New Nissan X-Trail: revitalised SUV features e-Power

Published: 06 September 2022 Updated: 06 September 2022
  • New seven-seat SUV revealed
  • Available with e-Power range extender
  • Priced from £32k, available from October

Nissan has officially revealed the new X-Trail SUV for the European market. The brand has taken a lot of inspiration from the X-Trail’s smaller sibling, the Qashqai, in terms of the new design as well as the technology on offer.

In fact, the new X-Trail looks very much like an enlarged Qashqai, with its sharp headlights and fascia at the front. Inside, it appears the X-Trail takes a massive step up in material quality compared to its predecessor, with soft leathers available and ‘up to 35 inches’ of screens (adding together the instrument display and large central touchscreen).

CAR drives the Nissan Qashqai e-Power

What engines are available?

The range kicks off with a mild-hybrid 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 163bhp. It’s strictly front-wheel drive only, mated to an Xtronic CVT gearbox and features a variable compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1, allowing the engine to infinitely switch between the two ends of the scale for better efficiency or power delivery. Nissan says the X-Trail with the petrol engine is capable of a 0-62mph sprint in 9.6sec, a top speed of 124mph and fuel economy highs of up to 39mpg.

Also available is Nissan’s specialty: e-Power. The electrified powertrain is effectively a range extender, using the same 1.5-litre petrol engine as above, but where an e-motor drives the wheels. Nissan says it means the X-Trail acts like an EV in how it drives, with its smooth power delivery and ability to accelerate and decelerate with one pedal if you like. Total power output is 201bhp for the two-wheel drive version, or 211 for the e-4ORCE all-wheel drive version, and Nissan claims up to 48.6mpg.

Any practical touches?

Well, you can still spec the X-Trail as a five- or seven-seater for greater flexibility. The second row splits 60:40 and slide forward for better access to the rearmost seats. Nissan says it’s scatter-gunned a load of USB and USB-C sockets around the interior to keep all passengers satisfied, and there are integrated blinds in the rear windows. The rear doors open ‘almost 90 degrees’ for better access – handy when you’re clipping in a child’s car seat, for example.

If you’re after proper numbers, Nissan says the X-Trail’s boot has 585 litres of volume in five-seat mode, which is at least 120 litres less than the likes of the Seat Tarraco or Skoda Kodiaq by comparison.

How much is the new X-Trail?

Nissan UK says prices start at £32,030 for a basic Visia-spec X-Trail, with the e-Power versions starting from £34,465. Want the seven-seat option? Nissan says that’s an extra £1000, and it’s not available with the two-wheel drive e-Power model.

The first deliveries are expected to arrive in October 2022.

By Jake Groves

CAR's deputy news editor, gamer, serial Lego-ist, lover of hot hatches

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