LONG-TERM TEST: Nissan X-Trail 2.0 XE
By: Denis Droppa
Johannesburg - I’d been driving the two-wheel-drive X-Trail 2.0 XE for a couple of months but the day she and I really gelled was on a long gravel road one recent morning.
The Nissan’s good ride quality and confident handling had always been apparent on the tar, but it was only on that scarred and bumpy dirt road that I realised just what a capable adventure vehicle it is.
On the rough, slippery surface this crossover SUV felt supremely comfortable and self-assured. The high-profile 17 inch tyres and compliant suspension take much of the credit, but there’s also electrickery at play, in the form of a system called Active Ride Control that automatically applies braking and adjusts engine torque after you hit a bump to smooth out the ride.
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Also, a stability control system keeps it pointing the right way whenever the vehicle threatens to break traction on a bump or a slippery corner. It all made for a very safe and confidence-inspiring dirt-road drive, even in the absence of all-wheel-drive.
There are 4x4 versions of the X-Trail available but unless you plan on going rock climbing and mud-mongering they’re probably not worth the extra money. The two-wheel-drive’s grip and ground clearance is more than sufficient to tackle most roads that life throws into your path, and at R346 900 the 2.0 XE represents very good value.
At 106kW and 200Nm the performance of the XE’s normally-aspirated two-litre petrol engine isn’t what you’d call sporty but its refined and fuss-free power delivery makes for unobtrusive commuting and cruising. The occasional steep hill requires a downshift or two but the manual six-speed gearshift is butter-smooth.
Fuel economy’s good for a mid-sized SUV, achieving a creditable 9.2 litres per 100km (Nissan claims 8.3 litres).
Space for adventure
As far as the adventure aspect goes the X-Trail also has a generous 550-litre boot that swallows a lot of holiday luggage, and if you flip down the rear seats the 1405 litres caters very well to space-eating hobbies such as cycling or diving.
Over the past few months our long-term test X-Trail has been roped in regularly as a mountain-bike schlepper and holiday car.
The cabin’s very roomy in this mid-sized SUV and two or three rugby-sized adults will comfortably fit in the rear seats, which can be reclined to increase passenger comfort. The X-Trail is optionally available with seven seats.
Spending extended time in the cockpit is a pleasant experience as it has a smart look and feel with a soft-touch dashboard and good-quality finishes. The seats are covered in a soft cloth which is holding up well after 20 000km and still looks as good as new.
The 2.0 XE baseline model lacks some high-end features such as automatic headlamps and wipers, but it’s still pretty well stocked and the standard items include cruise control, manual air conditioning (with a rear vent), heated and cooled front cupholders, hill-start assist and a Bluetooth/USB/CD audio system.
A full complement of front, side and curtain airbags adds to the safety arsenal.
Our test vehicle has an intermittent glitch in that the radio and ignition sometimes stay on after the car has been locked. Fortunately it’s always switched itself off without draining the battery.
VERDICT
A part of me misses the chunkier, tougher-looking styling of the previous-generation X-Trail which stood out from all the curvaceously-styled crossover vehicles on the roads. The new X-Trail has capitulated into curvy land and looks very much like a Qashqai, but this shouldn’t be confused with any compromises on the toughness front, particularly its confident gravel-road performance.
It’s also very price-competitive against its rivals, and comes with a six-year or 150 000km warranty and five-year or 90 000km service plan. Service intervals are every 15 000km.
X-TRAIL VS ITS RIVALS
Nissan X-Trail 2.0 XE (106kW/200Nm) - R346 900
Ford Kuga 1.5T Ambiente (110kW/240Nm) - R359 900
Honda CR-V 2.0 Comfort (114kW/192Nm) - R380 600
Hyundai Tucson 2.0 Premium (115kW/196Nm) - R359 900
Kia Sportage 2.0 Ignite (116kW/192Nm) - R361 995
Mazda CX-5 2.0 Active (121kW/210Nm) - R341 000
Toyota Rav4 2.0 GX (107kW/187Nm) - R351 000
Star Motoring