While Nissan’s X-Trail claims to be the world’s best-selling SUV, on the Irish market the Qashqai is the model that shines brightest. At a passing glance it can be difficult to separate these two Nissan SUVs as their style lines are so similar. But there is a difference in the driving experience.
I’ve taken the Nissan X-Trail to the road with a combination of its powerful 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine and automatic gearbox and it noticeably provides a different driving experience to the Qashqai. The X-Trail is a marginally bigger car than before and appears to sit higher on the road. It also has the benefit of giving a seven-seat option.
It’s when you’re up close to the X-Trail that you appreciate its more muscular style that gives the SUV a stronger look. Larger wheels give it a taller stance to give it more road presence.
This new generation X-Trail was significantly improved towards the end of 2017. The engine power from the 2.0 litre unit is impressive at 177bhp and its high torque rating at 380Nm means that it accelerates with ease. Engine power is stronger than that of the many seven-seat competition and it has a stronger car feel to it.
Gearbox
The Xtronic automatic gearbox uses a continuously variable transmission system that differs from conventional automatic gearbox systems. Nissan claims that this system gives better fuel economy.
This is confirmed in a comparison where on larger 18” or 19” tyres, there is virtually no fuel economy difference between the manual and automatic versions. There is better driving comfort and the larger power engine means that this X-Trail accelerates with great ease.
The official economy rating for the new top-end X-Trail is 17km/litre (6.0/100km or 47mpg) and that should deliver a range of almost 1,000km from a full tank. In reality, I found to get 70% of that economy performance is a good result, even with the X-Trail’s economy drive option mostly in use.
This new X-Trail has significant changes to the inside and to the levels of automatic-control systems included to give it a more up-market appeal. There is a new D-shaped steering wheel for easier entry and exit for the driver.
The steering wheel’s central hub is smaller than before and the three spokes are slimmer to give improved instrument visibility. The four-way controllers for the combi-meter display are new, and Nissan claims mean reduced ‘eyes off the road’ time.
Other interior upgrades include new leather knee pads on both sides of the centre console have been added. With the two pedal automatic there’s plenty of legroom for the driver. There is a redesigned central armrest storage area and models with the Xtronic automatic transmission, the gear selector has been restyled and features a new leather-style gaiter.
The seven-seat version that I drove has good storage and included sliding second row seats. The third seat row is easy to bring into use and gives an impressive large boot area when folded flat.
Nissan’s ProPILOT system is an option on the new X-Trail, which is claimed to be a first stage towards autonomous driving. ProPILOT will control the steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane during heavy traffic congestion and during higher-speed cruising.
The dash layout on the new Nissan X-Trail is more modern and has a higher-quality feel to it.
Technology
The system uses three technologies – Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and Traffic Jam Pilot (TJP). The ProPILOT system is activated via a button on the steering wheel. Information will be displayed in the area between the instrument dials.
Other X-Trail safety features include Rear Cross Traffic Alert, to prevent low-speed impacts when reversing out of a parking space. The Intelligent Emergency Braking has been upgraded with pedestrian recognition.
Nissan has a new Stand Still Assist (SSA) system for the X-Trail that supplements Hill Start Assist (HSA) on cars with a manual transmission. SSA holds the car in a stationary position for up to three minutes, after which time the parking brake is automatically activated.
The SSA system works on inclines, declines and on the flat, allowing the driver to take their foot off the brake. A green light on the instrument cluster indicates when it’s activated.
The X-Trail safety deal includes numerous other safety technologies including Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Intelligent Park Assist, Intelligent Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Warning.
With all of this technology, Nissan claims that the new X-Trail maintains its 2014 five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
The seven-seater versions of the Nissan X-Trail come with a sliding middle row and easy-fold system.
While the Xtronic automatic version that I drove is such an impressive car to drive, the price jump from manual to automatic versions is very prohibitive at over €4,000. The price jump from five-seat to seven-seat versions is also high at around €4,000, not making it easily affordable for larger families. The price jumps for these options in Northern Ireland are significantly lower.
The entry price for the seven-seat 2.0 litre diesel versions with full 4x4 capability, starts at €43,450 or £33,290 in Northern Ireland. There is a more modest entry level X-Trail available fitted with a smaller and slightly more economical 1.6 litre diesel engine, with no off-road pretensions, for about €10,000 (£7,500 in Northern Ireland) less.
To get the full X-Trail experience you need to opt for more engine power. The X-Trail towing performance is relatively low at just 2t with a braked trailer and that’s for the manual versions only. That’s not as good in towing terms as what Hyundai offers in the Santa Fé, the Skoda Kodiaq or Volkswagen’s Tiguan, all in equivalent four-wheel-drive format.
