NISSAN X-Trail marks The SPOT
I Nissan have been a fan of the X-Trail for many years. I have always admired the no-nonsense attention to detail associated with the Nissan X-trail.
So, when offered an opportunity to get behind the wheel of the X-Trail (which was recently re-launched in an enhanced version) I said yes faster than fast.
Three years after the first Nissan X-Trail was launched, the new upgraded SUV continues to offer an unparalleled experience for the adventure-seeking me thanks to its new enhancements and the Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies.
It was to be a fun Sunday drive for me, as I wanted to take a drive to Los Baños, Laguna — just for the drive.
For starters, the new X-Trail is the first Nissan vehicle in the Philippines to be integrated with the largest range of available advanced Intelligent Mobility technologies.
“The Nissan X-TRAIL offers enough room for families and groups who love to go on road trips,” said Nissan Philippines president and managing director Ramesh Narasimhan at the Nissan X-Trail launch. “With Nissan Intelligent Mobility, our customers can enjoy each adventure as they drive safe and sound. We want them to treat the new X-Trail as a partner that looks out for them so they can have a fun and hassle-free time on the road.”
What exactly does the Intelligent Mobility technology offer?
Well, a lot, actually. For starters there is the Around View Monitor. This technology allows drivers a 360-degree perspective for easier navigation. I enjoyed that feature because many times while driving in the city streets or even the smaller roads out of town — being blindsided by motorcycles or tricycles, is one of the most common causes of accidents.
There is the Moving Object Detection that sends a visual and audible alert when there’s movement around the vehicle, another feature that I appreciated in the X-Trail. And, my third best feature is the Blind Spot Warning, which detected objects on my blind spot.
I must add a little more on this — it is really difficult for smaller drivers like me to be overtaken from the blindside. And loud honking of horns by smaller motorcycles serves to distract rather than help a driver not bump a blindside-overtaking motorcycle.
Other technology features are the Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking that sends a visual and auditory warning, and applies an emergency break to avoid collisions.TheRearCrossTrafficAlertalertsthedrivertounseen vehicles while reversing, and the 4x4-I System automatically adjusts power distribution to give drivers full control of the vehicle as they take on challenging road conditions.
So many cool tech features — so little time.
DRIVE ON
I began my drive to Los Baños early Sunday morning. I had set my sights on some buko pie at Letty’s. And, as any driver who goes off for buko pie getting there early in the morning when the goodies are freshly baked is a reward for the tummy that not very many other eating rewards come close to.
The drive down SLEX was easy-peasy and the Nissan X-Trail was a joy to drive. Revving when I wanted it to and slowing down as soon as I put my sneakers to the brakes.
As I got out the SLEX and entered the largely passenger jeepney-filled provincial roads of Los Baños leading to Sta. Cruz,LagunaIwastobecomeanevenbiggerfanoftheX-Trail.
The new technologies worked as they had been developed to — with warning signals alerting me to every motorcycle of tricycle that had decided to overtake from a blind spot — no, even as I was warned, I still uttered a small cuss remark to those drivers in bikes who think that car drivers have eyes all over their heads.
Inside the cockpit I admired the new door and instrument panel finishes, new shift knob design, revised center console, and the console lid define the car’s plush interiors.
Neither did the new D-shape steering wheel with a modernized interface, and leather-booted transmission shift lever, escape my fancy.
I finally got to Letty’s as a small line was starting to form. I waited, as the newly baked smell of the buko pie filled the air.
I got off the X-Trail to get a can of my fave Zero diet drink and, as I did, I gave the X-Trail a once over.
The X-Trail I had for the weekend came in CoronaOrange.OthercolorsincludeMarineBlue, Pearl White, Gun Metallic, and Diamond Black.
I like the new front fascia with integrated fog lamps, bumper, and the signature Nissan V-Motion grille. The revised headlights with LED signature Daytime Running Lights are also quite fancy. And, of course, the new 19-inch wheels, a fin-type antenna, and a newly integrated sunroof round lend to the coolness factor of the X-Trail.
I got three boxes of the buko pie and ate half a box with my fave drink before I opted to start the drive home. I must add here that the motion-activated tailgate allowed me to access the rear compartment with ease — and load the other two Buco pies there.
It was another one of those days: the ones that I wish would never end. As Nissan likes to say, “Go off on a ride of a lifetime.”
But, for a driver like me this drive, which had good food and cool wheels, was one for the books.
Time to head on home and share some pie with the folks there.