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Motoring

2026 Nissan Qashqai the best yet, but pricey

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Nissan Qashqai new e-POWER 2025

Nissan Qashqai N-Connecta e-POWER

By Bill McCarthy

When the Qashqai first hit the roads in the UK, few would have predicted its phenomenal success. Coming from left field nearly 20 years ago, it became a best-seller, setting a benchmark for others to follow.

 A tribute to its quality and customer loyalty, it is still a top seller and, according to full-year data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the Qashqai h ranked as the third best-selling car in the UK in 2025 with 41,141 registrations.

According to year-to-date figures as of February, it holds fifth position in the sales rankings, demonstrating that it remains a popular choice in a competitive segment and remains the best-selling British-built car.

It keeps reinventing itself, and the latest version is, as you would expect, the best yet, with upgraded powertrains and bolder styling. For 2026, both the styling and powertrain have been refreshed recently with bolder looks, an upgraded e-POWER system, and a cabin packed with smarter tech.

A diesel-beating family friendly hybrid

While the drive to full electrification goes on, even at a slightly slower pace, Nissan still has faith in its hybrid formula, with this model powered by a clever series-hybrid setup that drives like an EV but fuels like a petrol car.

While EVs are set to be the only option from 2035, a smart hybrid like this can easily serve for another decade or more, making it a solid choice for families not yet ready to go fully electric.

Bolder looks, familiar silhouette

This latest, bolder Qashqai sports a striking ‘samurai armour’ front fascia, a larger V-shaped grille flanked by slim full-LED headlights, rounded off by eye-catching diamond-cut alloy wheels. It has the sleekest most aerodynamic look yet.

Refined, logical interior

The Nissan interior has always been a logical, user-friendly place, and this N-Connecta version is no exception. The latest cabin is packed with high-end fixtures in places and soft-touch finishes, though some harsher plastics remind you this isn’t a premium brand.

But at over £37,000, it is creeping perilously close to the e UK’s Expensive Car Supplement, charge of £425 annually for five years (from years two to six) on top of standard car tax. However, this range topper is packed with standard and inviting list of standard equipment

There are patterned leather-style seats, selectable ambient lighting, and robust, tactile buttons for those who prefer not to live entirely via a touchscreen.

Tech that works with you, not against you

The now familiar digital setup features a 12.3-inch central touchscreen running the NissanConnect system with Google built-in together with controlling various apps, infotainment and connectivity. Voice recognition, allows seamless access to various controls.

Practicality remains a cornerstone

The interior space is generous, providing good legroom – especially in the rear. Boot space is more than adequate, with 479 litres available, expanding to 1,415 litres with the rear seats folded. It also features a split-level boot system called the “Flexible Luggage Board” system .

This consists of a pair of removable and adjustable boot boards that can be positioned to create two different floor levels. You can also use them to create a divided storage area.

e-POWER: clever but not perfect

On the road, the e-POWER system is clever and responsive. The upgraded 202bhp electric motor powers the car to 62mph in a brisk 7.9 seconds, while the 1.5-litre petrol engine simply acts as a generator. In theory, it’s brilliant. In practice, the engine can become intrusive when worked hard, noticeably on steeper hills.

Refined drive with instant torque

Being an electric drive most of the time, the instant torque means town driving is lively and near-silent. Crucially, economy is good with a claimed 64.2mpg, though on the car’s readout that figure was far off the mark – expect mid-50s in the real world. Still up there in old diesel territory.

On the road

The upgraded suspension delivers a composed ride, dismissing twisty B-roads with ease. It can get slightly unsettled on the worst urban surfaces, but overall, it soaks up the majority of imperfections while keeping family occupants comfortable. For a more relaxed drive, the e-Pedal feature allows for one-pedal driving and braking, which works well in heavy traffic.

Safety and driver assistance

  • Safety features are comprehensive, including:
  • Hill-hold assist
  • Electronic stability control
  • Full complement of airbags, including a central airbag to prevent front occupants colliding in a side impact
  • ProPILOT driver assistance suite
  • Adaptive cruise control for heavy traffic
  • Fatigue and distraction monitoring
  • Automatic emergency braking
  • Lane departure warning

Verdict: clever but pricey

The 2026 Nissan Qashqai does a lot right. It’s roomy, well-built where it matters, and the hybrid system is genuinely clever. But here’s the rub: at just over £38,000 for this model, its pricey. However, it’s economical and sales tell us it remains a popular and capable family car and likely to stay that way.

