June 2002 Volume 83 Number 6
"serving the protectors"
| June 2002 Volume 83 Number 6 "serving the protectors" |
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Motoring |
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| By Jim Barnett |
Punchy X-Trail
The fashionable Nissan X-Trail is a significant newcomer to the SUV (sport utility vehicle) market.
With plenty of power for quick take-offs and effortless highway cruising, its on-road performance is very good. It corners well and comes with little road or wind noise. Off-road, its punchy motor and locked 4WD system make light work of soft sand.
X-Trail is smart looking from any angle. A steeply raked windscreen, roof rails and a roof spoiler – on Ti – enhances its profile. Up front is a bold chrome grille featuring Nissan’s new badge. It also has distinctive headlamps and a nicely sculptured bonnet. High-mounted vertical tail lights are also a feature.
Available in two specification levels – ST and Ti – and like most in this class, X-Trail has monocoque construction, uses an all-independent coil suspension system and does not have low range. Both models feature a new and very punchy 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, which drives the front wheels in its standard 2WD mode.
Three buttons on the dashboard allow the driver to select between 2WD, AUTO and LOCK modes. In AUTO mode, X-Trail’s electronically controlled coupling progressively distributes torque to the rear wheels as the front wheels begin to slip. When maximum traction is required, a simple push of the LOCK button ensures all four wheels are driving with a 57:43 front-rear torque split. It will operate in this mode at up to 30km/h and, once exceeded, will automatically revert to AUTO mode.
With 132kW of power on hand at 6,000rpm, the 2.5-litre engine is no slouch and has the added bonus of good fuel economy. Peak torque is realized at 4,000rpm with a handy 245Nm available – enough to tow up to 2,000kg with brakes. To provide low- and mid-range torque, the engine is fitted with continuous variable-valve timing. A counter balancer reduces NVH and ensures smooth performance right through the rev range.
The standard five-speed manual transmission is a delight to use with a short, smooth action. A four-speed electronic automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter is a $2,000 option on both models.
Like most in this class, it is best suited to four passengers. The centre rear seat position is not comfortable and comes with only a lap belt. The four other seating positions are excellent. Front seats are very comfortable and supportive and, although the driver’s is height-adjustable, it still would not counter the tall bonnet for some shorter drivers. Equally comfortable are the outer rear-seat positions. These offer better thigh support than most and can be individually reclined.
The dash layout is somewhat unusual – you’ll either love it or hate it. Gauges and warning lights are in the centre and angled toward the driver. This increasing trend does not take long to get used to and prevents the adjustable steering wheel obscuring the gauges. Directly in front of the driver is a storage compartment with a lid and 12-volt socket.
Generous storage areas are featured around the cabin. The most innovative of these are the two drink holders in the dashboard. Ducted air (from the air conditioning system) cools or heats the contents of standard cans or 500ml bottles. In an ambient temperature of 30 degrees, a can of soft drink can cool to a drinkable temperature in around 15 minutes.
X-Trail’s cargo area is generous, features a flat floor and is enhanced by the 60/40 split-fold rear seat. There are useful under-floor storage areas, but the floor itself is far too slippery and allows unsecured items to slide about too easily.
Nissan has endowed its base model X-Trail with a comprehensive list of standard features, including:
- ABS brakes with EBD (electronic brake distribution).
- Dual front airbags.
- Front seatbelt pretensioners and load-limiters.
- Power mirrors and windows.
- Remote locking.
- Single CD audio system.
- Air conditioning
Ti also has:
- Climate-control air conditioning.
- Six-disc in-dash CD audio.
- Leather steering wheel with cruise control.
- Alloy wheels.
- Fog lamps and roof spoiler.
At $31,990 (ST manual) and $35,990 (Ti manual), X-Trail is competitively priced.
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