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Nissan’s Next Most Important Model Will Put Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V Fans on Notice

The next-gen Rogue’s global equivalent just broke a Guinness World Record.

Close-up of a dark green car's rear with a red and white taillight and a blue and silver "e-POWER" badge.Nissan
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By Chris Chin

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Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V fans will soon have a serious contender to consider from Nissan. The next-gen Rogue Sport’s global variant, the Qashqai, just broke a Guinness World Record for traveling over 1,000 miles without ever refueling.

And it was all achieved thanks to the Qashqai’s unique propulsion system. It’s neither entirely gas nor entirely electric, and it’s not quite a conventional hybrid.

It’s on track to be an absolute game-changer.

A segment’s first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV)

Dark green Nissan SUV driving on a curved road with trees and clear sky in the background.
Nissan’s global Qashqai e-Power just proved itself by setting a big Guinness World Record.
Nissan

The vehicle in question is the Nissan Qashqai e-Power. If that name sounds distantly familiar, that’s because the Qashqai is basically America’s old Rogue Sport. Or formerly, the second-generation Rogue.

It’s just named the Qashqai in the Japanese Domestic Market and European and Asian export markets. Nissan discontinued the Rogue Sport for the States after it spawned off a larger Rogue model based on the global X-Trail.

Dark green Nissan Qashqai SUV driving on a curved road with greenery on both sides.
The Qashqai e-Power is destined for America as the upcoming Rogue Hybrid.
Nissan

Today, the X-Trail is basically the standard Rogue. The rest of the world technically still gets a smaller, sportier Rogue Sport, just with the Qashqai badge.

Said Qashqai is in its third generation, which launched in 2021. But over its lifespan, Nissan engineers developed the e-Power extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain using the subcompact crossover as a testbed.

As a quick refresher, an EREV is basically an EV. However, there are no plug-in recharging capabilities. Instead, a small onboard auxiliary internal combustion engine helps power the electric motor and recharges the battery on the fly, depending on throttle load and charge state.

So there’s no need to wait for the battery to charge. Instead, it eliminates the inconveniently long recharge times and even range anxiety of a conventional EV by giving drivers the option to fill up as with a normal gas car.

Transparent 3D diagram showing labeled components of a 5-in-1 e-POWER system including motor, generator, inverter, reducer, and increaser.
The Qashqai e-Power is unique in that it’s an extended-range electric vehicle, or EREV.
Nissan

Now, ready for primetime, Nissan is preparing to launch the Qashqai e-Power. To prove its concept, the Japanese automaker embarked on a major journey, setting a Guinness World Record in the process.

Setting a new official Guinness World Record

Six people standing in a row at night, two in the center shaking hands and holding a framed certificate, with small round tables and water bottles in front.
The Qashqai e-Power just set the official record for the “longest non-plug-in extended range electric SUV to travel without refueling or recharging.”
Nissan

In its latest test, Nissan’s team drove from Bogotá to Colombia’s Caribbean coast, a distance of around 1,230 miles.

Not only did the Qashqai e-Power complete the journey without a hiccup or even refueling, but it also set a new Guinness World Record for the “longest non-plug-in extended range electric SUV to travel without refueling or recharging.”

Teal Nissan Qashqai e-Power SUV with front and rear doors open, parked under a canopy.
This could really put Nissan back on the map, especially with today’s high gas prices.
Nissan

It’s a major testament to Nissan’s latest EREV powertrain and its application in the Qashqai. Keen observers may note that a lot of that journey was likely aided by the trip’s descent over the distance. Especially since Bogotá is roughly 8,860 feet above sea level.

Toyota or Honda can’t even compete, at least not yet

Dark green Nissan SUV with black roof and alloy wheels parked in front of a modern beige building.
The Qashqai e-Power’s 1.5-liter turbo-four doesn’t power the wheels directly, but helps power its electric motors and recharge the battery on-the-fly without any inconvenient recharging times or range anxiety.
Nissan

But it’s still an impressive feat, regardless. Ultimately, neither the Toyota RAV4 nor the Honda CR-V have any sort of extended-range electric vehicle variants or powertrains in the pipeline.

At least that we’re aware of. And, if you thought this was going to be a Japan- or foreign-market special, America is bound to receive the Qashqai e-Power in the near future as the new Rogue Hybrid.

Black and gray Nissan car interior with digital dashboard, touchscreen display, and quilted leather seats.
Neither Toyota nor Honda have anything on the Qashqai e-Power, at least, for now.
Nissan

Also, chances are good that Nissan’s e-Power system will likely end up in future models. With all that said, the future is looking pretty bright for Yokohama.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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