The Nissan Qashqai has been part of British life for nearly two decades. It didn’t invent the crossover, but it’s fair to say that it all but perfected the formula: family-sized, easy to drive, not too big, not too expensive, and just different enough from a hatchback to feel like an upgrade.
The latest version looks sharper than ever, but the real story isn’t cosmetic but under the bonnet.
This is the updated e-Power model, Nissan’s unusual take on hybrid power. And it’s trying to answer a very 2025 question: can you have the refinement of an electric car without ever plugging it in?
e-Power?
Unlike most hybrids, the Qashqai’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine never drives the wheels, and there’s no gearbox juggling power between petrol and electric. Instead, the engine works purely as a generator, producing electricity to charge a small lithium-ion battery. That battery then feeds an electric motor, which drives the front wheels.
On paper, that sounds clever. In practice, it feels even cleverer around town. Pull away from a junction, and you get instant torque, no gear changes, and near silence. In traffic, it’s smooth and calming in a way that conventional petrol SUVs simply aren’t. There’s even an EV mode for short zero-emission bursts, although the small battery means it won’t last long before the petrol engine cuts back in.
The previous version of e-Power had one obvious weakness: motorway refinement. At 70mph, the engine could drone as it worked hard to keep the battery topped up. Nissan has addressed that with a redesigned “five-in-one” integrated drive unit and a revised engine with a larger turbocharger and improved combustion efficiency. The result is noticeably quieter at speed. It’s not silent – it can’t be – but it no longer feels strained.
It’s complicated, and, despite the strength around town, probably unnecessarily so, and that’s due to its economy. Over the Christmas period, I covered well over 300 miles of mixed UK driving – cold starts, motorway runs, family visits and general festive schlepping – and averaged 45.1mpg. That’s well short of the official figure of 64.2mpg, but entirely realistic for winter conditions. In mixed driving on milder days, expect somewhere between mid-40s and mid-50s, depending on driving style.
A comparable diesel would edge it for efficiency, and a regular petrol model would run it close. But it wouldn’t feel this good in town, and that’s the trade-off. The Nissan Qashqai e-Power gives you EV-style smoothness in the city, without range anxiety or charging cables when you’re out on the open road. For many families, that balance makes sense.
What’s the Nissan Qashqai like inside?
You can definitely feel the Qashqai’s mainstream roots, especially in our entry-level model inexplicably badged as Acenta Premium. There are cloth seats, but they’re joined by dual-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch Google-powered infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cupholders front and rear, and a reversing camera. It’s not a budget spec model, although higher trim levels get quilted leather seats, synthetic suede trim, a panoramic glass roof, heated and massaging front seats, a heated windscreen, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-speaker Bose sound system.
Crucially, Nissan hasn’t deleted all the physical controls. Climate settings are still adjusted with proper buttons, and everyday ergonomics are superb.
Rear space is good, with wide-opening doors that make fitting child seats straightforward. There are two ISOFIX points in the outer rear seats, which is typical for the class. The boot is usefully sized and sensibly shaped, easily coping with family luggage for a weekend away. The adjustable boot divider – designed by Nissan’s UK engineering team – is genuinely useful for separating muddy shoes from shopping. These aren’t headline features, but they’re the things that make a car easy to live with.
Ride comfort is excellent, probably down to the 17-inch wheels our car has. Tekna+ models get 20-inch diamond-cut alloys with rubber-band tyres, which may not be quite as cosseting. It’s not sporty, and it doesn’t pretend to be, but it’s composed and confidence-inspiring.
Should I buy a Nissan Qashqai e-Power?
It’s not the ideal company car choice, because it isn’t a plug-in hybrid and therefore doesn’t benefit from ultra-low Benefit-in-Kind rates. Nor is it the absolute last word in motorway economy. And it’s not particularly cheap, costing a little more than the excellent Kia Sportage. But for private buyers who want something that feels modern and refined, who like the idea of electric smoothness but don’t want to plan their lives around charging stops or don’t have the option of a home charger, it hits a sweet spot.
It may not quite beat diesel in every measurable way. But in everyday life, it might just be the more pleasant car to own.
Model tested: Nissan Qashqai Acenta Premium e-Power 205
Price: £34,860
Average Joes rating: ★★★☆☆
He is the founder of Huff Media, publisher of Professional Pickup, Professional Van, Average Janes, Average Joes, and CALIBRE. His work focuses primarily on light commercial vehicles, pickups, and real-world vehicle use, with much of his time spent on manufacturer launches, industry events, and long-term vehicle testing.