Factfile

  • Nissan Qashqai N-Connecta e-POWER
  • Price: £38,080
  • Powertrain: 202bhp combined electric motor and 1.5-litre three cylinder petrol engine, driving the rear wheels via an automatic transmission
  • Maximum speed: 104 mph
  • 0-62 mph: 7.9 seconds
  • Combined MPG: 64.2mpg (WLTP)
  • Insurance group: 26
  • CO2 Emissions: 103 g/km
  • BIK Rating: 26%
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles

Motoring, Omoda

OMODA 7: A family SUV offering style and value

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OMODA 7 SHS

By Bill McCarthy

Carmakers love to make an impact with their model launches. In the case of the OMODA 7, the Chinese company launched an eye-catching if somewhat bewildering campaign titled ‘Everything is Essential’.

It featured three short films. One showing flowers fired from cannons to illustrate the built-in fragrance system, another dropping three tons of water on te car to demonstrate robustness, and a third using cats climbing over the vehicle to highlight its noise-reducing glass. Gimmicky, but it got the conversation moving.

This mid-size model starts from under £30,000 and is packed with standard kit. It will inhabit the segment that includes established SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, and Ford Kuga.

The range starts with entry-level ‘Knight’ trim from £29,915 for the petrol model, which includes dual-zone air conditioning, a heated steering wheel, and a six-speaker SONY system.
The ‘Noble’ trim tested here is from £32,000 for the hybrid, which adds a 12-speaker SONY system, a powered tailgate, and a panoramic sunroof. Both trims offer excellent value for money.

Design, Interior and Technology

The OMODA 7 offers smart styling without being a showstopper. It has a prominent front grille and stylish LED lighting cluster, and a generally pleasing profile. A distinctive feature is the lightning bolt-style rear light cluster.

The interior feels upmarket for the price, and the cabin features comfortable eco-friendly faux leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats. A central touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster deliver a minimalist feel.
The 15.6-inch screen is effectively the brain of the car, controlling the infotainment system, connectivity, and numerous apps and digital controls, but it can be fiddly to use on the move and distracting.

This over-reliance could affect safety ratings, especially with new Euro NCAP rules introduced for 2026, which will reward cars that retain physical controls for essential functions like indicators, wipers, and hazard lights.

As a family SUV, the OMODA 7 offers a standard boot and folding rear seats. With all seats in place, the boot provides a competitive 440 litres of space that should suit most family needs. Folding the split rear seats expands this to 1,250 litres.

Powertrain and performance
There are two powertrain choices: a 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid, the latter driven here, which uses an 18.3 kWh battery to offer up to 56 miles of electric driving.
For longer journeys, it works like a normal hybrid, with the petrol engine and electric motor working together for a total range of over 700 miles and claimed official figures of 403 mpg and CO2 emissions from 23 g/km.

We weren’t able to verify these figures during our brief drive through the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire countryside.

The incredibly high fuel economy figure is calculated from where the car starts with a full battery and runs only on electricity.

In a real-world long journey, the battery runs out after about 50 miles and the car becomes a normal hybrid. Once the battery is depleted, it functions as a self-charging hybrid, returning an estimated 40-50 mpg—respectable figures for a mid-size SUV.

The hybrid provides a smooth driving experience, with the electric motor boosting the petrol engine to deliver brisk acceleration.
On the road, it felt stable and an enjoyable drive on a series of country roads, town streets, and high-speed dual carriageways.

The ride is on the softer side, and it did feel more unsettled on lesser roads, where it struggled with potholes which have appeared after a month and a half of rain. However, the steering is well-weighted and responsive.

When needed, the battery can be fast-charged from 30 to 80% in about 20 minutes, while Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology allows you to power external devices (like camping equipment) from the car’s battery.

Safety
The car offers a strong safety package with seven airbags, advanced driver-assistance systems including emergency braking, lane keeping, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts, and a 360° camera.
Every model comes with a 7-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Verdict
The OMODA 7 combines modern design with efficiency and practicality. With its competitive pricing, generous standard equipment, and choice of petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains, it is a serious option for families seeking a well-equipped vehicle in the UK’s mid-size SUV market.