|
The Nissan X-Trail ST has won the 2007 Australia's Best Cars Best Recreational Four-Wheel Drive
"Nissan's new X-Trail now strikes that often difficult-to-achieve balance between on-road drivability and off-road performance, while providing a high degree of refinement, comfort, safety and quality in a package that abounds in practical features." say the judges of Australia's Best Cars.
|
|
Nissan's second generation X-Trail delivers significant improvements over the original and is great value.
Value for money
Pricing
The base ST costs $31,990, the ST-L is $35,990 and the Ti is $38,990.
Warranty
Three years/100,000 kilometres.
Standard equipment
All models include stability control and six airbags, a class first. A trip computer, cruise control, airconditioning, 16 inch steel wheels, a single CD player, and roof rails are also included.
The ST-L adds 17 inch alloys, automatic air, leather-wrapped wheel and an in-dash six stack CD with MP3 compatibility (but no auxiliary player plug in.)
The Ti also gets a sunroof, heated, power adjustable leather upholstered front seats and a rear parking sensors.
A full size spare is also provided.
Selected options: The CVT auto adds $2000 to all variants.
Retained value
A three year old ST retains approx 48 per cent of its new price, according to Redbook.
Design and function
Ergonomics
Nissan has cleaned up the interior styling, which was a mess on the original.
The instruments have been moved from the centre of the dash to the conventional position directly in front of you. However the trip computer/fuel and temperature readouts are displayed on a little round screen between the main dials. It's often impossible to read because of reflected glare.
A simple three dial airconditioning control set, and high mounted, logically arranged audio head unit controls present no problems, but there is no plug in for iPods or other music players.
Cruise control buttons are on the wheel.
There's no reach adjustment for the wheel and a tall driver will use all the front seat travel. Leg room is just acceptable. Vision is clear around the car, but it needs a rear camera.
Technical details
- The new X-Trail is marginally larger than its predecessor.
- Its 2.5 litre engine is carried over, with minor modifications. It produces 125kW of power at 6000rpm and 226Nm of torque at 4400rpm.
- The CVT transmission also has a manual mode, with six fixed "ratios."
- Drive goes to the front wheels, but a transfer case can also be accessed via the Auto switch, allowing up to 50 per cent of the torque to be sent to the rear wheels via an electromagnetic clutch if the stability control system detects imminent front wheel slippage. A Lock feature can be selected at speeds under 40km/h. It fixes the front/rear torque split in a 50/50 ratio.
- Hill Descent Control and hill start assist are also included.
- MacPherson strut front and new multilink rear suspension features variable rate dampers.
- Steering is rack and pinion with electric power assistance.
- Brakes are discs with anti lock and stability control.
- Weight is 1525-1554 kg.
- Maximum towing weight is 2000kg.
- The ST's 16 inch steel wheels are shod with 215/65 Dunlop Grand Trek tyres; the ST-L and Ti 17 inch alloys have 215/60 tyres.
Safety
The new X-Trail scored four stars out of five for occupant protection in Euro NCAP tests. However it scored the maximum four stars out of four for child protection.
Security
The X-Trail, like most Nissans, has usually been a low scorer in NRMA Insurance's theft ratings. The previous model managed just 44 points out of a possible 120. This model has not yet been rated, but it does not appear to have any extra security features.
Comfort
The driver's seat has lots of very soft foam padding, and is quite comfortable on shorter trips, but it could use a longer cushion for better thigh support and long term comfort.
Space and practicality
The X-Trail has plenty of handy storage near the driver, including a covered dash top bin, centre console bin and glovebox, plus six cupholders - four of which can be heated or cooled.
The back seat has less leg room that rivals like Honda's CR-V, but most adults can fit comfortably and the seat has a firm, supportive cushion, plus an adjustable backrest. Wide opening doors permit easy access. The high seating position and low sills make it a pleasant place for kids to travel; three restraint anchors are in the floor immediately behind.
The X-Trail's cargo bay is a big space - wider than before, thanks to the new rear suspension and a re-routed exhaust - lined in tough durable plastic, into which you can chuck your mountain bike, the kids wet cossies and towels, or several bags of chook poo for the garden, and not have to worry about staining the shag pile. It's easily cleaned with a wet sponge.
Under the "false floor" is a slide out drawer, with movable partition pieces, and an additional storage compartment. The entire moulding is hinged in the middle and can also be lifted out altogether.
The floor can be extended to 1.7 metres using the 60/40 split fold rear seat; a fold down centre section also allows long items to be carried between two occupants.
Build and finish quality
No problems at all. The test car was very tight and squeak and rattle free, even when driven on rough dirt tracks.
On the road
Fuel efficiency
European test averages for the CVT variant are 7.7 L/100 km highway and 12 L/100 km city, running on regular unleaded. CO2 emissions are 223 g/km and the Nissan scores three stars out of five in the Green Vehicle Guide.
Performance
Like most engines in this class the 2.5 isn't the torquiest device in the world, but the optional CVT automatic makes it feel stronger and more tractable than its numbers suggest.
Driving a CVT efficiently requires a similar technique to a diesel automatic. You need to give the accelerator a decent prod initially, which spins the engine straight up to 3000-4000 rpm and gives you immediate, strong performance. Once you're rolling, back off a little and the CVT will ease the revs back down to a more economical 2000 rpm or so. Here, the X-Trail cruises very smoothly and quietly.
The CVT gives the X-Trail a considerable performance and refinement advantage in this class, where four cylinder engines are asked to deal with relatively heavy wagons, a combination that doesn't really suit conventional autos. There's no hunting, shift shock, or dropping off the engine's peak operating zone, for example.
Handling and steering
The X-Trail is too softly sprung and lightly damped to have any sporty aspirations. It won't see which way a Subaru Forester or Toyota RAV4 went through a set of tight bends.
It also feels quite nose heavy, and, from the driver's seat, bigger and bulkier than its rivals.
However in day-to-day driving it's fine. At highway speeds, and on rough, corrugated dirt tracks, the suspension is well controlled and provides secure, confident roadholding.
The on-demand all-wheel-drive system is one of the best around. It gets drive to the rear before you feel any front wheel slippage, and the stability control system works with similar finesse, keeping the X-Trail nicely balanced and secure on loose surfaces without slowing it down with an overly low intervention threshold. It can also be switched off when required, for example when driving on sand.
The X-Trail's Lock function also gives it greater capability on steep, low traction surfaces than its rivals.
The steering is well weighted and acceptably precise.
Ride
Ride comfort is best in class on all types of road surfaces. The X-Trail is almost luxurious in this regard, and very quiet too.
Braking
Fine, with better than average fade resistance.
Smoothness and quietness.
Again, best in class.
Summary
The new X-Trail is an example of a manufacturer listening to its customers, fixing the things that needed to be fixed, and making other improvements to better meet their needs. It's one of the surprises of 2007, and, at the price, outstanding value against its rivals.
The writer of this report does not necessarily represent the views of the NRMA and this report is provided for you as an alternative to our own NRMA car reviews.
