If there’s one criticism that you can throw the Nissan X-Trail’s way, it’s that it doesn’t have a strong identity. When the first-generation appeared in 2000 (2003 in the Philippines), it was this boxy pseudo-off-roader complete with plastic fenders and a fairly advanced all-wheel drive system. By the time the third-generation model rolled out in 2021, it was the very definition of “ho-hum.” It had a set of jump seats at the back, but even that wasn’t enough to overcome its plain-as-vanilla personality. Buyers seemed to agree.
What you see here is the fourth-generation model which was released way back in 2021. Being a toddler in human years, you could then lambast it for being “too little, too late.” Heck, it even received a mid-cycle refresh just a couple of months before Nissan Philippines decided to preview it at the Philippine International Motor Show. With a 2025 release date all but confirmed, can the X-Trail finally make a name for itself?
Although it still comes with seven seats (5+2 if we’re being completely honest), its main draw now is what you find under the hood: the e-Power powertrain. Despite what Nissan tells you, the setup is a serial hybrid. The combustion engine serves as an on-board generator which charges the batteries which powers the electric motor/s which drives the wheels. It’s a piece of tech which Nissan introduced to great success with the Kicks e-Power.
However, unlike the small crossover, Nissan opted for a more powerful setup in the X-Trail. For starters, there’s the generator which is a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine. On its own, it’s already quite fancy since it employs the company’s Variable Compression Turbo or VC Turbo. This allows the engine to switch between two different compression ratios either for efficiency (14:1) or power (8:1) depending on load.
The non-e-Power guise of the X-Trail equipped with this engine already generates a healthy 201 horsepower and 305 Nm of torque. However, because this isn’t connected to the drive wheels in any way, the driver will never get to experience any of this. Instead, the shove is produced by the pair of electric motors putting out a combined 214 horsepower (203 horsepower at the front and 135 horsepower at the back). Because the motors hit their peak torque differently, there’s no combined figure, but Nissan quotes 320 Nm for the front-mounted BM46 and 195 Nm for the rear-mounted MM48. 0 to 100 km/h? A brisk 7 seconds.
Because of Japan’s draconian speed limits, there was little opportunity to really push the X-Trail. However, in the short 85-kilometer drive route that passed the famous Daikoku Parking Area to Kisarazu in Chiba (and back), the X-Trail e-Power e-4orce (yes, that’s a tongue twister), showed impressive pace. The immediacy of response from the electric motors pays dividends in both the performance and refinement stakes.
Naturally, there’s an EV-like linearity and smoothness to how the X-Trail puts down its power and because it doesn’t need to switch power sources, you don’t feel any loss in torque like you do with a series-parallel hybrid system. Even better, when the 1.5-liter does switch on, it remains nicely muted and hums away in the background.
Surprisingly, despite the X-Trail’s larger size and more powerful generator, Nissan opted to keep the lithium-ion battery’s size the same as the Kicks e-Power: 2.1-kWh (1.8-kWh usable). Now, if you’re concerned about efficiency, don’t worry. It’s not enough to wreak havoc as it can still go up to 28 km/L during this drive.
The decision to fit e-Power fits well with the rest of the X-Trail’s character. There’s very good wind and road noise insulation. The ride comfort is also quite high, although the smooth roads around Yokohama probably was a contributing factor. For a close-to-two-ton compact SUV, it also feels planted and secure. The steering is a bit light, but it is highly accurate.
If you’re used to the older X-Trail or even a lesser Nissan, you’ll also be thoroughly impressed by the swanky accommodations. It’s spacious, airy, and plush. Front and center to the entire experience are the dual 12.3-inch screens—one for the gauges and another for the infotainment. And despite the propensity to touchscreen everything, thank goodness there’s still a ton of tactile buttons and controls here. All in all, they’re all smart and user-friendly including the shift-by-wire gear selector which it shares with the Kicks and Nissan Z.
Price notwithstanding (Nissan has yet to reveal a ballpark price for the X-Trail), the decision to fit e-Power into its compact SUV is the shot in the arm it needs to fight in the compact SUV segment. Not only does the X-Trail manage to retain more practical traits like space and usability, but now, it’s been imbued with a level of tech that can easily sway buyers. The big bonus is that the powertrain’s effortless and smooth, fitting very well with the rest of the package which is refined and of high quality.
I’m wondering what advantage the VC turbo provides if the engine is only meant to be used as a generator for the battery… Faster recharging, if that’s even necessary for this set-up?
ReplyDeleteNailed it right there. Yes, the VC Turbo is needed to charge the battery quicker. Also, when the battery does get depleted, the VC Turbo can provide the power needed by the stronger pair of electric motors straight bypassing the battery altogether.
DeleteIsn't it too complicated vs toyota and honda hybrid system? Too much complication = much problems
DeleteYes. Pass-thru charging. hehehe
DeleteHybrid technologies of Honda and Toyota are outdated already and they still charge a lot of money from it
DeleteNissan's e-Power technology is good and unique
Hi Uly - how would you compare this to the CX-5 in terms of NVH?
ReplyDeleteRumors are circulating that a PHEV version is being developed... I would be interested in that one. At least 100km range of full EV range and I would be sold on a plug-in version perfect for daily commutes and occasional long drives with the ICE back up
ReplyDeleteThis model is now a few years old and didn't have a hybrid powertrain at launch. Compare that with Toyota that launched the RAV4 before it and having hybrid option at launch. Nissan is slow and not at all agile, a necessary trait especially now that the Chinese are on the ascent. Seems to follow the playbook used to introduce the Kicks (in the poorer markets such as ours.). I'd be a little embarrassed to launch this now and it would serve Nissan well to undercut the RAV4 and CR-V to even sit at this table. If not, this will be another Livina, a great price list-filler but not really a relevant player.
ReplyDeleteHighly unlikely for X-Trail e-Power to be more affordable than the CRV and RAV 4 as it'll be sourced from Japan and Nissan Philippines is only gonna sell the AWD variant of it priced at around 2.7 Million Pesos or more.
DeleteRAV 4 Hybrid in the Philippine market is still FWD
Hmmnnn stupid price prediction, nissan always priced its products below toyota. You said b4 that magnite will never be sold here in ph bcoz its right hand drive made in india, magnite is now coming here.
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