Nissan Qashqai Hybrid Car Review

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…the new Nissan Qashqai, now available as a full hybrid for the first time under the manufacturer’s E-power branding. The UK’s best-selling car in 2022 is powered by a 190hp hybrid powertrain based around a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor coupled to a small battery.

The Qashqai’s E-power hybrid system is similar to that in the Juke. It runs mostly with the petrol engine operating as a generator, when needed, to charge the battery. In turn this powers the front wheels. The battery also charges via regenerative braking. However, under greater acceleration, the engine can also directly power the wheels.

The E-power hybrid Qashqai is available in four trim levels:

Acenta Premium
N-connecta
Tekna
Tekna+

Standard equipment on the Acenta Premium includes 18-inch alloys, intelligent cruise control, auto rear braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, high beam assist, lane keeping, rear view camera, rear parking sensors, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 8-inch touchscreen, 2x USB sockets, height adjustable front seats, powered lumber support for driver’s seat, LED headlights, auto headlights, dual zone climate control, auto wipers, drive modes and keyless start.

N-connecta adds 12.3-inch touchscreen, satnav, Google Maps services, 360-degree surround view, front parking sensors, wireless Apple CarPlay, 2 rear USB sockets and privacy glass

Tekna adds 19-inch alloys, uprated cruise control, auto parking, head-up display, panoramic roof, wireless charging, heated seats, heated steering wheel, heated front screen and syntech leather upholstery.

Tekna+ adds 20-inch alloys, quilted leather seats, front seat massage function and uprated stereo.

Is the Nissan Qashqai hybrid suitable for my fleet?

Plug-in cars aren’t for all and the next best option for lower mileage drivers is a full hybrid such as the Qashqai. With the Qashqai, Nissan has always excelled at producing a car that suits as many people as possible. It’s well constructed, incredibly well thought out and practical as well as supremely easy to use. All these areas mean that it’s very suitable for fleet and perhaps its only downside is its ubiquity.

Leasing a Nissan Qashqai hybrid

Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the Qashqai for £360 a month on a 3+36 10,000 miles a year contract for the Acenta Premium specification model. This figure shows how competitive the Nissan is, particularly against plug-in rivals. If there’s a week point it’s the running cost which could be more competitive. Gensen Reports predicts a maintenance cost of £66 a month.

Driving a Nissan Qashqai hybrid

The areas that make the Qashqai a good car for business users make it a good car to drive too.

It’s simple ease of use is outstanding.

Visibility is excellent thanks to a high driving position and pillars that don’t particularly obstruct your vision. The steering is light and precise and the suspension is set up for just the right level of comfort without there being too much bodyroll when cornering. The brakes are well-judged in terms of progression and the e-Pedal regenerative function is smooth to use. The only issue with the e-Pedal function is that you have to activate it each time you start the car.

What’s less good about the brakes is that they’re noisy at low speeds under gentle deceleration.

Also noisy is the engine when it runs in ‘generator mode’ to charge the car’s battery.

The Qashqai’s cabin and seats add to the overall sense of ease of use. The seats are comfortable while all the technology is logically laid out. The infotainment touchscreen is clear and quick to respond to inputs too. The only weakness is that it takes 15 steps through the settings to turn off the sometimes intrusive lane keeping assist and then get back to the place you were before, for example the trip computer.

But this is about the worst point for the Qashqai, which really says a lot about how good the rest of the car is.

Verdict on the Nissan Qashqai hybrid

A great all-rounder and an easy car to recommend to any business user who can’t live with a plug-in car.