When driving to Newquay in the Nissan Qashqai N Design e-POWER, I am fully expecting to have to refuel for the return journey, but it doesn’t happen… I really am quite surprised at the efficiency of this 1.5-litre SUV. The outbound journey is over 200 miles, taking in mainly motorways like the M27 and M5, and main roads like the demanding A30. Then, there’s a lot of pottering about when we get there, down very tight country lanes and a fairly challenging car park at Newquay Harbour. The 30-mile or so return journey to the Eden Project barely registers, thanks to my friend the EV button. This technology has really moved up a level in recent years, because it is now possible to drive at 60mph in this mode. Obviously, the battery loses its charge quicker at this pace than at half that speed, but it helps to conserve that petrol. Our Cornwall trek covers well over 550 miles, and we return home with the 55-litre fuel tank near empty, but still able to cover 55 miles. Bear in mind that it has not been necessary to religiously stick to 56mph in order to achieve this result, which is satisfying for both the environment and the driver’s pocket!
Returning from Cornwall, I try to drive as efficiently as possible, and discover that the vehicle will drive in EV mode when there is not demanding acceleration. Doing this numerous times throughout the journey allows us to gain over 50 miles in range.
I have enjoyed the 7.9 seconds nought to 60mph acceleration, and it has regularly travelled at the national speed limit. There have been occasions where some demanding overtaking has been necessary, and it’s a very capable car.
Externally, this latest Qashqai is a bit of a cool dude, with its striking two-tone black and magnetic blue paint job and alloy wheels. Head on, it looks like it means business. Inside, the black interior is well put together and hard-wearing. We all appreciate the different fabrics, such as the suede on the dash and the leather seats. That sizeable panoramic glass roof really allows occupants to enjoy good weather. The air conditioning always helps on a hot day, if opening the windows at speed is uncomfortable. The digital stereo struggles to pick up a signal in many parts of Cornwall, which is bothersome, but the sat nav is a little gem on occasions.
For instance, it picks up mobile speed cameras and alerts the driver – it also knows about roadworks, and diverts us accordingly. However, on the return journey, it forgets about the roadworks that it so expertly manoeuvred us around on the outbound journey. I don’t, and that pleases me, because you can’t rely on technology, for your own health! My son Henry (aged 9) finds the AI robot funny. Ask it anything and it will come back with something, often useless. He discovers that if he’s rude to it, it tells him to behave himself, which he finds amusing. He asks it about jokes, and it responds with some quite funny ones. His sister Heidi (aged 12) wonders how much a teacher earns and asks (it replies with a starting salary). His other sister, Harriett (aged 14), has been learning about the detrimental effects of AI on the environment, in terms of the vast amounts of water used to cool the data centres that each query requires, and she informs her siblings in no uncertain terms. So, as far as we can see, there isn’t a need for AI in this setting.
The front seats could be better designed, because my head and my wife’s feel as if they are pushed too far forward. Now, perhaps this is the optimum driving position, but it doesn’t feel comfortable. However, we do arrive at our destination reasonably alert and compos mentis.
Model tested:
Nissan Qashqai N Design e-POWER
OTR: £40,365
Top speed: 105mph
O to 60mph: 7.9secs
Power: 190bhp
Emissions: 117g/km CO2
Economy: 54.3mpg
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