LONG-TERM INTRO: Nissan X-Trail 2.0 XE
By: Jason Woosey
Johannesburg - One thing you could never accuse the latest Nissan X-Trail of is looking too similar to its predecessor. This curvy third-generation model doesn’t even bear the slightest resemblance to its boxy forebears.
That said, you could point fingers at it for appearing strikingly similar to its Qashqai sibling, with which it shares a platform and many other bits and bobs. In fact it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to simply call the new X-Trail a Qashqai XL. Given what a stylish crossover the latter is, I can’t think how that can be a bad thing, though.
It’s actually quite hard to tell the two apart from the front, although closer inspection does reveal a different lower bumper design, and the déjà vu continues inside the cabin. It’s only from the B-pillar backwards that the big differences start to reveal themselves, and besides a completely different design and more upright C-pillar, an extra 26cm of length makes for more legroom and a bigger boot in the X-Trail.
Nissan Qashqai is stylish, refined
While the two share a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine as well, the X-Trail takes a more old-fashioned approach to petrol power. Rather than the modern 1.2- and 1.6-litre turbopetrols fitted to the Qashqai, the X-Trail gets more traditional normally-aspirated engines, in 2-litre and 2.5-litre guises, presumably to save cost and pander to more conservative buyers who might be scared of blown turbos and small motors under strain.
Since we’ve only been exposed to the more modern units in these vehicles, we were curious to try out the 2-litre version that Nissan has sent our way for a three-month semi-long-term test.
It didn’t exactly get an easy welcome, given that it arrived just in time for the obligatory December mad-rush from Johannesburg to Durban. Despite having to pull more than 1400kg of X-Trail with only 106kW and 200Nm, the engine provides good-enough performance in almost all situations. It does, however, fall short of effortless when faced with a big enough hill or overtaking manoeuvre, although that’s nothing a few downshifts won’t solve to some degree. This motor is also exceptionally quiet and smooth-revving.
We’ve also been keeping a close eye on fuel consumption, an area where Nissan’s more ‘traditional’ engine choice has not fared all that badly, all considered. So far we’ve recorded 7.8 litres per 100km on the highway, while resetting the trip for a week of purely urban commuting in January saw an average of 10.3 l/100km.
EASY DRIVING
Although Nissan’s capable permanent all-wheel-drive system is fitted to three of the five X-Trail derivatives, the 2-litre model forgoes that for the sake of keeping the price down. Power goes to the front wheels, then, through a smooth-shifting six-speed manual gearbox and the overall driving experience is quite comfortable and easy.
The ride, while not necessarily bad, can be a touch choppy over poorer surfaces, however, and this is one area where I feel Nissan could do better, given that this is a family car after all. Well, it certainly seems like a family-transporting hero so far, with its acres of rear legroom and 550-litre boot in the five-seat model featured here (Nissan also offers a seven-seat option).
About a month-and-a-half into the test and Nissan’s baseline X-Trail has proven to be incredibly solid, but while nothing has fallen off or started to rattle, there is an electronic glitch that occasionally prevents the radio from switching off, even when the key is removed from the ignition and the car is locked. At first I worried that the battery would run flat, but I soon learned that this car does get over its love of music after a few minutes. Either that or it just shuts down out of disgust when a boy band pierces the airwaves.
At R334 900 the X-Trail 2.0 undercuts most of its rivals, with only Toyota’s equivalent Rav4 being marginally cheaper, and the Nissan is also among the most spacious and, in my opinion at least, the best looking by quite a margin. A turbo would be nice, though.
FACTS
( Nissan X-Trail 2.0 XE)
Engine: 2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol
Gearbox: 6-speed manua
Power: 106kW @ 6000rpm
Torque: 200Nm @ 4400rpm
0-100km/h (claimed): 11.1 seconds
Top speed (claimed): 183km/h
Consumption (claimed): 8.3 litres per 100km
Price: R334 900
Warranty: 6-year/150 000km
Service plan: 5-year/90 000km
X-TRAIL VS ITS RIVALS
Nissan X-Trail 2.0 XE:106kW/200Nm - R334 900
Ford Kuga 1.5 Ambiente:110kW/240Nm - R339 900
Honda CR-V 2.0 Comfort:114kW/192Nm - R371 500
Hyundai ix35 2.0 Premium:116kW/192Nm - R349 900
Kia Sportage 2.0 Ignite:116kW/192Nm - R361 995
Mazda CX-5 2.0 Active:121kW/210Nm - R334 900
Toyota Rav4 2.0 GX:107kW/187Nm - R327 700