Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power Story Part II

The Cottages Weekend: The Boys, a Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power & a Tesla With Opinions

The weekend at The Cottages began the way all good Boys’ trips should: with chaos, overpacking, and Nico shouting at Raffy for trying to bring a ring light “into the bush, of all places.” We’d split into two cars for the trip north. Alan, naturally, claimed the 2025 Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power, while Luke lunged for his Tesla Model Y like it was the last twink at Stonewall on a Saturday night.

Max, Nico, Raffy, and Hunter were distributed between the two cars like badly organised luggage. Alan’s Qashqai left first, gliding silently out of Sydney like a well-pressed man heading to brunch. Behind him, Luke blasted out of the driveway in the Tesla with the sort of instant torque that makes chiropractors rich.

On the highway, the Qashqai impressed immediately. Nissan’s oddball e-Power setup — engine as generator only, motor driving the wheels — gave the whole car the vibe of a glamorous spa quietly powered by a frantic junior staffer. The boys in the back were delighted. Every time the generator whirred, Nico would lean forward and say, “She’s working hard because she knows we’re important.”
The smoothness surprised everyone. No gears, no CVT drone, just creamy, silent surge. Suspension tuned so well it forgave every patch of road the council had clearly given up on.

Behind them, Luke’s Tesla zip-zapped past with childish enthusiasm while Raffy complained loudly about the seats:
“Why does everything in this brand feel like it was designed by a minimalist who hates arses?”

Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review – 2025 Nissan Qashqai Review: Specs, Features & Hybrid Performance

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ABOVE: Qashqai

We arrived at The Cottages before lunch, where Max immediately began the ritual of inspecting the boot like a man pretending he knows what luggage capacity means. “Big enough for a weekend,” he approved, before pointing to the weird plastic intrusion. “But WHAT is that?”
None of us knew. Alan just closed the boot and said, “It has a spare tyre, love. You don’t get that in a Tesla. Or half the gays at Mardi Gras.”

Inside, the Qashqai sparked debate. Nico ran his fingers over the quilted leather seats and declared them divine. Raffy said they looked “almost German,” which for him is the highest compliment possible.
The ambient lighting impressed Hunter, who said it was classy and not “nightclub at 2am,” while Max, ever the practical one, simply reclined the seat and tested whether he could fall asleep in it (he could).

But the missing HUD sparked outrage.
“For nearly $47k?” Raffy exclaimed. “No HUD? Hate crime.”
“The Ti e-Power,” Alan reminded everyone, “is $47,165. The range starts at $34,665 for the ST, then $38,665 for ST-L, $42,965 for the Ti, then our Ti e-Power, then $52,365 for the Ti-L e-Power and $54,365 for the N-Design.”
Nico stared at him. “Why do you know this like you’re announcing contestants at Drag Race?”

We lounged on the veranda that afternoon while Hunter, scrolling on his phone, read out the growing list of Chinese rivals like a gay man announcing a death list at a soap opera funeral:
BYD Atto this, Atto that, GWM Jolions, Chery Tiggos, Oros, Seals, Cannons, Jaecoos — all cheaper, all more kitted out, all unsettlingly thirsty for Nissan’s customers.
“Christ,” Max muttered. “It’s like they’re breeding.”
“And they’re all cheaper,” Hunter added.
“Cheaper and surprisingly good,” Alan admitted, reluctantly.

Later we took both cars for a sunset roll through the valley. The Tesla launched like it thought it was in a Fast & Furious film, while the Qashqai moved with quiet, confident elegance. The boys agreed: the Qashqai wasn’t trying to be sexy. It was the automotive equivalent of a crisp white shirt that fits perfectly — not attention-grabbing, but effortlessly reassuring.
“Probably good in bed,” Nico whispered.
“Reliable, at least,” Alan replied.

Over dinner, we talked future models. Alan explained that next year — 2026 — Nissan’s going full e-Power across the Qashqai range, with a new, quieter, smoother, more powerful hybrid system.
“So,” Raffy said, “this is basically the outgoing diva on her farewell tour?”
“Exactly.”
“Well,” he sighed dramatically, “she’s doing well.”

One final debate flared before bed: the 5-star ANCAP rating, awarded in 2021.
“So it’s safe,” Hunter confirmed.
“Safe,” Alan agreed, “but under older rules.”
Raffy blinked. “So it’s like when you passed high school maths, but they changed the syllabus after?”
“Pretty much.”

Raffy’s Mum agreed as she handed out TimTams and champers that night by the firepit. Marshmallows were charring in the flames, aand the verdict settled like smoke in our clothes. The 2025 Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power was smooth, quiet, premium-feeling, and genuinely soothing to drive. The Tesla was faster, flashier, and louder about it. But the Qashqai felt… calming. Civilised. Mature.
“It makes me feel expensive,” Alan admitted.
“It makes me feel like the council actually fixed the roads,” Max added.
“It makes me feel like charging anxiety is someone else’s problem,” Nico said.

Yes, the price stings. Yes, the Chinese competitors are coming for everyone’s throat. Yes, the missing HUD is borderline sinful.

But as the fire crackled and the boys leaned back in their chairs, the consensus was simple:

If you want EV smoothness without the faffing about of charging — and you want comfort, calmness, and a surprising amount of class — the Qashqai Ti e-Power still has it where it counts.

Luke looked up from the Tesla and said, “Still slower than the Y, though.”
Raffy threw a marshmallow at him.

#NissanQashqai #QashqaiEPower #NissanAustralia #HybridSUV #CarReview #GayCarBoys #BoysWeekend #EVvsHybrid #TeslaModelY #AutoReview #CarJournalism #NewCars2025

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