Made to allow you to cruise the motorway as effortlessly as possible, it assists with your acceleration, braking, and steering.
Nissan Qashqai e-POWER 190 N-Design Cost
Although the Nissan Qashqai line-up starts from around £30,135, you’ll need to cough up £34,845 to get into the N-Design trim range. This is actually pretty reasonable for all that you’re getting, and it’s a fairly well-rounded package. For the price, it’s surely one of the more appealing cars that you’ll be able to find in today’s market. However, it’s when you’re picking and choosing between the different powertrain options is where it gets a tad difficult to decide. I’d reckon a lot of folks would prefer one of the three mild-hybrid powertrain options, with a selection of either a 6-speed manual or an automatic transmission, and differing power outputs.
For most use cases, the mild-hybrid powertrain is more than sufficiently powerful, efficient, and versatile enough, that I can personally think of. On top of that, it’s cheaper, too! Ultimately, having to pay extra – with a starting price of £39,620 – for the novelty of Nissan’s e-POWER engines might not be worth it for some. Still, for those of you who want that pure-EV driving experience, but aren’t yet ready to deal with some of the many shortcomings of electric cars (limited battery range, lacklustre charging infrastructure, poor resale value, and more), Nissan’s e-POWER is certainly one of the more useful, practical, and interesting ways for you to approach electrification.
Verdict
This new and updated Nissan Qashqai is another win from the Japanese brand, once again bearing all those that we love from the older Qashqai. It’s a practical car, versatile to drive about, easy to live with, and best of all, it’s priced just right. This time around, the new Qashqai even looks eye-catching, and has an interior that’ll put some luxury cars on notice! What’s more, if you want to, you could spec Nissan’s cleverly engineered and unique hybrid powertrain, e-POWER, bridging the gap between EVs and hybrids even closer. Time will tell if this is the right way to hybridise a car, but if Nissan’s e-POWER is anything to go by, it’s surely a great place to start from.
Specification
Nissan Qashqai e-POWER 190 N-Design Specs
- Price: £39,620
- Engine: 1.5-litre inline-3 with e-POWER
- Power: 190hp
- Torque: 330Nm
- Transmission: Single-speed
- 0-62mph: 7.9 seconds
- Top speed: 105mph
- Weight: 1,625-1,685kg
- Economy combined: 54.3 mpg
- CO2: 117g/km