More affordable front-drive Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER on the way

The growing Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER range is set to be expanded again, this time via a cheaper front-wheel drive version of the innovative range-extender hybrid powertrain as the Japanese brand responds to increasing demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Speaking at this week’s launch of the first QASHQAI e-POWER – which sits below the X-TRAIL e-POWER line-up first released in Australia in 2023 – Nissan Oceania managing director Adam Paterson confirmed there were plans to expand the unique hybrid tech across the popular mid-size SUV line-up.

The first Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER variants arrived in 2023 in premium Ti ($54,690 plus ORCs) and Ti-L ($57,690 plus ORCs) guises, but within months they were joined by a price-leading mid-range ST-L grade for $49,990 plus ORCs, also driving all four wheels.

Now e-POWER is coming to the smaller QASHQAI for the first time, this time driving the front wheels in a single flagship Ti version priced at $51,590 plus ORCs, but in a move that would mimic its X-TRAIL strategy Nissan also appears to have plans for a cheaper e-POWER version of the front-drive small SUV.

We’re unlikely to see an entry-level ST e-POWER version of either SUV, but considering the $4200 premium Nissan has applied to the technology across the QASHQAI and X-TRAIL line-ups, an ST-L version of the former would cost $46,390 plus ORCs and a two-wheel drive e-POWER version of the X-TRAIL ST-L would cost $45,790 plus ORCs.

In the UK, the X-TRAIL is offered in eight grades comprising multiple trim levels with both five and seven seats, including both the 150kW 2WD and 157kW 4WD e-4ORCE versions of the e-POWER tech, which uses a petrol engine solely as a generator and an electric motor (or motors) to drive the wheels.

“We think we’ve put the [ICE] premium on the powertrain versus the ICE powertrain that it deserves,” said Paterson, hinting that any future e-POWER variants would follow suit from a price perspective.

When asked if a single-motor, front-drive version of the X-TRAIL was on Nissan Australia’s wish list (all X-TRAIL e-POWER vehicles sold here so far are dual-motor all-wheel drive), he suggested there was a strong possibility.

“It’s something that we are looking at, just like we will be looking at the opportunity to expand its availability in the QASHQAI,” he said.

Nissan’s move to broaden its e-POWER range is all about boosting electrified vehicle sales in line with booming demand.

Toyota Australia’s top-selling RAV4 range comprises 13 variants – four petrol and nine hybrid, pricing for which starts at $42,260.

While Toyota says hybrids account for about 90 per cent of RAV4 sales, Nissan says about 24 per cent of its all-wheel drive X-TRAIL sales are currently e-POWER variants.

However, Paterson says that’s largely supply-driven (even if Toyota itself remains so supply-constrained that waiting times for the RAV4 have shrunk from three years to 18 months and a forecast of 12 months by April), and believes sales will ramp up once more stock comes into the country.

“Both [QASHQAI] and X-TRAIL will be better [in terms of sales] as supply improves,” he said.

“The demand for electrification is increasing,” he said. “Is there some point in the future where e-POWER will be a stronger portion of the mix than it is today? Absolutely.

“It’s going to do better than that… based on availability.”

There’s also a chicken-and-egg factor in terms of how many e-POWER vehicles become available Down Under.

“Showing [solid] demand will allow us to work with headquarters to improve supply if the demand is there,” said Paterson.

Nissan is also embarking on a more serious e-POWER marketing campaign that it says it hasn’t needed until now.

“The success that it’s had so far has basically been test drives in the dealership, website visits and journalist reviews,” he said.

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