All-new Nissan X-Trail has a power generator under the hood
Hybrid
It had been on sale in America for a while – as the Nissan Rogue – but now the latest version of Nissan’s large SUV is finally coming to Europe. The new X-Trail is the largest SUV that Nissan is putting in European showrooms. Like the previous generation, it is again available with front- or all-wheel drive and five or seven seats. Under the hood, everything is different. The model will be available with special two hybrid powertrains.
e-Power
Let’s start with the front-wheel-drive version. This entry-level model uses a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine with variable compression, a generator, an inverter and a 203 hp and 330 Nm electric motor. The internal combustion engine does not drive the wheels, but is there to generate electricity. The electric motor provides the drive. This variant gets to 100 km/h in 8 seconds and is only available as a five-seater.
e-4ORCE
Looking for more power and more grip? Then you should opt for the e-4ORCE version. It features the same setup as the front-wheel-drive X-Trail, but is further equipped with an additional electric motor, located on the rear axle. This version therefore has four-wheel drive and also has 10 extra horsepower. Nissan calls the all-wheel-drive system system e-4ORCE. The “e” in e-4ORCE stands for electric motor drive. ‘4ORCE’ refers to the physical power and energy and the ‘4’ to the four-wheel drive. A 0-100 km/h sprint in the most powerful X-Trail takes 7 seconds. The single-engine version reaches a maximum speed of 170 km/h and the twin-engine configuration only stops accelerating at 180 km/h. Only the X-Trail e-4ORCE is available with five or seven seats.
Qashqai e-Power
The new X-Trail is the second model in Nissan’s European model lineup to feature this so-called e-POWER powertrain. Thanks to the electric drive, there is no delay in response to the gas pedal, as there is with conventional drive or a traditional hybrid. The immediate response provides a smooth driving experience.
Moreover, according to Nissan, the gasoline engine can always run at the optimum speed and compression ratio, providing better efficiency and less CO2 emissions compared to a traditional internal combustion engine. There is also no gearbox, which normally causes a loss of power. We were previously introduced to the innovative powertrain in the Qashqai e-Power.
design
The exterior of the X-Trail features distinctive Nissan design elements such as the “floating” roof and the V-motion grille. The headlights appear to be one with the front bumper, with combined daytime running lights and turn signals against the edge of the hood. In the side view, the pronounced wheel arches at the front and rear provide a robust look. The Japanese SUV is available with a choice of ten body colors with five two-tone combinations. So in total there is a choice of fifteen variants.
Interior
In the interior, we detect a lot of technology. It is dominated by a 12.3-inch infotainment system and an equally large digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. Also available is a hefty 10.8-inch widescreen head-up display, which projects important navigation directions, notifications from assistance systems and traffic information onto the windshield. The latest generation of ProPILOT Assist driver assistance is present and provides driver support while driving.
Practical
In the X-Trail, there is room for seven people – if you opt for the three-seat version – but in the back you will only fit if you are smaller than 1.60 meters. You can stow the third row seats in the floor of the luggage compartment, creating 580 liters of storage space. That’s 20 liters more than in its predecessor. The rear seat folds down in a 60:40 split and there is a central hatch so that even long items such as skis can be easily transported without folding down the rear seat. The rear seat can also slide forward in its entirety to maximize rear luggage space and provide even better access to the third row of seats.
The first examples are expected to be at the Nissan dealer around November. Prices the brand will announce soon.
Also watch:
