If you like the idea of an EV - smooth, instant shove, quiet around town - but still want the simplicity of filling up at a bowser, the Nissan Qashqai e‑Power N‑Design lands right in your sweet spot.

This top‑spec Qashqai takes Nissan’s clever hybrid system, wraps it in sharp two‑tone styling and adds a genuinely premium cabin. It feels every bit the “small to medium luxury SUV” in day‑to‑day use, and that matters more than any brochure stat.

But with a price nudging the mid‑$50Ks before on‑roads and no all‑wheel drive option, you’ll want to know exactly what you’re getting for your money - and where the compromises lie.

Design & Exterior

Nissan has really nailed the look with the N‑Design. In the metal, it has more presence than the spec sheet suggests.

  • Two‑tone styling is a standout: the contrasting black roof on the N‑Design makes the whole car look lower, sleeker and more upmarket. It’s the sort of thing you expect on a Euro SUV, and it genuinely lifts the street appeal.
  • You get a new grille design, gloss black exterior highlights, body‑coloured bumpers and 20‑inch alloy wheels, so it never looks like the “fleet spec” in the car park.
  • The LED lighting front and rear is crisp and modern, but it’s the automatic high-beam headlights that impress me most. On the motorway, they’re brilliant - quick to react, strong spread, and they take the mental load off when you’re running home after dark.

Size‑wise, the Qashqai sits in that sweet spot: big enough for family duties, small enough to park at Westfield without three attempts. Ground clearance is decent for gravel drives and the odd kerb, but it’s not pretending to be a hardcore off‑roader.

If you want something that looks genuinely premium without shouting about it, the N‑Design ticks the box.

Interior & Technology

Open the door, and this is where the N‑Design starts to feel like money well spent.

  • The Alcantara door trim is a highlight. It’s a simple thing, but that soft, suede‑like material immediately adds a sense of luxury every time you hop in and rest your arm. It’s the sort of touch you notice daily.
  • The seats are supportive and nicely shaped, with an upscale mix of materials and stitching that wouldn’t feel out of place in a German SUV.
  • Up front, you get a full digital instrument cluster**, a large central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto**, and wireless phone charging. Day‑to‑day, that means no fumbling for cables - just drop your phone on the pad and go. There are plenty of USB ports for those who prefer their device connections to be wired.
  • The infotainment system is snappy enough, and the menu layout is logical. The standard six‑speaker stereo is decent rather than spectacular, but perfectly fine for podcasts and Spotify on the commute.
  • Dual‑zone climate control, heated steering wheel, configurable ambient lighting and a panoramic glass roof (with an electric blind) all help the cabin feel like a much more expensive car.

Practicality is strong:

  • Rear space is good for adults; kids will be fine, even in bulky child seats.
  • The boot is a handy size for prams, sports gear or a big grocery run, and the floor is a sensible height for lifting things in and out. In the e-Power N-Design spec, there is an intrusion in the boot for the battery, but it's very manageable.

Overall, the N‑Design interior is a real strength: comfortable, modern and genuinely premium in both look and touch.

Performance & Driving Experience

Under the bonnet, things are a bit different to a “normal” petrol SUV.

The 1.5‑litre turbo three‑cylinder doesn’t directly drive the wheels. Instead, it works as a generator, feeding a battery and an electric motor that actually turns the front wheels. Combined output is around 140kW and 330Nm, which is quite healthy for this class.

What that means on the road:

  • Around town, it feels like an EV - instant response when you squeeze the throttle, smooth and quiet take‑off, and no gearshifts.
  • There’s a strong, linear surge when you need to dart into a gap or overtake, and the single‑speed reduction gear keeps things simple.
  • The e‑Pedal‑style mode brings in stronger regenerative braking, so you can ease off the accelerator and the car slows more aggressively, often letting you drive with just one pedal in traffic. I'm too old-school for the e-Pedal, so that stays off.
  • Joy of joys, however, was the discovery of traditional cruise control buried in the Intelligent Cruise Control with ProPILOT system. I often find the new radar-guided systems can be a bit dim-witted and fatiguing at night, so this was a wonderful discovery.

