New Nissan Qashqai EV: details and exclusive images of the UK’s favourite SUV

• Only available as a pure EV
• Shares a platform with the new Renault Scenic
• Estimated range of up to 350 miles

To call the Qashqai an important car for Nissan would be an understatement. As one of the best-selling cars in the UK, the mid-size SUV offers the ideal mix of practicality and affordability. We could even argue that the first-generation model kickstarted the hugely popular family SUV trend from the moment it went on sale in early 2007. So when an all-new Nissan Qashqai is on the horizon, it's a big deal for UK car buyers.

Our exclusive images reveal how the Qashqai could look with the next generation of Nissan’s design language already previewed on the brand’s most recent concept cars.    

What can we expect from the new Nissan Qashqai?

The biggest change is the shift from petrol and hybrid power to electric only, as part of Nissan’s plan to exclusively release zero-emission vehicles from now onwards. With the next-generation Nissan Leaf set to be reborn as a small-SUV, and with the large Nissan Ariya already on sale, the new Qashqai will slot between them in the Japanese firm’s electric lineup. An EV replacement for the Nissan Juke is on the way too, sitting beneath the other three models as the smallest SUV.

Nissan and Renault are currently working together to develop the technology powering their electric cars, and it has been confirmed that the new Qashqai will benefit from this partnership. It will use the same platform that underpins the new Renault Scenic, an electric family SUV that we were thoroughly impressed by during our in-depth test.

Knowing the specifications of the Scenic, we expect Nissan to offer the Qashqai with battery sizes of roughly 60kWh for the entry-level model and 90kWh for faster, longer range versions, potentially offering a range of up to 350 miles.

What will the new Qashqai look like?

We’re still waiting to see official images of the upcoming Qashqai, but Nissan has confirmed that the new SUV will draw visual inspiration from the Nissan Hyper Urban, a futuristic SUV concept car revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show in October. That car features giant wheels, dramatic surfacing and Lamborghini-esque doors, all typical concept car features that have little to no chance of reaching production.

However, we expect the production-ready Qashqai to retain the sharp body lines and general silhouette of the Hyper Urban, features that can be seen in our exclusive images of the car. A thin lightbar stretches across the face of the Qashqai, terminating above the wheel arches with kinked daytime running lights. A lightbar is likely to be found at the rear of the Qashqai too, similar to that on the Nissan Ariya. As seen on other electric cars, we expect Nissan to push the wheels out to the furthest corners of the Qashqai’s footprint, allowing for shorter overhangs and more interior space compared to the current car. 

Is there anything else I should know about the new Qashqai?

Information about the new Qashqai’s interior will be revealed in due course, but for now we can only speculate as to what it will look and feel like. We predict an interior similar to that found in the Ariya, with a sweeping, minimalist dashboard and digital displays. We’re certain that the Hyper Urban concept’s large reclining seats, as comfortable as they may look, won’t find their way into the production Qashqai.

What does this mean for car buyers?

The Nissan Qashqai has remained an SUV staple on British roads for over 15 years, with buyers enamoured with its blend of practicality, low running costs and affordability. The new Qashqai will bring some major changes, largely its shift to pure-EV power, but it will still have to deliver on those three qualities if it’s to remain as popular as ever with UK buyers.

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We’ve seen a tendency for new electric cars to launch with higher price tags than their petrol or hybrid equivalents, the electric Peugeot E-3008 SUV costing over £11,000 more than the petrol version, for example. If the new Qashqai were to follow this trend, it may lose its status as a default affordable mid-size SUV, and buyers may have to look elsewhere. Nissan will be aiming to control costs and we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the pricing of the new Renault Scenic, suggesting that the technology going into the Qashqai can be delivered at an attractive price.

The Qashqai has one other ace up its sleeve when it comes to appealing to UK buyers. It’s going to be built right here at Nissan’s Sunderland manufacturing facility along with the new electric Juke and the next Nissan Leaf. It’s a £3bn investment by Nissan that will secure around 7,000 jobs.

If you're interested in purchasing a new electric family car, make sure to read our top 10 list of the best...