New Nissan X-TRAIL revealed
All-important Nissan SUV on track for 2022 launch in Australia, with hybrid models to followHere’s our first look at the new-generation 2022 Nissan X-TRAIL that’s coming to Australian showrooms next year.
The all-new fourth-generation Nissan X-TRAIL will renew its attack on Australia’s top-selling mid-size SUV, the Toyota RAV4, with a fresh exterior design, improved tech levels and a luxurious interior with multiple LCD screens.
Like the RAV4, the next X-TRAIL will offer a hybrid powertrain, wearing e-POWER badges.
Unlike RAV4 and Subaru Forester hybrid rivals, Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER variants are driven exclusively by an electric motor. The petrol engine has no connection with the driving wheels and acts purely as a generator.
The hybrid powertrain will likely mirror the one that’ll feature in the forthcoming new Nissan QASHQAI small SUV, which uses a 1.5-litre engine to recharge a small battery that powers a 140kW/330Nm electric motor.
A conventional combustion engine will also be offered in the new X-TRAIL, most likely in the form of an upgraded 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (135kW/245Nm). The current model produces 126kW/226Nm.
As seen with the US-market Nissan Rogue last year that is essentially the same vehicle, the X-TRAIL features split-level headlights and a new-look V-motion grille at the front that spearheads the SUV’s more rugged, angular body shape.
Some models will get a contrasting or ‘floating’ roof while at the rear the new SUV has slimline LED tail-lights, a faux bash plate and a high-mounted spoiler.
Nissan has integrated active grille shutters and underbody covers to improve aerodynamics.
Inside, the cockpit of top-spec models is dominated by three big digital displays that include a 12.3-inch customisable LCD instrument cluster, 9.0-inch central touch-screen and a 10.8-inch head-up display.
The latter can display Google Maps and Waze navigation, not to mention rear and 360 parking video feeds.
Elsewhere on the tech front, the new X-TRAIL gets the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, which is set to include rear automatic braking, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beam dipping and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection.
Features like traffic sign recognition (real-time speed limit updates), blind spot intervention, adaptive cruise control and driver alertness systems will also be offered, but it’s not yet clear if they’ll be standard equipment on all models.
Active steering will also be offered on some models, as part of the self-driving ProPilot system.
There’s no sign yet of a seven-seat X-TRAIL for the new generation (as is currently offered), but it will come with plenty of family-friendly features including one-touch folding rear seats, three-zone climate control, 90-degree opening rear doors and a versatile boot with hidden compartments.
A spokesperson said Australian launch details for the 2022 Nissan X-TRAIL would be announced later this year.
The range currently opens at $30,665 plus on-road costs for the ST 2WD, and tops out at $45,965 plus ORCs for the Ti AWD.
Along with the new X-TRAIL and QASHQAI, Nissan is set to bolster its SUV range further with the next-gen Nissan Pathfinder due towards the end of 2021.
While the Toyota RAV4 is the top-selling mid-size SUV in Australia, with 23.6 per cent segment share (9338 sales) after the first three months of trading in 2021, the Nissan X-TRAIL is doing well to be in third place with an 11.8 per cent share (4676 sales) given its age.
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