190 electric horses (photo: Shashi Cohen)
Nissan is expanding its hybrid offering in Israel with another model.
After the Juke and Xtrail, also the intermediate model - the Qashqai gets a rather unique hybrid version called e-POWER.
The idea behind this not very common drive method known as "series hybrid" is that the gasoline engine works without direct connection to the wheels and is actually only used as a generator that charges the batteries.
Similar to the arrangement in the current Honda Jazz for example.
Advantages of the method?
It allows the engine to work at a uniform and efficient RPM, without significant power losses, saves the need for a gearbox, allows you to be satisfied with a relatively small battery, eliminates the need to charge the vehicle and get a lot of the electric driving experience and more. The downside is that it does not really eliminate the gasoline engine in regards to air pollution and maintenance (a year or 15,000 km) and more expensive.
The shock absorbers are hardened to support the extra weight (Photo: Shashi Cohen)
As mentioned, the electricity for the batteries is provided by a gasoline engine, here with a volume of 1.5 liters, three cylinders and a turbocharger.
They in turn drive a 190 hp electric motor that is connected to the front wheels. And is also equipped with an energy recovery mode and driving with one pedal. According to the manufacturer, the use of the original fuel tank of the gasoline model allows this version to travel 1,000 km without the need for refueling.
The added weight to the car does not really interfere with performance and it leaps to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, faster than a 1.5 liter Qashqai by 1.3 seconds. On the other hand, it did require hardening of the brakes.
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The gasoline engine is only a generator (photo: manufacturer's website)
The Qashqai e-POWER comes in three trim levels.
The basic "Asante Top" starts with an 8-inch screen, a panoramic roof, connectivity to Apple and Android, and more.
Above it, "Asante Tech" increases the multimedia screen to 12.3 inches and the dashboard is also digital in the same size and air conditioning vents are added for the rear seats.
The "Tekana" trim level adds a wireless charging surface, an overhead display, an electric driver's seat, 19-inch rims, combined leather-fabric upholstery, and above it also the TT version with the same equipment and two-tone coloring.
The safety systems include automatic braking, lane departure correction, adaptive cruise control, and "dead zone" vehicle warning.
In the higher trim level, lane center maintenance and traffic jam mode for cruise control are also added.
Digital dashboard only in the higher trim levels (photo: manufacturer's website)
The expansion of Nissan's hybrid offering is a very good move that will certainly help it in a world that is becoming greener, because in this case it does not seem that compromises are made at the level of the car compared to the gasoline model, for those who want the experience of driving an electric car but cannot or do not want to give up the convenience of "refueling" in minutes A few or can not set up a charging station is also may be an interesting solution.
The problem is the price.
At an amount that starts at NIS 208,000 for the entry-level version, it is NIS 28,000 more expensive than the corresponding 1.3 liter Qashqai.
This is a very significant gap where you can buy a lot of fuel for many years of maintenance.
The Asante Tech trim level will cost NIS 220,000.
You will be asked to pay NIS 233,000 for the vehicle and NIS 236,000 for the two-tone painting.
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Nissan
Qashqai
Hybrid
