By Niraj Kakade
With a sharp and modern design, an array of features, and a unique powertrain, Nissan’s premium SUV is more than what meets the eye
The Japanese company, Nissan has been facing some choppy waters in the Indian market for some time now, with only two products on offer — the Magnite and the Kicks. While the former has been due for an update for a long time, the latter is based on an ageing platform in need of an overhaul. So, in a bid to reaffirm its footing, the brand showcased three of its globally popular SUVs last week: the X-Trail, the Qashqai, and the Juke. However, out of three, only the X-Trail is likely to come to India. But with a barrage of SUVs to choose from, what does the Nissan X-Trail offer to stand out from the competition?
Many might not remember but the X-Trail was sold in India in its first- and second- generation avatar. While we never got the third-generation offering, the fourth-gen model appears to be the company’s next big bet. Available in both 5 and 7-seater options, the SUV is built on the company’s CMF-C platform; it comes with a sharp and premium design. The front features a large grille, reminiscent of the Nissan Kicks. It is flanked by two sleek pairs of LED headlamps with DRLs. From the side, you’ll notice a strong profile, with a broad C-pillar, helping it in giving the appearance of a rugged SUV. A similar theme is carried on the rear as well, with the layered tailgate design and a chunky lower-skid plate giving it an appearance of a no-nonsense SUV.
The pictures don’t do justice to the X-Trail. The SUV may seem compact, but it is long enough to house a desi family. In terms of dimension, the X-Trail measures 4680mm in length, more than the new Hyundai Tuscon (4630mm), but only marginally less than the updated Skoda Kodiaq (4699mm). However, the X-Trail does have a smaller wheelbase compared to the two at 2705mm. When it comes to boot capacity, the Nissan SUV again lags behind its competitors offering only 177 litres of space.
Fortunately, the X-Trail does make up for the lack of practicality by offering a barrage of electronics. The international-spec model gets three independent displays — a 10.8-inch head-up display (HUD), a 12.3- inch digital driver’s aid display, and a 12.3- inch touchscreen infotainment system, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Nissan has also packed in a premium Bose sound system along with features like wireless phone wireless charging, tri-zone AC, gesture-controlled tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, and Nissan’s connected car tech. The SUV also gets a suite of advanced driver assistance features (ADAS), which includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, a 360-degree camera, and auto emergency braking. While we don’t have the confirmation, we expect all of the bells and whistles to be carried over onto the India-spec model as well.
Things get interesting when it comes to the power train. Apart from its conventional 1.5-litre turbo offering with a mild-hybrid system, the X-Trail is also offered with something called an “e-power” variant. Unlike a strong and mild-hybrid powertrain, the e-Power trim uses the 1.5-litre petrol engine as a generator to charge the batteries, without driving the wheels. This helps it on running on pure electricity while offering a significantly healthy fuel economy on paper. When it comes to numbers, the e-Power variant makes over 204PS and 216PS of power on 2WD and AWD drivetrains respectively. It remains to be seen which powertrain option will make it to our shores.
Nissan has stated that it is actively testing the fourth-gen X-Trail for the Indian market, which could hint at a possible mid-2023 launch. As far as pricing is concerned, expect it to cost around Rs 40 lakh mark (ex-showroom). Apart from the X-Trail, the automaker has, in recent times, showcased the Nissan Qashqai, which gets a mid-sized SUV design and a similar e-Power motor. Then there’s the Nissan Juke, which looks, unlike any other compact SUV we’ve seen before. However, the chances of both the Qashqai and the Juke making it to our shores are slim to none, with Nissan confirming that the two models were only showcased to gauge market interest.
Reproduced with permission from Mansworldindia.com
