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 that Nissan 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 in instead of – a conventional petrol powertrain, the E-Power system only uses the internal combustion 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 $45,000.

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

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