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By
EWAN KENNEDY
10 November 2008
These
days the Nissan X-Trail, the smallest 4WD in the Nissan range is
almost as long as Nissan Patrol. We didn’t believe our eyes when
this became obvious as we parked alongside a Patrol, but it really
is true.
Now,
size is not all about length. The X-Trail is narrower and lower
than its big brother, so the overall impression is that it’s a
significantly more compact vehicle. Which is something that will
appeal to potential X-Trail buyers who don’t want to feel as
though they are driving a huge 4WD, and thus could get glares from
people who believe these big vehicles are destroying the planet.
Which
brings up the reason for our latest test of the Nissan X-Trail. It
now comes with the option of a turbo-diesel engine, with all that
means in the way of reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions.
Diesels have been offered in large Nissan 4WDs for decades and it
was only a matter of time before they reached the compact 4WD
market.
Potential
buyers should take into account that diesel fuel is currently
running at about 15 per cent more than petrol in price. Which
negates some of its 20 to 25 per cent greater economy.
Nissan
Australia is a smart company and knows of the growing gap between
the price of diesel and petrol and has sensibly added only $1000
to the diesel X-Trail compared to the same model with petrol
power. So recommended retail prices for the Nissan X-Trail dCi
begin at a just $36,990 for the TS six-speed manual, and go up as
high as $41,990 for the upmarket X-Trail TL automatic.
Due
to the aforementioned smartness, the local importer offers two
different versions of the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. The first
is used on the automatic transmission models and develops 110 kW
and 320 Nm, which is similar to the outputs from most engines of
this size. But it also brings in a semi-sports version of the
2.0-litre diesel that produces 127 kW and 360 Nm. This big-power
diesel only comes with a six-speed manual gearbox and gives
sparkling acceleration, as well as good throttle response once the
original turbo-lag period has gone.
Both
diesels have a flat-top to their torque graphs, so are happy to
work from low revs and excel in the mid range that’s likely to
be used by most drivers virtually all of the time.
Fuel
consumption is likely to be in the seven to eight litres per
hundred kilometres in country running and on easy motorways. This
should seldom go over 10 litres per hundred in suburban commuting.
Off-road, as always, the consumption can go pretty high,
especially if you get into the really serious stuff.
Nissan
uses an excellent 4WD system that gives the X-Trail genuine
off-road ability for moderate conditions. This includes a
hill-descent system and a hill-start facility. So it has good
off-road ability for those wanting to do some reasonably serious
driving away from sealed surfaces.
A
downside of the X-Trail diesel with an automatic is that the
maximum towing capacity is now only 1350 kilograms, well down on
the 2000 kg limit on the turbo-diesel manual and the petrol
engine. This is due to problems with keeping the automatic
transmission cool, it shares its temperature-control system with
the engine rather than having an independent circuit.
Nissan
has wisely retained the square style that appeals to many buyers
in the 4WD field. If you do want a sleeker vehicle, the company
also offers the Nissan Dualis, a mild-duty crossover. This uses
some of the X-Trail’s underpinnings, but has less ground
clearance and fewer traction aids. The Dualis is lighter and comes
with a smaller, more economical petrol engine than the petrol unit
used in the X-Trail.
The
X-Trail has good interior space, particularly in the back seat, so
four adults can be carried with no real compromises. The
40/20/40-split rear seats can be folded flat to provide up to 1773
litres of storage space.
A
full-size spare wheel is stored under a double-deck rear storage
area that features two handy compartments, one with a full-length
sliding drawer. The length of the vehicle really show up here,
with a huge amount of luggage area. As is always the way with 4WDs
the height of the floor can create hassles at times.
On
bitumen we found that the Nissan X-Trail dCi cruised smoothly and
comfortably, with not a lot of additional engine noise due to the
use of a diesel engine. It’s fairly loud when started cold, but
not too bad afterwards.
There
was only moderate body roll when cornering briskly and the car is
safe and predictable in the way it responds to the road surfaces
and driver commands.
So,
if you want a spacious four/five seater with plenty of luggage
room and want to do some genuine off-road driving with the family
on board, the latest Nissan X-Trail turbo-diesel should sit
somewhere near the top of your list of potential vehicles.
AT
A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
X-Trail ST 2.5-litre five-door wagon - $31,990 (manual), $33,990
(automatic)
X-Trail ST-L 2.5-litre five-door wagon - $35,990 (manual), $37,990
(automatic)
X-Trail Ti 2.5-litre five-door wagon - $38,990 (manual), $40,990
(automatic)
X-Trail dCi TS 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon - $36,990
(manual), $38,990 (automatic)
X-Trail dCi TL 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon - $39,990
(manual), $41,990 (automatic)
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Air Conditioning: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: $2000 option in all models
CD Player: Standard in all models
Central Locking: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Stability Control: Standard in all models
Traction Control: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS
(Nissan X-Trail dCi TS 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.995 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 15.6:1
Bore/Stroke: 84.0 x 90.0 mm
Maximum Power: 127 kW @ 3750 rpm
Maximum Torque: 360 Nm @ 2000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: 4WD
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: NA
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND
CAPACITIES:
Length: 4630 mm
Wheelbase: 2630 mm
Width: 1785 mm
Height: 1685 mm
Turning Circle: 10.8 metres
Kerb Mass: 1651kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 65 litres
Towing Ability: 750kg (2000kg with braked trailer and manual
transmission)
SUSPENSION
AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs,
anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, multi-link
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Fuel Type: Diesel
Fuel Consumption - Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 8.1 L/100km
GREEN
VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 6.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 5/10
STANDARD
WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000km
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Marque Publishing Company
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