Last year, Nissan introduced an update to the third generation of the Qashqai, focusing mainly on cosmetic changes in the design. We wrote about this in detail in the test drive of the top version of the car with the e-POWER engine, and in this post I want to share my impressions of the experience of a long trip on it. After all, despite the constant increase in the size of popular cars, the Nissan Qashqai still remains a compact crossover. Its length reaches 4,425 mm, which is less than in models that are often considered competitors, for example, the Peugeot 3008, Hyundai Tucson or Ford Kuga. So, it is always interesting how comfortable it is to drive in such a car for 6-10 hours in a row.
Car equipment
Since the new Nissan Qashqai was equipped with the e-POWER engine, I was also able to appreciate this interesting mix of a gasoline car that actually runs on an electric motor. Roman Melnychenko described the e-POWER design in quite detail, I will just remind you that the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER really implements a rather unique technical concept.
Under the hood of the car, two engines work at once: the main one is an electric motor with a capacity of 140 kW (190 hp) with a torque of 330 Nm, which rotates the front wheels and provides movement. The second one is a 1.5-liter three-cylinder VC-Turbo turbo engine with a variable compression ratio (from 8:1 to 14:1) and direct fuel injection. Its role is limited to driving the generator and generating electricity.
The car is equipped with two batteries: the main one, located in the lower part of the body, powers the electric motor, while the additional one ensures the operation of the on-board systems. At the same time, there is no usual gearbox here. The Nissan Qashqai e-POWER always moves solely thanks to the electric motor, and the gasoline engine has no mechanical connection with the wheels, which makes the gearbox redundant - its function is performed by the gearbox. Electricity is produced by a generator, which is driven by the internal combustion engine, or is accumulated during regenerative braking. In fact, we have a car as an electric vehicle, but instead of large batteries, which should store energy, we have small batteries and a gasoline engine, which constantly replenishes their charge.
The test Nissan Qashqai was presented in the maximum possible Tekna+ configuration, I won’t even list all the options, this is an interior trimmed with Alcantara, a panoramic glass roof, a massage in both front seats, a heated steering wheel, windshield, seats, LED lighting in the interior, and much more. I will only note that Qashqai, unlike many new models, has a very modern interior. In all versions, except for the base, the manufacturer immediately offers a large digital cluster with a 12.3-inch instrument panel, another 12.3-inch touch central display and, in addition, a 10.8-inch projection screen. At the same time, they are all high-quality and with bright colors.
Interestingly, in addition to speed, the head-up display can also show additional information, such as what music track is playing, as well as the speed limit. Unfortunately, although the car can read road signs, the speed limit information on the built-in maps is outdated and often shows irrelevant information. I hope this will be updated someday.
The multimedia system interface here is quite simple, but it doesn't freeze, and it's unlikely anyone will use it very actively, since there is support for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Not all cars have such a stable connection, but it worked without problems in the Nissan Qashqai.
The smartphone connects quickly to multimedia, and you can simply throw it on the wireless charger. The latter is rather nominal, because its power is barely enough to simply maintain the smartphone's charge level. If you need to recharge, it is better to use one of the two USB-C ports (there are also two more for the rear seats).
I really liked Nissan's "old-school" approach to the various buttons in the cabin, they are all mechanical, both on the steering wheel and on the center console. And there are also large and convenient "knobs" for dual-zone climate control, as well as a separate screen for displaying temperature and blowing force. This is generally even "old-school", but just common sense. Of course, you can get used to everything, including touch buttons, or climate control via the touch screen, but mechanical buttons, and with a pleasant click, are just love.
The only thing I honestly didn't like was the gear lever, which in this version is made of plastic and seems too light. It's clear that it's essentially a regular button, but then it could have been designed accordingly, at the same time making it more compact.
