Nissan X-Trail: Edges Without Corners

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 05:39

The trend from bulky off-road vehicles to sucked crossovers did not stop at the Nissan X-Trail. The once very bulky off-road vehicle has not lost its original characteristics.

By Thomas Flehmer

Mainstream sells better. The edges and corners of earlier off-road vehicles have partly given way, partly they will give way. The controllers like the north-facing location, real off-road fans have to look for the rustic off- roaders in niches or on the used car markets in order to be on four wheels away from the streets.

Nissan also metamorphosed from mud to boulevard specialist with the X-Trail - after all, the world's best-selling SUV last year. The boxy shape has disappeared, but edges are still present on the 4.64 meter long five-seater and, like the “X” in the name, make it clear that strange terrain does not have to be strange in the current version.

Nissan X-Trail still ready for the terrain

Because the X-Trail 360 degrees 1.6 dCi 4WD still has good terrain properties. Sufficient ground clearance, all-wheel drive and a lock with a fixed 50:50 distribution give the 1.7-ton truck hardly any limits between mud and snow. However, the rounded shapes ensure that the new trailers effectively rule out off-roading even before they are bought.

Because in addition to the rounder shapes of the X-Trail, which is up to 1.71 meters high and 1.83 meters wide, the dark orange metallic paint also indicates the direction - and it indicates that promenading. After all, no scratches should disturb the appearance of the 96 kW / 130 hp four-cylinder diesel.

Long shift travel in the Nissan X-Trail

The power is sufficient despite the high dimensions and weights. The X-Trail reaches 100 km / h in a smooth eleven seconds and manages 186 km / h. Here, too, the robustness of the previous two generations has disappeared. The third X-Trail can be piloted smoothly, the diesel engine remains quite quiet even in high speed ranges and the chassis contributes to comfortable progress.

A little truck-like atmosphere lets the manual six-speed gearbox with its long shift travel appear - but that's about it. Consumption is not at all on the level of commercial vehicles, which, thanks to the stop-start system, was just above the specified 6.3 liters at 6.5 liters in the city - with a high number of liquid urban motorway kilometers, however. Overland the clock showed an extra liter - owed to the driving ability of the Nissan and the smoothness mentioned above, even at higher speeds, so that the occupants do not experience a commercial vehicle ambience either.

The interior is straightforward, but finely furnished. The seats are comfortable and at the same time well contoured, and the instruments are easy to read. The truck atmosphere only comes up at the space. All occupants can sit comfortably and the trunk holds between 550 and 1982 liters.

Great all-round visibility in the Nissan X-Trail

As with the other Nissan models, the safety sign with 360 degrees of caution on the seven-inch display is terrific. Reverse parking is child's play even for the large X-Trail, as the entire area is displayed and dents are thus prevented. Emergency braking and lane departure warning systems also protect against damage, and traffic sign recognition against involuntary payments to various authorities.

Because previously 32,200 euros had to be spent for the X-Trail in the highest equipment variant Acenta, the 360 degree variant based on it costs 36,500 euros, but is then also equipped with numerous accessories that were not even offered in the first two generations today but almost part of the good form. The same applies here: mainstream sells better.