Nissan Qashqai e-Power 190 CV, an ECO hybrid with high consumption

The Nissan Qashqai has always been the reference to follow in the SUV segment. His story speaks for itself. Its latest generation brings with it important innovations such as the e-Power hybrid version that we are testing on this occasion.

For years everyone has wanted an SUV, but you have to go back in time to discover the first to generate this trend. At the beginning of this century, Nissan dominated the European market thanks to a concept that no other manufacturer was able to apply with such success. The original Nissan Qashqai was introduced in 2007 and nothing has been the same ever since. Crossovers dominate the market and their hegemony does not seem to have an end in sight.

Although there were already SUVs before the Qashqai, it must be recognized that the Japanese knew how to sell a format that was atypical at that time. Today it is easy to see how the market is doing, but the first generation of the model marked a radical turning point. No one can deny them that merit and for years the Nissan Qashqai has been the rival to beat. Having become a mass success, the Japanese did not know how to play their cards correctly and today they are trying to recover lost ground by offering a product that, now more than ever, can be considered a reference.

We are not going to kid ourselves, the first generation was sold for being different, but there was very little in it that was worth it. Neither had the quality nor the behavior of a comparative sedan, but the appearance weighed above all other qualities. Now in its third edition, the Qashqai manages to balance the scales. It's still a very popular model, but the fierce competition has greatly squeezed its margins. Today models like the Hyundai Tucson or the KIA Sportage sell more than him, but are they better?

Nothing is written in a matter of taste, but it is clear that the successful trident bases its designs on Asian influences. European brands risk less with their creations and that makes the Tucson, Sportage, and Qashqai stand out from the traffic. Only the Peugeot 3008 can say that it stands up but from a different point of view. The Nissan is striking and, thanks to the usual resources of any good SUV, it presents a very balanced design. Black plastic, generously sized wheels, and the already usual resource of the roof contrast to lighten the body.

Obviously, many of these aesthetic details are not delivered as standard. The test unit equips the Tekna + version. If we go to the official configurator, we will see that it is the highest finish of all, which allows us to access personalized details. Two-tone bodywork isn't one of them. You have to pay an extra 1,550 euros for it, something that I honestly don't think is worth it. The resource is aesthetic, I will not deny it, but the price is not so tempting to me. I insist that as a matter of taste, everyone is free to form their own opinion.

The Tekna + finish also gives access to the most generous equipment of all. In fact, the Qashqai adds it all up. On a technical level, it can be said that the Japanese SUV looks much more than one might need and does so with a fairly contained price. Elements such as a panoramic roof, 360-degree camera, front seats with massage function, Bose sound system with 10 speakers, connected services, Head-Up Display, digital instrumentation, multimedia system with 12.3-inch touch panel and wireless charger stand out. , navigation, and much, much more.

Of course, there is no shortage of active safety elements collected under the umbrella of the Nissan Pro Pilot 2.0 system. Although it is a level 2 autonomous driving assistant, what I liked the most is that it is not particularly intrusive, not as much as its most direct rivals. The safety package warns you of dangers but only takes control when it detects that the driver is not taking the appropriate measures. KIA and Hyundai have similar systems, but much more annoying on a day-to-day basis. Of course, the driver is free to disable the aids, but honestly, it's not worth it.

 

As is customary with each new generation, the Nissan Qashqai grows with respect to the outgoing unit. Currently, it reaches 4.42 meters long, 1.85 meters wide, and 1.62 meters high with a wheelbase of 2.66 meters. The height allows you to get out and get in the car easily without having to make strange movements. The rear doors open almost to a 90º angle, which makes it much more comfortable to put objects or sit children in child seats. All these details end up adding quality of life on a day-to-day basis.

As far as space and habitability are concerned, the long wheelbase allows rear passengers to travel comfortably, even adults who are 1.85 meters tall. As the ground is practically flat, the central square is not as annoying as before. It is still narrower than those at the extremes, but it is possible to make long trips without suffering the consequences. Of course, the width is somewhat more limited, so much so that it is not possible to install three child seats. There are only two ISOFIX mountings. The usual within the category.

Since its inception, the Qashqai has established itself as a unique car for a family of four. While it has become clear that the interior space is generous, so is its cargo capacity. The trunk announces a minimum volume of 479 liters. The trunk has a double-height split tray that allows the load to be compartmentalized so that it does not move. A Qashqai MHEV has 25 liters more capacity due to a deeper false bottom. It's not a significant loss, so it's no reason to exclude the hybrid from our shopping list.

