Meet the new X-Trail SUV
Nissan has unveiled the North American Rogue, which will dot down here as the X-Trail, writes Nile Bijoux.
Nissan is looking to the postCovid future with its latest debut, the new generation of X-Trail. We’re seeing it as the North American Rogue but it’ll get the other badge when it touches down here.
Changes include a ‘‘commanding’’ look with a new split headlight design alongside a fresh V-Motion grille. A thick character line rides along the profile of the crossover while the rear has high-mounted tail lights. It’s a conservative design to be sure but one that works.
It’s a bit chunkier than the outgoing model but comes in 38mm shorter than before, at 4603mm of overall length (compared to 4641mm) as well as dropping 5mm from the height.
The full list of dimensions is yet to be revealed, including cargo capacity and cabin space.
Nissan did say there will be removable covers in the boot which hide small divided cubbies.
Additionally, the rear doors open to nearly 90 degrees, which should allow easy ingress and egress.
Inside are Nissan’s comfy zerogravity seats for the front row with plenty of leather to look out over. An electric shifter allows for a floatingbridge centre console, comprising a nine-inch infotainment screen.
Depending on spec, there will be a five-inch, seven-inch or 12.3-inch instrument display behind the wheel while a massive 10.8-inch head-up display beams pertinent info onto the windscreen in the driver’s line of sight.
There are both USB-A and USB-C charging ports, while the Rogue offers wireless Apple CarPlay as an option (wired CarPlay/Android Auto are standard).
Underneath the Rogue/X-Trail is an ‘‘all-new platform’’, which is really believed to be a reworked version of the Renault-Nissan Alliance CMF-C/D architecture that sits beneath the current X-Trail.
Power will come from one engine thus far – a 2.5-litre atmospheric four cylinder paired with a CVT transmission.
Don’t expect fireworks here, this is a workhorse powertrain. Nissan says power has bumped up to 135kW while torque has increased to 245Nm.
A hybrid version of the current X-Trail does exist but not in the New Zealand market. Nissan could eventually offer a rejigged hybrid to compete against the electrified RAV4 but that hasn’t been confirmed.
The new X-Trail will get vehicle motion control as well as Nissan’s allwheel-drive system and drive modes to ‘‘predict what the driver is trying to do’’ by monitoring steering, acceleration and braking.
Other active safety assists come with
ProPilot Assist and Navi-Link, which allows the crossover to slow for upcoming highway junctions, curves, and ramps.
The Rogue also adopts traffic sign recognition that can increase or decrease the speed to the posted limit. There’s no word on slowing for traffic lights, though we’d expect that to come as well.
Nissan New Zealand managing director John Manley told Stuff that the local arm had no details regarding the likely timing of release in New Zealand at this stage, commenting that ‘‘this is an exciting new model that will build on the enviable reputation Rogue/X-Trail enjoys globally’’.