Nissan facelifts popular SUV range
Nissan is refreshing its sales effort in two crucial SUV segments of New Zealand’s new vehicle market.
It has facelifted its popular X-Trail, which competes in the medium-sized SUV segment. And it has upgraded its Pathfinder large SUV in a big effort to improve on so-so sales achieved in 2016.
The current X-Trail was launched in 2014 and immediately proved a lot more popular than the boxy model it replaced. Last year 2059 of the Nissans were sold, the model enjoying particularly strong demand for two-wheel drive seven-seater versions.
Now the X-Trail has been facelifted in an effort to maintain the popularity.
Exterior changes include introduction of Nissan’s newgeneration V-motion front end, LED running lights, a shark fin antenna, new rear bumper, and tail different tail lights. The top Ti version also now has 19-inch alloy wheels while the lesser models have 17-inch versions.
Interior features a new D-shaped steering wheel and various other cosmetic changes including new air vents. Depending on the model, the X-Trail now has heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, high beam assist, a motorised tailgate, and a Bose audio system.
The X-Trail range begins with the ST, which is available as a 2WD seven-seater priced at $39,990 which is the same as the previous model, while theAWDversion has gone up only $200 to $42,490.
A new model is the ST-L which carries higher specification and retails for $44,990 for the 2WD seven-seater and $47,490 for the AWDmodel. The top model continues to be the Ti which retails for $53,490, a $200 price increase.
Meanwhile, Nissan NZ is anticipating a much-improved sales performance from the larger Pathfinder as a result of its facelift.
This American-built vehicle, which has been on the Kiwi market since 2013, has suffered a drop in sales in recent times because it was lacking in standard specification, says Nissan NZ marketing manager Leighton Agnew. Whereas more than 400 were sold in its first year on the market, last year this had fallen to 203 sales.
"It’s a big, comfortable SUV built on a monocoque platform, and even though it is a sevenseater it still offers 450 litres of cargo space with all seats in use. It’s also got the smooth 3.5-litre V6 engine," says Agnew.
"But its specification was limited. For example, it didn’t have satellite navigation as standard. But now it has - and we expect sales to climb as a result."
The Pathfinder also gets Nissan’s V-motion front end and LED running lights, and the alloys are as large as 20-inch. Rear styling has also been changed in an effort to give the big SUV a more masculine look.
Major changes have been made to the Pathfinder’s engine, with 56 per cent of its components new. As a result, maximum power has been increased from 190kW to 202kW, and torque has gone up from 325Nm to 340Nm.
Suspension has also been changed so the damping is 11 per cent stiffer, and the SUV’s steering is also about 11 per cent quicker.
The interior now features an eight-inch multi-touch display that includes navigation, and other features include aroundview monitor, and the Nissan Connect connectivity system. Rear seat entertainment includes two eight-inch screens with the ability to play different content on each screen, and two sets of Bluetooth headphones.
There’s also a high level of safety specification including forward collision warning, intelligent autonomous braking, intelligent cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Entry Pathfinder is the ST which is available as a 2WD model for $55,490 and with 4WD for $59,990.
A new grade is the ST-L, which replaces the former Ti, and features heated side mirrors, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system. It has a retail price of $65,490, which is $500 less than the asking price for the old Ti. And at the top of the selection is a new fully-specified Ti which retails for $69,990.
There is already considerable buyer interest in the new Pathfinder Ti, with 50 sold last month, says Agnew.