The Nissan QASHQAI e-POWER will finally enter Australian showrooms in the first quarter of next year, priced from $51,590 plus on-road costs and thereby positioning the small hybrid SUV right at the top of the local QASHQAI portfolio.
Just one e-POWER variant is being offered in our market for now – the 2023 Nissan QASHQAI e-POWER Ti – but government homologation documents uncovered by carsales suggest a more affordable e-POWER ST-L will materialise later, as per the bigger Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER line-up.
Aspiring QASHQAI e-POWER customers will therefore have to either bide their time or settle for the fully-loaded flagship, which is priced $4200 upstream of the equivalent petrol Ti, however, the electric-drive powertrain does output considerably more power and torque than the QASHQAI’s standard 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine (110kW/250Nm).
Unlike the X-TRAIL e-POWER, the electrified QASHQAI is two-wheel drive and sports a 140kW/330Nm electric motor on the front axle, sustained by a small-capacity lithium-ion battery, which in turn is charged by a 1.5-litre variable-compression three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.
As per X-TRAIL e-POWER, the internal combustion mill has no connection to the front axle and is there solely to generate power for the battery pack (and motor when maximum power is needed), resulting in an EV-like driving experience without ever needing to recharge – drivers even have a one-pedal drive option.
Anyone familiar with the current QASHQAI range will know the Ti grade is one of the most luxurious and equipment-rich mainstream small SUVs on the market, with headline gear including quilted leather upholstery, massaging front seats, panoramic glass roof, 10.8-inch head-up display, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10-speaker Bose premium sound system.
All of these highlights are present on the e-POWER version, which simply swaps out the previously mentioned 1.3-litre combustion engine for the electric-drive hybrid system.
Other variant-specific features comprise ambient lighting, hands-free power tailgate, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, heated leather steering wheel, 19-inch alloys, adaptive headlights, dual-zone climate control and black headlining.
Nissan Australia managing director Adam Paterson said the X-TRAIL e-POWER had whet local appetites for electric-drive hybrids in Australia and the technology combined the best parts of EV and combustion power into a single package.
“We know Australians love the driving dynamics of the X-TRAIL e-POWER, and we are thrilled to offer this innovative technology on a second model, expanding its potential further,” he said.
“Whether you’re in the city, further afield, or travel frequently between both, the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER provides a smooth, exciting, drive without ever having to stop to recharge.”
Reservations for the QASHQAI e-POWER will open via the Nissan Australia website on November 2.
How much does the 2023 Nissan QASHQAI cost?
ST – $33,890
ST+ – $37,890
ST-L – $42,190
Ti – $47,390
e-POWER Ti – $51,590
* Prices exclude on-road costs