In a fit of madness or good sense, who knows, Nissan has wiped out any trace of diesel engines. The latest generation Qashqai is only available with a micro-hybridized gasoline engine and the drive in this test. Officially it is called Nissan Qashqai e-Power, but in colloquial terms, it means that it is a self-recharging hybrid, although not like the rest. We do not depend on a plug nor do we have the DGT ECO label. A very interesting combination since it allows us to circulate freely through any Low Emission Zone.

Behind the wheel of the Nissan Qashqai e-Power

The best thing about hybrids is that they allow for a very natural transition on the path to electrification. At the user level, it is easy to get the most out of them. Toyota has been leading this revolution for years and the results could not be more satisfactory. However, Nissan has sought an alternative solution to the Toyota model. Nissan has thought that it is better that the electric motor is the only one in charge of moving the wheels, while the gasoline engine acts as a generator. That is why the electric motor of the Qashqai e-Power is much more powerful than usual: 190 horsepower and 330 Nm of torque.

The 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine really acts as a range extender that constantly recharges the battery. Depending on the driver's energy demand, the engine is capable of varying its compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1, but there is no mechanical connection between the heat engine and the wheels. The battery barely has a capacity of 2 kWh. It is not much, but it is more than enough for the electric motor to circulate for approximately five kilometers in urban sections if we are efficient with the accelerator pedal.

If we are not, the system immediately activates the combustion engine to charge the battery and thus be able to continue driving without problems. I insist that it seems like a somewhat complex format, but as a driver, you don't have to worry about anything. The car does everything by itself. What we can do is force the mechanics to act differently. We have three driving modes: Eco, Standard, and Sport. It is more than evident how each one of them acts, although there are really no differences at a dynamic level.

In addition to the driving programs, we have the EV format in which we tell the car that we want it to turn off the gasoline engine and use only the electric motor with the battery reserve. Obviously, the level of charge will depend on whether we can activate it or not, but Nissan has configured the system so that there is always a minimum percentage of charge. Otherwise, the car would have a very limited response and would not be advisable. As I have already said, it will also depend on the degree of acceleration that we request. If we ask for the maximum response quickly the motor/generator will come into service to supply power.

Thanks to the fact that the electric motor is solely responsible for moving the car, we can say that the Qashqai e-Power is one of the general SUVs with the best ride quality. At low and medium speeds the insulation is extraordinary and only when driving at high speeds will we notice any discomfort. Nor is it necessary to think about the typical response of hybrids. Toyotas suffer when accelerating, the engine revs quickly and the noise is not pleasant at all. In this case, it does not happen. Comfort always prevails and that is appreciated.

It must be recognized that at a dynamic level, the Qashqai does not stick out against its competition, but the truth is that it is just as dull and soft as many of its direct rivals. The whole car is set up to be comfortable. The front suspension tends to bounce quickly, but comfortably swallows any irregularities in the asphalt. It's a sacrifice that many drivers are willing to make with all the logic in the world, but better body control would add an extra touch of safety behind the wheel.

The theory says that the 190-horsepower Nissan Qashqai e-Power with Tekna + finish approves an average cost of 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers, but the reality is quite the opposite. If we are careful, very careful, and the terrain helps us, we can achieve those figures in short runs, we can even download the official records. However, that is not the reality of a car proposed to serve as the only vehicle in a family. During our week of testing, after having covered more than 1,000 kilometers, the average cost was more than 8 liters per 100 kilometers. A figure that is too high, no matter how you look at it.

Some time ago I had the opportunity to test the Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T with a 158-horsepower turbo gasoline engine with MHEV system. On that occasion, the week of tests concluded with an average consumption of 6.7 liters per 100 kilometers. Correct data, not extraordinary, but assumable taking into account the characteristics of the car. The expense of the hybrid is excessive and only if we are going to make many urban trips will it be worth paying the extra price that Nissan asks for it.

The price of a 158 horsepower Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T with front-wheel drive with Tekna + finish and ECO label starts at 37,250 euros. If we go to a 190-horsepower Qasqhai e-Power with the same finish, we see that the basic rate grows to a minimum of 41,750 euros. There are 4,500 euros of difference between them, more than 10% of the value of the car. We must take into account the types of routes that we are going to carry out. If we usually do city and little highway, the e-Power is of interest, but if we move in mixed cycles the 1.3 DIG-T may be more satisfactory for consumption.

Conclusions

The Nissan Qashqai has lost market share because there are more and more rivals in the market. Korean firms are today the ones that break the cod in sales, but the Japanese always stand up. There are many positive things in it such as equipment, quality, habitability or ride comfort. Things that make you stand out from your competition. However, the hybrid e-Power version is not as good as one might expect. Its benefits are somewhat limited and its real consumption is too high. Personally, I recommend the gasoline more because it seems more balanced in its entirety.