The interior quality of the top version of the new Nissan Qashqai is at a high level, the door panels are trimmed with eco-leather, the central tunnel is Alcantara, most surfaces are soft, with a minimum of gloss. That is, everything you touch when you are behind the wheel is high-quality, soft and does not press anywhere. The armrest is quite comfortable, but, unfortunately, it is not adjustable in terms of reach. But the range of adjustment of the steering wheel and seats is quite wide, it can really be conveniently adjusted. With both the usual options, such as the distance to the steering wheel and the angle of inclination, and lumbar support.
There's more space in the cabin than you'd expect, but the Tekna+'s boot isn't exactly huge at 455 litres. However, it's enough for a large suitcase, a small bag and two backpacks, which is plenty when you're travelling with two or three people.
Behind the wheel
My route ran from Kyiv to Lviv, then to Bukovel and from there directly to Kyiv. This allowed me to test the capabilities of the car both in the city and on the highway. The Nissan Qashqai with e-POWER turned out to be a fairly balanced car, both for the city and for the highway. At speeds of less than 90 km/h, fuel consumption is at the level of a diesel engine, 3.8-4 liters. That is, with all the speed limits in the city, a very pleasant result is obtained.
On the highway, however, if you want to drive not 90, but 110 or 130 km/h in permitted areas, then the magic of the Nissan Qashqai gasoline-electric engine is somewhat dissipated, because the consumption increases and starts to show 8-9 liters. This is still quite good, but already closer to conventional gasoline cars. And the reason is that the Qashqai with e-POWER does not have very large built-in batteries, so at higher speeds they start to discharge faster and the gasoline engine-generator has to work harder to replenish the charge, increasing fuel consumption.
However, if you are not inclined to rush, you can significantly reduce your gasoline costs and the number of stops at gas stations. For example, when I was driving from Kyiv to Lviv, there were moments when it seemed that almost no fuel was used at all, you had been driving for over an hour, and the tank was still almost full. The same was the case from Lviv to Bukovel, when a fairly dense flow of cars and driving through settlements generally allowed me to keep the speed at 60-80 km/h, I drove these 240 km with an average consumption of 5 liters.
The e-POWER power is enough to be able to accelerate comfortably, at adequate speeds you don't feel that the engine lacks torque. But there is no feeling of being able to overtake everyone in a row here either. Nissan Qashqai with e-POWER is definitely not a charged car, it has a more moderate character. This can also be said by the feeling of the steering wheel, it is not very sharp, but aimed at comfort. However, there is also a sport mode here, in which the steering wheel will feel a little heavier, but it is also clear that Qashqai is not intended for driving on the highway.
The test Nissan Qashqai was on 20-inch wheels, and to be honest, I expected the car to be stiff. But we must give credit to its suspension, on more or less good roads there are no problems at all, the car holds the road perfectly, and with small irregularities the suspension easily "swallows" them. Of course, I did not drive on bad roads, but I think that with 18-inch wheels it would be at least normal on them.
The noise insulation in the Nissan Qashqai is also quite good, the noise from the wheels is still noticeable, but even at higher speeds it does not interfere with talking on the phone via speakerphone or listening to music. As for comfort on long distances, I will also note that the seats in this Qashqai configuration are still very comfortable. They have a good fit for tall people and have the necessary adjustments, so by spending a little time on the settings, you can ensure a good level of comfort on long trips. And this configuration also has a massage function, both for the driver and the front passenger. On the one hand, as if it were just a toy, the seat pushes you a little in the back and lower back with certain movements, imitating a massage, and on the other hand, when you are driving for 6+ hours, it is already a good thing, you can sometimes turn it on. Probably separately it would be a very unpopular option, but as part of the top configuration, it has the right to exist.
In the end
The new Nissan Qashqai should primarily be considered as a city car, as it is a compact crossover designed for maneuvering and parking in dense urban areas. However, it also performs well for long trips, a small family of two adults and a child can comfortably travel to another city. At the same time, in the version with the e-POWER engine, you can also count on low fuel consumption.