Nissan has sent the X-Trail back to the drawing board and emerged with a cross over unibody that won’t disappoint. And historically, this vehicle hasn’t— Nissan’s flagship crossover is global highest-selling SUV with 835,000 units sold in 2016.
This year, enhancements to the popular crossover focus on fresh exterior design, greater cabin refinement, more practicality and new Nissan Intelligent Mobility features.
The name X-Trail inspires trust, a vehicle that may not have a destination, but assuredly has the ability to get you there-wherever ‘there’ might be. Indeed the all-new X-Trail finds new footing (again) as upgrades reinforce X-Trail’s position as the perfect car for family adventures and everyday use across multiple terrains.
This X-Trail reflects a larger trend as the SUV buying public has seemingly recovered from a long waking dream in which the vast majority of consumers imagined that they’d actually take their vehicle off-roading. Meanwhile, a tendency towards allergic reactions to the dreary practicality imposed by the minivan, coupled with the rising cost of petrol, has left so many of us ‘grown-ups’ wanting an SUV that, well, isn’t an SUV. And thus, the age of the crossover was launched, littering…nay, decorating the landscape with crossover SUVs.
I know what you’re thinking: this is the Middle East, where people actually do take their SUVs off-road. Yes, that’s true, and we’ll remain the dune bashing capital of the world for eons, but one thing the region doesn’t do, is dictated trends in high volume automotive manufacturing (we only have that kind of influence with supercars and other small batch exotics.) And anyway, despite the trend, the X-Trail is still available with AWD, so Nissan hasn’t quite given up on the path less chosen. AWD models offer easy to use automatic operation (an on-demand system that monitors traction conditions and feeds torque to all four wheels when necessary).
All models are equipped with the CVT XTronic automatic transmission with a restyled gear selector which features a new leather-style gaiter. The car is offered with either a 2.0L or 2.5L DOHC engine.
The Nissan X-Trail has always been known for its sculpted and muscular styling, with chiseled lines, high wheel arches and elegant curves on the bonnet. All of those characteristics remain and are now showcased through a distinctive and robust redesign of the front end, adding a new dynamism and more premium styling cues.
When it comes to the exterior of the new X-Trail, at its heart is Nissan’s latest
‘V-motion’ grille, wider than before for a more impactful appearance on the road and echoed in the design of the bumper beneath. The redesign makes much greater use of the X-Trail’s body color, with the visible black plastic benefiting from a smart new gloss black finish.
At the rear of the new Nissan X-Trail, the bumper has been redesigned to give it a more robust look with new chrome detailing. The rear lamp signature has been upgraded to become full LED.
The biggest change to the profile of the new Nissan X-Trail is the addition of a chrome side moulding across the base of the two doors, which creates a more dynamic appearance.
The full LED lamps on the new Nissan X-Trail has greater illumination for better visibility, enhancing road safety. On high beam, the beam pattern is now wider than before, also improving visibility. The front fog lamps have evolved and are cleverly integrated into the new front bumper, they have changed from a round shape to a rectangular one.
The rim’s width has been widened – from 34mm to 37.5mm – to provide a more comfortable and safer grip. A new premium style comes from the satin silver detailing on the central spoke which echoes the shape of the car’s iconic ‘V-motion’ front grille.
The X-Trail offers good headroom and the comfort of Nissan’s nifty fatigue-reducing Zero Gravity front seats. There’s a 2nd row that slides and reclines, providing Easy Flex Seating, so you can adjust for maximum leg room, more cargo space, or anywhere in between. And with available tasteful touches like Power Panoramic Moonroof and leather-appointed seats, this is one natural, relaxed, and decidedly upscale environment.
The X-Trail is, among other things, a viable family car, so it’s worth pointing out that it offered with a host of practical technology, including Intelligent Cruise Control as mentioned earlier, allows drivers to set desired adjustable distance between them and the car in front. As traffic slows down or speeds up, the new Nissan X-TRAIL can respond accordingly.
Intelligent Engine Braking is a system that uses the CVT transmission to apply engine braking as a driver is slowing for a corner or coming to a stop. Much like shifting to a lower gear in traditional transmissions, it helps give smoother deceleration and a more confident feel when braking.
Intelligent Trace Control is an innovative technology which helps improve control when driver’s take a corner. It reads the situation and, if needed, can brake each wheel individually to help the driver steer through the turn with confidence.
Intelligent Ride Control provides Active Ride Control to smooth road bumps by automatically applying braking and adjusting engine torque.
If you’re gearing up for an expedition to cross the Empty Quarter or planning to explore some South American jungle (while there still are South American jungles) then you probably want to look elsewhere. But if you’re too proud to drive a minivan, and might also venture off the increasingly paved swaths of this planet that we call civilization, then the new X-Trail should definitely be on the consideration list.
SPECS
ENGINE
2.5L DOHC Engine
XTronic Automatic Transmission