2014 Nissan X-Trail: A review

I TEST DROVE the charming 2014 Nissan Xtrail for the past week courtesy of e Legacy Car Rental, a top provider of transportation solutions, specialising in car rental services in Zimbabwe. It was founded on the principle of providing excellent client service. eir service offering is designed to ensure client flexibility, comfort and convenience.

ey indeed proved to be flexible because I got my ride around 7pm hassle-free from their premises, with help from Darlington Dondo, who executed his duties so diligently despite it being after hours. He was quick without compromising on attention to detail.

e Legacy Car Rental offers a variety of services in addition to standard automobile rentals. ey provide a genuine local transportation option for both individual and commercial purposes.

I had not driven the 2014 Nissan X-Trail before that is why I went with that one. It undoubtedly has a lot to live up to given the T31’s success since 2007. Nissan had great expectations for this vehicle when it was introduced in 2014. It was created to go up against the Mazda CX5, Toyota’s RAV4, the Honda CR-V and the Mitsubishi Outlander. So, in terms of form, function and style, does the X-Trail fulfill the brief?

I was eager to get behind the wheel of this MY14 model because I have had previous X-Trail models before and I wanted to see how it compared to earlier iterations.

At the risk of going against the grain, I actually like how the T32’s outside appearance was revised. e X-Trail has a softer, more European feel, which is more likely to appeal to city drivers than the T31.

For an entry-level model version, the interior underwent a significant overhaul, and I am adequately impressed by the quality of the finishes. e X-Trail definitely has an upscale feel thanks to its piano black accents, soft plastics and matte charcoal trim.

I have no doubt the designers of the cockpit put equal emphasis on form and function because the centre display is placed ergonomically and cleanly within the dash.

All of the frequently used settings, like audio, Bluetooth and cruise, are conveniently positioned on the steering wheel, which is exactly what I have grown to expect — albeit on a steering wheel that looks like it was made decades ago. To put it simply, the design doesn’t seem to go well with the rest of the inside. is isn’t a big concern, but it is worth mentioning.

e infotainment system has all the necessary features, and I appreciate the inclusion of a reverse camera in the base ST. It was a little challenging to navigate, though, and it took me a few tries to connect my Android to the Bluetooth.

Nissan has created an app that allows you to sync your phone with the vehicle, but after installing and using it, I didn’t really see much of a benefit.

e X-Trail has a foot-operated parking brake, which is worth noticing. It might appear a touch dated, however, some drivers might find it objectionable. I personally don’t have a problem with it.

e relatively roomy back seat is also noteworthy and the customisable storage system is even better. With the manufacturer-designated “Divide-N-Hide” cargo system, you can quickly add, remove and fold seats and compartments to protect and conceal whatever you are lugging around town.

e X-Trail is quite plain on the road, but given that the target market is the expanding family, utility takes precedence over performance.

Even when I travel around sweeping corners a little faster than usual, the X-Trail handles smoothly, showing no body roll. It is undoubtedly stable for a car of its size, giving a strong sense of security.

e X-Trail travels well at speed, but it doesn’t provide the easiest transition from stationary to highway speed. e engine sounds a little strained and the CVT (continuously variable transmission) produces quite noisy progress. e louder than expected road noise did absolutely nothing to enhance this.

e driver’s comfort exceeds expectations, and the people in the back seat also commented on how comfortable they felt. However, I was dissatisfied with the poor visibility out the back window and noticed that I was constantly head-checking, especially when changing lanes on the motorway.

However, after five days of combining motorway and suburban driving, the fuel economy was pleasing, with an average reading of 9,8 litres/100km. Despite the fact that this is a 2,5-litre gasoline engine, this may not seem like a great number.

It doesn’t seem as great, though, when you contrast the X-Trail with the similar CX-5 2,5, which has a claimed combined fuel consumption of just 7,4 litres/100km.

Six airbags, stability/traction control, anti-lock brakes, a reversing camera and rear sensors are all standard across the full range of the X-Trail, proving that it takes safety seriously.

Overall, I was happy with the most of the X-Trail’s features and disappointed with a few others. e comfort, size and handling are unquestionably strong points, but the vision concerns and the noise from the road really annoyed me. Every time it hits a pothole, your back also gets a little sore.

e X-Trail is unquestionably a car worth considering for suburban driving, especially if you want to occasionally take it outside of the city. You may load it up with camping supplies, transport the family in safety and take advantage of its reasonable fuel efficiency and versatility as an off-road vehicle.

Nissan has really nailed the practical aspect of the new X-Trail, even though it may not be as trendy as some of its rivals. e updated design should help better appeal to the larger market.

I drove it on highways and through rural regions and it returned intact and eager for more. It offers a smooth ride and excellent fuel efficiency. It results in a fantastic hire.

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Specifications

 Camshaft: DOHC with VVT

 Compression ratio: 9,6

 Cylinders: 4

 Engine configuration: In-line

 Engine size (cc): 2488 cc

 Engine size (L): 2,5-litre

 Generic engine type: Piston

 Induction: Aspirated

 Power to weight ratio: 85,7 kW/t

 Power: 126,0kW @ 6 000rpm

 Torque: 226Nm @ 4 400rpm

 Valves/Ports per cylinder: 4

A smooth ride Large interior

High fuel efficiency