Nissan Qashqai E-Power hybrid due here late 2022

Toyota’s top-selling range of hybrid SUVs will soon have a new rival, with the confirmation the new Nissan Qashqai E-Power hybrid small SUV will arrive in Australian showrooms in late 2022.

Following the standard, turbo-petrol Qashqai range due in showrooms in early 2022, the new hybrid version of Nissan’s small SUV will debut the brand’s E-Power petrol-electric system in Australia, pairing a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery.

However, where as a ‘parallel’ hybrid such as a Toyota RAV4 or C-HR can drive its wheels using the petrol engine and/or electric motor, the Qashqai E-Power’s engine is used solely as a generator to keep the battery topped up, which in turn provides energy to the electric motor to spin the front wheels.

Nissan says the E-Power system combines the instant response delivered only by an electric motor, without range anxiety or the need to plug in, as associated with an all-electric vehicle. It also includes one-pedal driving functionality.

The front axle-mounted electric motor powering the wheels develops 140kW, while the turbo three-cylinder engine generating energy for it produces 115kW. The e-motor’s output splits the Qashqai’s two closest hybrid rivals, the smaller 90kW Toyota C-HR Hybrid and larger 160kW front-wheel-drive RAV4 Hybrid.

Fuel economy figures are yet to be confirmed, however expect a substantial improvement versus the 1.3-litre petrol-only Qashqai's claimed 6.1L/100km consumption claim.

By the time it goes on sale in late 2022, other rivals for the Qashqai E-Power will include the Honda HR-V e:HEV hybrid (due in the first half of 2022), Subaru XV Hybrid (on sale now), ultra-small Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid (on sale now), and the Kia Niro Hybrid, due in next-generation form in 2022.

The new-generation Nissan X-Trail mid-size SUV tipped to arrive in 2022 is also likely to gain E-Power technology as an option.

Pricing for the new-generation Qashqai range – across both petrol-only and E-Power hybrid variants – is yet to be announced, however expect a price premium for the E-Power of a few thousand dollars over regular 1.3-litre versions, which are already expected to rise in price over the outgoing 2.0-litre Qashqai’s range of models.

It’s not clear whether the E-Power hybrid system will be available as a cost option on all four models, or if it will be restricted to higher-spec grades, branded ST-L and Ti.

For a full breakdown of specifications for the 2022 Nissan Qashqai range, click here to read our full story.

Stay tuned to Drive for more details on the 2023 Nissan Qashqai E-Power hybrid as its Australian launch approaches in late 2022 (likely as a Model Year 2023 vehicle).