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17/01/2011
By MURRAY HUBBARD
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When we hear the X-Trail mentioned we think of the practical Nissan family wagon with some off-road ability. Others have described it as boring. The X-Trail is celebrating 10 years in Australia and more than 100,000 in sales go to prove one thing: You don’t have to be fancy to gain a loyal following. Our review car was the Ti variant of the X-Trail which gained a mid-life facelift late last year.
With all the floods, storms and havoc wreaked in Queensland in December and January any vehicle with AWD placed drivers in a better position to deal with the road conditions. Nissan have just announced a 2WD version of X-Trail - thankfully our test car had AWD technology and was separated from terra firma by 212 mm. Within the so-called soft-roaders the X-Trail stands out as a bit tougher than some and we feel comfortable tackling challenging conditions such as sand, fire trails and mud. The vehicle has good clearance and the AWD system can be locked in. But, at the end of the day it’s the vehicle’s practicality that sells it. It reminds us a bit of the old Toyota Corona wagon in size, so it’s urban friendly, economical, family motoring.
The facelift tinkered with interior comfort and updated the exterior giving it a fresh appearance - although let’s face it, in looks the 2011 X-Trail is not that far removed from the car that was launched here in 2001. Nissan has not resorted to gimmicky styling to get buyers into the showroom. What will get buyers into the showroom are reductions in the RRP price of six of the eight models, but up to $1750. Our X-Trail Ti review car dropped by $500.
BODY STYLE
The new front facia and grille keep the X-Trail in line with the larger 4WDs - Pathfinder, Patrol and Navara. It’s an aggressive, sporty look and in keeping with the overall ‘fun-lover’ appeal of the X-Trail. The new headlight design with brighter Xenon lights on the Ti and diesel TL models dominate the new front. Down back there’s a new LED tail-light cluster.
Nissan has made the new X-Trail 10mm longer, wider and higher thanks to a new front bumper and new wheel and tyre sizes.
POWERTRAIN
Across all makes and models just about every new model or upgraded model during 2010 has a common denominator: reduced fuel consumption. That is a trend that will continue into the foreseeable future. The X-Trail is no different. The four cylinder petrol engine now uses 9.1 litre/100 km in both manual and auto CVT variants. This is down from 9.3/9.5 previously. The 2.0 litre turbo diesel now returns 7.2 litres/100 km, down from 7.4/8.1 previously. The X-Trail has two auto transmissions, a six speed traditional auto and a CVT. The six speed has been upgraded to allow less fuel to be used at idle with the shifter in drive mode moving closer to a neutral position meaning less engine drag. Idle vibration is also cut. Both the six speed auto and the CVT transmission also come with a recalibrated hill descent control. Underbody cladding has cut the vehicle’s drag coefficient to 0.35 and with lighter alloy wheels the savings come in reduced fuel consumption and also emissions. The Ti and TL X-Trail models now have wider 18 inch tyres going from 215/55 R18s to 225/55 R18s.
SAFETY
These days just about all manufacturers have one safety specification across all variants of a particular vehicle, from entry-level to top of the line. The X-Trail is in line with this philosophy and features electronic stability program, traction control, ABS brakes, brake assist, eltronic brakeforce distribution, active brake limited slip, SRS front and side airbags, front to rear curtain airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and active head restraints.
INTERIOR DESIGN/FUNCTIONALITY
Top-of-the-line Ti and TL gain Nissan’s intelligent key for keyless engine start/stop. As long as you have the key in your pocket or in one of the handy storage bins you can simply turn the key holder to start up, and turn off. These models also get auto lights, rain sensing wipers, cargo blind and the wider tyres already mentioned. All models now have telescopic adjustment for the steering column and Bluetooth phone system upgrade with the ST model now boasting steering wheel mounted telephone controls. X-Trail also returns to a feature of the original vehicle, the heated and cooled glove compartment. The instrument cluster has been upgraded and is easier to read. The seat trims have also been given a makeover with new patterns and thicker materials which should increase durability. The back seat has been redesigned to give an extra 10mm of leg room. The rear pew now has ample leg room but shoulder and head room are a little tight. The centre seat contains a fold down armrest, so comfort for two people in the back is ideal. We like the double floor in the cargo area which allows for a secure place for small items while still carrying larger luggage. In addition to Bluetooth mobile connectivity the Ti X-Trail also gets audio Bluetooth, meaning you can wirelessly stream your favourite music through the vehicle’s audio system. The drive computer should tick all boxes with most drivers and delivers average fuel economy, real time fuel economy, average speed, driving distance, elapsed driving time, distance to empty and reminders, with steering wheel controls.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Nothing the X-trail achieves is extraordinary. But, it does everything really well. Yes, there’s a bit of body roll, but it’s not Man Friday in this amid the competition in this segment. Performance is certainly adequate and smooth with the CVT transmission. The strength of the X-Trail is simply practicality, economy and the much-vaunted high-seating position preferred by many drivers. The Ti variant adds some luxury, feel-good items such as the intelligent key, reversing camera, sat/nav and the double boot floor which will appeal to those who want that bit extra above the basic transport level.
MODEL RANGE AND PRICING 2011 Nissan X-Trail
Petrol ST manual $31,990
Petrol ST CVT $34,490
Petrol ST-L CVT $38,490
Petrol Ti CVT $44,490
Diesel TS manual $35,990
Diesel TS auto $38,240
Diesel TL manual $42,990
Diesel TL auto $45,240
FEATURES (Ti)
ABS Brakes: Standard
Air Conditioning: Standard
Automatic Transmission: CVT standard
CD Player: standard
Central Locking: standard
Cruise Control: standard
Dual Front Airbags: standard
Front Side Airbags: standard
Stability Control: standard
Traction Control: standard
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE:
Capacity: 2.488 litres
Configuration: in line
Compression Ratio: 9.6:1
Bore/Stroke: 89.0mm x 100.0mm
Maximum Power: 125 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 226 Nm @ 4400 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: 2WD/AWD
Manual Transmission: N/A
Automatic Transmission: CVT
Final Drive Ratio: 5.798
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4635mm
Wheelbase: 2630 mm
Width: 1790 mm
Height: 1700mm
Ground clearance: 212mm
Turning Circle: 11.0metres
Kerb Mass: 1529 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 65 litres
Towing Ability: 2000 kg (kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson struts,coil springs
Rear Suspension: Parallel multi-link strut
Front Brakes: Ventilated discs
Rear Brakes: Ventilated discs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: ULP
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 9.1 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: N/A
Air Pollution Rating: N/A
STANDARD WARRANTY:
3 years/ 100,000 km
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