New e-Power drivetrain for Nissan Qashqai: the future of hybrid driving?

July 10, 2025

By comparison, the updated Nissan Qashqai e-Power is, on paper, both more fuel-efficient and more powerful than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. Why this car as a reference? Because it is comparable to the Qashqai in size, price and plug-in hybrid drive. Moreover, Toyota is the largest, best and most experienced hybrid maker in the world. When the quirky Nissan develops a hybrid system that works differently than usual, you’re still curious to see how it compares to the competition. In terms of consumption, CO2 emissions and engine power, the updated Nissan Qashqai e-Power at least has an edge. But whether that’s enough to trump the competition, we won’t know until we’ve driven the car.

Hybrid driving without a plug

In most hybrid systems that don’t require you to charge with a plug, the electric motor is mainly there to support the gasoline engine. But that is not the case with the Qashqai e-Power, as it drives permanently electric. The gasoline engine under the hood functions solely as a generator to generate power for the electric motor that drives the front wheels. This is why the Qashqai e-Power drives and feels like a 100% electric car, with instant response and linear acceleration with no shifting moments.

16% more economical

Nissan’s e-Power drive technology was introduced almost a decade ago in Japan. In 2022, it was introduced in the Netherlands in the Nissan Qashqai. Now the e-Power drive technology has been thoroughly updated. Most attention was paid to the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which has become more fuel efficient and quieter. According to the official WLTP test, the updated Nissan Qashqai e-Power consumes an average of 4.5 l/100 km (-16%) and emits 102 grams of CO2/km (-12%). At the same time, the 151 kW (205 hp) strong electric motor is slightly more powerful than before. Customers also benefit from an extended service interval from 15,000 to 20,000 km. Also nice: thanks to lower fuel consumption, with a full tank of gasoline you can, in theory, drive 1,200 kilometers without having to stop in between. These are values previously found only in economical diesels.

Also, new digital features

In addition to the updated powertrain, the Nissan Qashqai also gets additional digital features. For example, the infotainment system is enhanced with built-in Google services, including Maps, Assistant and the Play Store. New features such as Trip Stories and weather forecasts are part of the NissanConnect Services app. Driving assistance has been further enhanced with more advanced traffic monitoring in ProPILOT. Nissan will announce pricing for the updated Qashqai e-Power at a later date. Delivery will begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.