Refinement is excellent. The petrol engine generally stays in the background, humming away at a constant speed to keep the battery topped up. You’ll only really notice it working hard on long uphill climbs or if you’re very heavy‑footed. Speaking of which, the CVT transmission does express some discomfort when really pushed hard.

Nissan quotes 4.8L/100km on the combined cycle. In the real world, you’re more likely to see mid‑5s on a mixed run and over 6L/100km if you’re mostly doing short, stop‑start trips, which is still very reasonable for a medium SUV with this level of performance. I covered almost 800km in my week with this Qashqai, and my average was 4.8L/100km on the nose at an average speed of 49km/h.

Ride and handling:

  • The Qashqai is tuned more for comfort and refinement than for sporty corner-carving, which suits its brief.
  • It feels composed and secure at highway speeds, with light but accurate steering that makes city driving and parking stress‑free.
  • The 20‑inch wheels look fantastic but can occasionally pick up sharper bumps; overall, though, it remains impressively civilised on typical Aussie roads.

The big miss: no AWD

For all the polish, the lack of all‑wheel drive is the elephant in the room. The e‑Power N‑Design is front‑wheel drive only, and the aforementioned CVT doesn't do a great job of masking the shortfall.

For most buyers doing urban and suburban duties, that’s fine. Grip is good in the dry, and traction control does its job in the wet. But if you regularly tow, head to the snow, or drive on slippery dirt and grass, the absence of AWD is a noticeable gap - especially when some similarly‑priced rivals offer it.

Safety

Safety is a strong selling point for the Qashqai e‑Power N‑Design.

  • It wears a five‑star ANCAP rating, and the driver‑assist tech list is long:
    • Autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian and cyclist detection)
    • Adaptive cruise control with speed limiter and traffic sign recognition
    • Lane‑keep assist and lane departure warning
    • Blind‑spot monitoring and rear cross‑traffic alert
    • 360‑degree camera system for easy parking

The adaptive cruise works smoothly on the freeway and pairs beautifully with those excellent automatic headlights, making long night drives much less tiring.

The 360‑degree camera system is handy in tight multi‑storey car parks, and the clear resolution means you actually trust what you’re seeing.

Value & Verdict

By the time you’re looking at a Qashqai e‑Power N‑Design, you’re near the top of the medium‑SUV price tree. Nissan lists it at a little over $50,000 plus on‑road costs, and in the real world, you’ll be driving it out around the high‑50s, depending on dealer and options.

What you’re paying for:

  • A very refined mid‑sized SUV with EV‑like smoothness and strong real‑world performance
  • Genuinely upmarket styling, especially with the two‑tone black roof and big alloys
  • A premium cabin, led by those Alcantara‑trimmed doors, quality materials and generous equipment
  • Solid fuel efficiency without the hassle of plugging in

Where it shines

  • Daily comfort and refinement are excellent.
  • Tech and safety are comprehensive and easy to live with.
  • It feels special to sit in and to look at - more than just another family SUV.
  • For suburban families or downsizers wanting something classy but not ostentatious, it’s right in the zone.

Where it falls short

  • No AWD option is the obvious miss, particularly at this price.
  • Those 20‑inch wheels, while good‑looking, slightly compromise ride comfort on poorer roads.
  • Real‑world fuel use, while good, won’t always match the headline number, especially in heavy city slog.
  • Pricing overlaps with some larger or all‑wheel‑drive rivals, so you need to really value the refinement and design to justify it.

Final word

If you’re chasing a mid‑sized SUV that feels properly premium without stepping into luxury‑brand money, the 2025 Nissan Qashqai e‑Power N‑Design belongs on your shortlist.

It’s stylish, quiet, and very easy to live with, combining the smoothness of an EV with the convenience of a petrol engine. You just need to be honest about your needs: if you don’t require all‑wheel drive and you appreciate the finer details - like that luxurious Alcantara trim and the slick two‑tone look - this Qashqai will make you feel good every time you walk up to it and every time you drive it.