The 2026 Nissan Qashqai e-Power debuts the next-generation e-Power drivetrain, bringing claimed reductions in fuel consumption and running costs plus a smoother driving experience – and it should be in Australia early next year.
Nissan has announced the third-generation Qashqai e-Power will go on sale in Europe this September with a lighter, five-in-one hybrid powertrain that includes an all-new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.
Nissan e-Power system is a range-extending hybrid system, meaning the petrol engine doesn’t drive the wheels but charges the vehicle’s battery, with an electric motor responsible for power.
The updated system is also expected to be fitted to the large Nissan X-Trail SUV later in 2026.
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The latest generation gives the Qashqai – a Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross rival – fuel consumption as low as 4.5L/100km (WLTP), down from 5.1-5.3L/100km in the outgoing model.
The Japanese automaker says the improved fuel economy gives the Qashqai e-Power – which has a 55L fuel tank – a range of up to 1200km, with emissions falling by 12 per cent to as low as 102g/km of carbon dioxide – with 5.6dB less cabin noise.
On the excitement side, the next-gen e-Power will also have a new Sport Mode which delivers a 10kW power boost.
With global supply coming from Nissan’s Sunderland, United Kingdom factory – said to have its future assured amid the automaker’s plan to cut staff and close plants – the new powertrain is set to be fitted in the current Qashqai for Australian showrooms in early 2026.
The current Qashqai e-Power was introduced in Australia in 2024 – a year after the e-Power tech was introduced in the larger Nissan X-Trail SUV – and is currently offered in Ti and N Design model grades.
It uses a 140kW/330Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery.
The new e-Power system uses a new lighter, more compact five-in-one powertrain made up of the electric motor, generator (petrol engine), inverter, reducer and increaser.
As well as better fuel economy, power increases by 11kW to 151kW. The updated Qashqai e-Power uses the same 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The new 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine is claimed to be all new – despite its similarities with the existing engine – and includes a larger turbocharger, which Nissan says lowers revs and brings fuel savings at highway speeds.
The official claim is 14 per cent better economy on the highway and a 16 per cent improvement in ‘real-world conditions’ over the current Qashqai e-Power.
Scheduled servicing intervals are now longer, with the new-gen Qashqai e-Power only needing attention every 20,000km compared to the current version’s 15,000km.
Nissan has also confirmed the Qashqai will also be updated with more connected car tech, adding voice command via Google Assistant with access to apps via Google Play, as well as ‘Nissan Trip Stories’ which stores journey info which can be access and shared through the Nissan Connected Services smartphone app.
The Qashqai was facelifted earlier this year, bringing bolder exterior styling and debuting Nissan’s Connected Car Services in Australia among other upgrades.
Nissan Australia has cashback offers of between $1000 and $3000 on Qashqai – depending on the model grade – as part of its end of financial year (EOFY) sales.
