Nissan’s X-Trail smartens up
NISSAN has updated its top-selling X-Trail SUV for 2018 with a freshly restyled front end, upgraded interiors, and the first generation of what it calls Nissan Intelligent Mobility, an interesting mix of existing driver-aid technology with some new tweaks in its applications.
Nissan SA boss Xavier Gobille confirmed at the SA launch that Nissan has accepted the reality that some day all cars will drive themselves, but explained that for now ‘intelligent mobility’ means helping you to be a better and safer driver without taking over your job.
The only autonomous functions on the new X-Trail are emergency braking and automatic headlight dipping when it detects oncoming traffic, backed by a host of warning and driver info functions, including blind spot warning, lane departure warning, cross traffic alert (warns you of oncoming vehicles while you’re backing out of a parking space) and forward collision warning, which warns you of an impending rear-ender with a slower moving or stationary vehicle.
A four-camera around view monitor with moving object detection shows you nearby obstacles or people and uses the park assist direction lines to show you exactly where the car is going to go with the steering in its current position.
At the same time, Nissan SA has extended the local line-up from six to eight derivatives covering three engines, two transmissions, front or all-wheel drive, five or seven seats and four levels of interior trim. All of which, other than the trim levels which we’ll unpack in detail later, are self-explanatory if you look at the price chart below, and remember that CVT stands for constantly variable belt transmission.
The front-end facelift emphasises Nissan’s bold new ‘V-Motion’ tapered grille and bumper shape, extending to the inner edges of the re-shaped headlight clusters, with their distinctive LED daytime running lights. Integrated front fog-lights, LED tail-lights and a new rear bumper complete the look.
The interior has been restyled to give it a more classy look and feel, with more upmarket materials on the places you touch, such as the steering wheel, door panels, centre console and seat fabric.
Upscale leather-trimmed models get a new flat-bottomed steering wheel with enough satellite controls to confuse a shuttle pilot, white contrast stitching and a revised centre console and luxurious new padding under the leather trim of the centre armrest.
The entry-level Visia trim comes with a tilt and reach adjustable steering column, manual aircon, electric windows and mirrors, electric parking brake, hill hold, a four-speaker radio/ CD/MP3 player with USB and AUX ports, heated/cooled front cupholders, three 12-volt sockets, a rear centre armrest with cupholder and new 17” alloy rims.
The Acenta specification adds front fog lights, roof rails, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, upmarket six-speaker sound, dual-zone climate control, hill descent control and 19” alloys.
The Acenta Plus trim has all that plus leather upholstery with four-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, while the range-topping Tekna ices the cake with the intelligent mobility package and an 18cm centre colour display for the satnav and around view cameras.
The engines are unchanged, starting with the 2-litre petrol rated for 106kW and 200Nm, driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual ‘box.
The 1.6 dCi turbodiesel is good for 96kW and 320Nm, still with noticeable turbo lag even at the coast, channeled through a six-speed manual to either front-wheel (Visia) or all-wheel (Tekna) final drive.
And the range-topping 2.5 petrol, dishing out 126kW and 233Nm, still drives all four via CVT, with a sport setting that holds at predetermined points to make it feel like a regular auto transmission.
PRICES:
2.0 Visia - R369 900 2.0 Visia 7-seater - R374 900 1.6 dCi Visia 7-seater - R392 900 2.5 Acenta CVT AWD - R425 900 2.5 Acenta CVT AWD 7-seater - R429 900 2.5 Acenta Plus CVT AWD 7-seater - R444 900 1.6 dCi Tekna AWD - R457 900 2.5 Tekna CVT AWD 7-seater - R469 900
These include a six-year/150 000km warranty and a three-year/90 000km service plan.