While Nissan’s X-Trail claims to be the world’s best-selling SUV, on the Irish market the Qashqai is the model that shines brightest. At a passing glance it can be difficult to separate these two Nissan SUVs as their style lines are so similar. But there is a difference in the driving experience.
I’ve taken the Nissan X-Trail to the road with a combination of its powerful 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine and automatic gearbox and it noticeably provides a different driving experience to the Qashqai. The X-Trail is a marginally bigger car than before and appears to sit higher on the road. It also has the benefit of giving a seven-seat option.
It’s when you’re up close to the X-Trail that you appreciate its more muscular style that gives the SUV a stronger look. Larger wheels give it a taller stance to give it more road presence.
This new generation X-Trail was significantly improved towards the end of 2017. The engine power from the 2.0 litre unit is impressive at 177bhp and its high torque rating at 380Nm means that it accelerates with ease. Engine power is stronger than that of the many seven-seat competition and it has a stronger car feel to it.
Gearbox
The Xtronic automatic gearbox uses a continuously variable transmission system that differs from conventional automatic gearbox systems. Nissan claims that this system gives better fuel economy.
This is confirmed in a comparison where on larger 18” or 19” tyres, there is virtually no fuel economy difference between the manual and automatic versions. There is better driving comfort and the larger power engine means that this X-Trail accelerates with great ease.
The official economy rating for the new top-end X-Trail is 17km/litre (6.0/100km or 47mpg) and that should deliver a range of almost 1,000km from a full tank. In reality, I found to get 70% of that economy performance is a good result, even with the X-Trail’s economy drive option mostly in use.
This new X-Trail has significant changes to the inside and to the levels of automatic-control systems included to give it a more up-market appeal. There is a new D-shaped steering wheel for easier entry and exit for the driver.
The steering wheel’s central hub is smaller than before and the three spokes are slimmer to give improved instrument visibility. The four-way controllers for the combi-meter display are new, and Nissan claims mean reduced ‘eyes off the road’ time.
Other interior upgrades include new leather knee pads on both sides of the centre console have been added. With the two pedal automatic there’s plenty of legroom for the driver. There is a redesigned central armrest storage area and models with the Xtronic automatic transmission, the gear selector has been restyled and features a new leather-style gaiter.
The seven-seat version that I drove has good storage and included sliding second row seats. The third seat row is easy to bring into use and gives an impressive large boot area when folded flat.
Nissan’s ProPILOT system is an option on the new X-Trail, which is claimed to be a first stage towards autonomous driving. ProPILOT will control the steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane during heavy traffic congestion and during higher-speed cruising.
The dash layout on the new Nissan X-Trail is more modern and has a higher-quality feel to it.
Technology
The system uses three technologies – Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and Traffic Jam Pilot (TJP). The ProPILOT system is activated via a button on the steering wheel. Information will be displayed in the area between the instrument dials.
Other X-Trail safety features include Rear Cross Traffic Alert, to prevent low-speed impacts when reversing out of a parking space. The Intelligent Emergency Braking has been upgraded with pedestrian recognition.
Nissan has a new Stand Still Assist (SSA) system for the X-Trail that supplements Hill Start Assist (HSA) on cars with a manual transmission. SSA holds the car in a stationary position for up to three minutes, after which time the parking brake is automatically activated.
The SSA system works on inclines, declines and on the flat, allowing the driver to take their foot off the brake. A green light on the instrument cluster indicates when it’s activated.
The X-Trail safety deal includes numerous other safety technologies including Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Intelligent Park Assist, Intelligent Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Warning.
With all of this technology, Nissan claims that the new X-Trail maintains its 2014 five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
The seven-seater versions of the Nissan X-Trail come with a sliding middle row and easy-fold system.
While the Xtronic automatic version that I drove is such an impressive car to drive, the price jump from manual to automatic versions is very prohibitive at over €4,000. The price jump from five-seat to seven-seat versions is also high at around €4,000, not making it easily affordable for larger families. The price jumps for these options in Northern Ireland are significantly lower.
The entry price for the seven-seat 2.0 litre diesel versions with full 4x4 capability, starts at €43,450 or £33,290 in Northern Ireland. There is a more modest entry level X-Trail available fitted with a smaller and slightly more economical 1.6 litre diesel engine, with no off-road pretensions, for about €10,000 (£7,500 in Northern Ireland) less.
To get the full X-Trail experience you need to opt for more engine power. The X-Trail towing performance is relatively low at just 2t with a braked trailer and that’s for the manual versions only. That’s not as good in towing terms as what Hyundai offers in the Santa Fé, the Skoda Kodiaq or Volkswagen’s Tiguan, all in equivalent four-wheel-drive format.
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