Nissan Qashqai e-Power conquers fuel economy challenge

Nissan has put the updated Qashqai e-Power through its paces to test its fuel economy, with the small hybrid SUV circumnavigating Tasmania and covering just over 1300km on a single tank of fuel.

In a challenge undertaken earlier this year, Nissan Australia filled up a Qashqai e-Power in Geelong, loaded it onto the Spirit of Tasmania to sail to Devonport, and then traversed Tasmania. The goal was to circumnavigate the Apple Isle without stopping to refill its 55-litre tank.

After 1209.2km of driving, it averaged fuel consumption of 4.5L/100km, slightly higher than the official claim of 4.1L/100km but covering a mix of freeways, hill climbs and urban roads.

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Nissan then reboarded the ferry back to Geelong and ultimately covered 1303km of driving before refuelling, when the average fuel consumption still sat at 4.5L/100km.

“This trip isn’t laboratory testing, this is the real world and real conditions, completing a dream lap of Tasmania that so many Australians have either done, or would love to,” said Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette.

“Now more than ever Australian drivers are looking for fuel efficiency that doesn’t compromise driving enjoyment, and this 1300km real-world journey shows that the Nissan Qashqai e-Power delivers.”

Nissan Australia launched the updated Qashqai earlier this year, when it axed all petrol-powered variants – a move that saw the base price soar by around $11,000, despite the introduction of a more affordable ST-L e-Power variant.

All Qashqais sold here are now powered by a new generation of its e-Power series-hybrid system.

This comprises a redesigned turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which is used as a generator to produce electricity for the battery and electric motor, instead of sending drive directly to the wheels – a task handled only by the electric motor.

Nissan says its new ‘5-in-1’ powertrain architecture integrates the electric motor, generator, inverter, increaser and reducer into a single unit, reducing weight and complexity.

Combined-cycle fuel consumption was reduced from 4.8 to 4.1L/100km, with CO2 emissions reduced from 112 to 92g/km, and the upgraded Qashqai’s cabin claimed to be 5.6dB quieter than before.

The more efficient powertrain makes the Qashqai e-Power one of the most parsimonious small hybrid SUVs on the Australian market, narrowly beaten by the Toyota C-HR (4.0L/100km) and Hyundai Kona (3.9L/100km).

The latter can be had for considerably less than the Qashqai, which starts at $45,640 before on-road costs in ST-L trim. The cheapest Kona is priced at $39,650 before on-roads.

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