Test drive Nissan X-Trail
The Nissan X-Trail is one of the most popular midsize crossovers in the segment. And the record-breaking snowy winter showed why such cars are in great demand.
Naturally, no one took the parking space - yesterday I spent an hour to get out of there a budget sedan. Digging snow and burning the clutch. Nissan X-Trail drove in there on one try, and the next morning it just as easily left, not noticing additional centimeters of precipitation and a snow parapet erected by an unknown communal tractor. You say crossover is fashion? This is a necessity for Russia.
When the existing X-Trail first appeared, it looked unusually lightweight compared to its boxy and utilitarian predecessor, successfully disguised as an SUV. But that was only the first impression. The flowing and flowing lines of the Qashqai have been roughened, and the older crossover looks imposing and massive. In any case, against the background of the first generation BMW X5, which is parked nearby.
Electric heating quickly removes ice from the windshield. The wipers rise without the risk of damaging the edge of the hood - Nissan quickly responded to complaints from owners and changed the design of the brushes. It quickly gets warm inside the cabin, but the fingers get unpleasantly cold from the steering wheel - electric heating of the rim for the X-Trail is not offered even in the maximum configuration. Now this option is even available on Solaris and it is quite logical to expect it on a crossover that costs over $ 25. It's good if they add it during the next update. In any case, the soplatform Renault Koleos has a heated steering wheel.
Softness is the word that best describes the interior of the X-Trail. This applies not only to the materials of the upholstery (here even the sides of the central tunnel are made soft), but also to the lines%, the front panel bends, as if hugging the passengers. It is cozy, including due to the comfortable seats - those with zero gravity, made according to NASA research.
Sounds like a marketing ploy, but apparently the aerospace agency knows a lot about a comfortable landing. Coasters with heating function add coziness. Plus, not so long ago, improved sound insulation. With it, the crossover feels like a more expensive car. You can't find fault with this: the interior is assembled efficiently and accurately. Unless there is a newfangled stitching and glossy carbon fiber inserts turned out to be too unnatural. And the only driver's power window with automatic mode begs the question - was it worth saving like that?
The intelligent parking assistance system turned out to be too tricky, as if you were planting a lunar module. The system of all-round cameras - the rear one also cleans itself on its own - is more convenient when maneuvering. At the same time, the level of technology on board the crossover cannot be called space. The dials are not painted, but real. From the touchscreen - only the multimedia touchscreen, but it is surrounded by many physical buttons - yesterday.
The passenger compartment dominates the X-Trail look: the crossover does not seek to showcase a long bonnet or a sporty silhouette. Inside, it is really spacious, even with a panoramic roof. Rear passengers sit high, legroom is impressive, and there is almost no central tunnel. The halves of the chairs can be moved, and their backs can be tilted. Additional amenities are sparse - air ducts and cup holders. There is no heating on the second row, and competitors also offer folding tables and curtains. In addition, on the X-Trail, the door does not completely cover the threshold and it is easy to stain the trousers with a dirty pad.
The X-Trail's trunk is not the largest in the mid-size segment at 497 liters, but it is roomy and deep. If the rear backrests are folded, the cargo volume triples, and for transporting long items, you can limit yourself to folding the central part of the backrest. The sliding curtain retracts underground for a full-size spare wheel. The removable floor section can be positioned vertically or horizontally with the help of clever projections and slots, by dividing the rack into parts. Unfolding the load is easy, but how to secure it?
Along with improved brushes and improved noise isolation, the X-Trail suspension settings have changed. Now it rides noticeably softer and more comfortable, although it marks the joints and the comb. It got better despite the fact that the rolls in the corners increased. The crossover's handling is recklessly tuned, but the stabilization system intervenes too early and does not turn off completely. For a family car, such settings are acceptable - both the driver does not get bored and the passengers are safe. In addition, the X-Trail is prone to yaw in the ruts of the country road, so the intervention of the belay electronics does not hurt.
The top engine 2,5 l (177 hp) cheerfully and loudly responds to gas, the crossover picks up a "hundred" from a place in 10,5 s - a good result for the segment. The variator still makes acceleration smooth and feels stretched. On slippery roads, this is even good, and the Eco button can be used instead of snow mode. Average consumption in heavy traffic and sub-zero temperatures is 11-12 liters.
The two-liter engine (144 hp) is more economical only on paper - in the city it should consume almost two liters less. If you drive at the same pace and with a good load, then there will be no advantage, and the loss in dynamics will be felt. For a car whose weight with all the options and with all-wheel drive exceeds 1600 kg, this option is still rather weak. There is also a 130 hp diesel engine, but in Russia it is available exclusively with a 6-speed "mechanics" - clearly not an option for a large city.
The X-Trail can also be ordered with front-wheel drive, but with the top-end 2,5 liter engine, the rear axle is in any case connected using a multi-plate clutch. During a snowfall, it is more comfortable to drive with four-wheel drive, especially outside the city. And to park - too. Of course, it really comes in handy a couple of times a year, but you can create more opportunities for this.
For serious situations, there is a Lock mode, which transfers more thrust back, although it does not provide full clutch lock. At the same time, the off-road capabilities of the X-Trail are limited by the long front bumper and the CVT's tendency to overheat during long slips.
In Russia, the X-Trail is more popular than the more compact Qashqai, and in January it bypassed another popular St. Petersburg-assembled crossover, the Toyota RAV4. This is in spite of the fact that this model is being sold avno, and it is not so long to wait for its update. Prices start at $ 18. - so much is the version with front-wheel drive and "mechanics". The difference between a 964L and 2,5L engine is only $ 2,0. - this is a reason to prefer a more powerful option. In addition, the 1-horsepower X-Trail can be purchased in several trim levels, the simplest one with a cloth interior will cost a little more than $ 061.
The editors are grateful to the administration of the Yakhroma Park ski resort for their help in organizing the shooting.
| Body type | Crossover |
| Dimensions (length / width / height), mm | 4640/1820/1715 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2705 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 210 |
| Cargo space, l | 497-1585 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1659/1701 |
| Gross vehicle weight, kg | 2070 |
| engine's type | Gasoline naturally aspirated, 4-cylinder |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 2488 |
| Max. power, h.p. (at rpm) | 171/6000 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm (at rpm) | 233/4000 |
| Drive type, transmission | Full, variator |
| Max. speed km / h | 190 |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s | 10,5 |
| Fuel consumption, l / 100 km at 60 km / h | 8,3 |
| Price from, $. | 23 456 |
