New Nissan Qashqai e-Power 2023 Review
Small, family SUVs are all the rage these days. But one of the first to begin the transition away from the previously traditional family hatchback was the Nissan Qashqai.
It is a veteran of the field, as proven by its continued popularity. Now in its third generation, the new Qashqai got an overhauled interior last year, as well as an improvement in its drivability, with much keener handling.
But now, the e-Power has been added to the range. And many years after the Qashqai was first unveiled, it marks the beginning of Nissan’s move away from the petrol engine.
The e-Power is somewhat unique in the world of hybrids. Strictly speaking, it’s an all-electric car, as the only thing driving the wheels is an electric motor.
But what’s keeping the motor’s batteries topped up? A 1.5-litre petrol unit.
The engine isn’t connected to the wheels. Instead, it acts merely as a generator supplying the electric motor, and, in that respect, the e-Power is unique.
While this means it isn’t truly an all-electric car, it doesn’t need charging off the mains, so it’s not a plug-in hybrid. And, although the petrol engine means it charges itself, it can’t be classed as a self-charging hybrid, either.
The e-Power is intended to bridge the gap between a conventional petrol vehicle and an all-electric car. It is a way of easing customers into the future without replacing the fuel-filling with home charging.
In terms of handling, the latest generation is better than its predecessor, with sharpened agility in the corners, making driving more fun. Indeed, despite the added mass of batteries and an electric motor, it doesn’t appear to negatively impact the car’s handling characteristics much.
over creases on uneven road surfaces and is decent at motorway cruising. But the car is still nimble enough to be very good at driving around town centres.
Words: Tim Barnes-Clay, Instagram @tbarnesclay
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