Recently we were in Port Elizabeth for the launch of the updated Nissan X-Trail. The X-Trail has been a global success story for Nissan being the 5th best-selling car globally with 766,729 units sold. Locally the car has also done very well for Nissan with 36,000 units sold since launch in 2001. The X-Trail has championed quality and affordability in the segment and this face lifted second generation continues that trend.

Interior updates

The quality X-Trail interior features a new design with new styling for the steering wheel, the door finishes and the console wrap. The seat fabric has been upgraded and the black leather trim has also been improved and now features white stitching while the new steering wheel is D-shaped or flat bottom. The centre console and the console lid have also been improved.

Exterior updates

A new “V-Motion” grille and bumper has been introduced. Although this imposing grille is in line with the current Nissan design language, it helps set this car apart from its younger sibling, the Nissan Qashqai. This is an important distinction as the car is a much more premium offering in the line-up. Revised headlights, signature day-time running lights round and integrated fog lamps round up the updates to the front. The rear has LED boomerang taillights and an improved rear bumper.

Safety features

Nissan has thrown in an array of innovative Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) features to keep you and your family safe. These are some of the NMI features available in the X-Trail range:

– Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention – for alerting the driver to the presence of vehicles in blind spots diagonally behind the car;

– Intelligent Lane Intervention – for alerting the driver when it detects that the car is straying from its lane;

– Intelligent Cross Traffic Alert –when the driver is reversing out of a parking space, this feature can detect and warn the driver of vehicles that are approaching behind the car;

– Intelligent Emergency Braking – this feature uses radar technology to keep an eye on speed and proximity to the vehicle in front of the car, and will alert the driver before engaging the brakes;

– Intelligent Forward Collision Warning – helps alert drivers of an impending collision with a slower moving or stationary car; and

– Intelligent Around View Monitor with moving object detection – a support technology that assists drivers to park more easily by providing a better understanding of the vehicle’s surroundings.

The drive

At launch Nissan had the 2.5 petrol 4WD CVT automatic transmission and the 1.6 turbo diesel dCI 4WD manual transmission for testing. The 2.5 petrol has a power output of 126 kW and 233 Nm of torque whilst the 1.6 diesel 96 kW and 320 Nm of torque. Both cars executed themselves well on both tarred and gravel road. They were simply comfortable on both terrains. They both had ample power to carry the vehicle up inclines and both hugged bends very well. The power was delivered better in the diesel however. The petrol did feel as if it under a bit of strain when approaching inclines whereas the diesel appeared much more composed and in control under the similar circumstances thanks to its superior torque.

Pricing

The Nissan X-Trail is priced as follows:

– 2.0 Visia                                        R 369,900
– 2.0 Visia 7s                                   R 374,900
– 1.6 dci Visia 7s                             R 392,900
– 2.5 Acenta CVT 4WD                 R 425,900
– 2.5 Acenta CVT 4WD 7s            R 429,900
– 2.5 Acenta Plus CVT 4WD 7s   R 444,900
– 1.6 dci Tekna 4WD                     R 457,900
– 2.5 Tekna CVT 4WD 7s             R 469,900

The above pricing includes Nissan’s 6-year/150,000km warranty, a 3-year/90,000km service plan and 24-hour roadside assist. Service intervals are at 15,000 km