Nissan Australia will launch its thrifty e-Power technology on versions of the new X-Trail and Qashqai models in early 2023, but the company is at pains to avoid calling these new models hybrids, despite evidence to the contrary.  

As Nissan points out, in conventional hybrid vehicles, such as those popularised by Toyota, both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor can power the vehicle, either individually or together.

However, in the case of the Nissan e-Power models the petrol engine only ever works as a generator for the car’s lithium-ion battery pack, which then provides power to an electric motor via an inverter, with the electric motor exclusively driving the wheels.

While Nissan’s application of the technology may be new, the idea is not and such ‘series hybrids’ or ‘range extenders’ as they’re also known have been seen previously on models including the Holden Volt and BMW i3.

Nevertheless, Nissan claims its e-Power models drive just like an electric vehicle, with the same instant torque and seamless power delivery thanks to the absence of a gearbox, and with the 1.5-litre variable compression turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine working “quietly in the background”. 

Unlike a regular battery electric vehicle which needs to be plugged into an electricity point to recharge, however, the Nissans still need to be filled with petrol, albeit less regularly than their conventionally powered counterparts.

In the case of the X-Trail, e-Power variants boast lower combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.1L/100km, versus between 7.4 and 7.8L/100km for its 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol stablemates.

That’s a handy reduction in fuel consumption but it comes at a price, with the X-Trail e-Power costing $54,190 for the Ti and $57,190 for the Ti-L, an increase of $4200 over the equivalent petrol-powered models.

Both X-Trail e-Power variants also feature Nissan’s new e-Force all-wheel drive system, developed specifically for electrified powertrains.

It places an electric motor at each axle, improving traction and performance, with Nissan claiming the technology reacts to changes in grip levels “10,000 times faster than traditional all-wheel drive technologies”.

The petrol-powered version of the X-Trail went on sale in late November, but the e-Power variants are not due until early 2023. 

Meanwhile, the launch date for the e-Power Qashqai SUV is likely to be further off again, with Nissan launching the petrol versions of its new small SUV in mid-December, but avoiding being more specific about when the e-Power versions will arrive other than “sometime in 2023”.

Pricing for the Qashqai e-Power has also not been confirmed but the 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol-turbo models start at $33,890 for the entry-level ST, and rise through seven variants to the Ti with two-tone pain at $47,890.

Based on this, expect the e-Power variants to be close to $50,000 and to be front-wheel drive only, like the rest of the Qashqai range. 

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