Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Nissan X-Trail Review: The Big Family Cruiser
The year was 2005 when Nissan debuted the X-Trail SUV in India. The first-gen Nissan X-Trail was a tough no-nonsense Japanese SUV built to deal with the rough stuff while ferrying the family about comfortably.
The first-gen (T30) X-Trail made way for the T31 generation in 2007, and this version of the SUV too made its way into India and was even assembled at the Renault-Nissan alliance production facility in Chennai.
The second-generation X-Trail had grown larger in size and featured even more creature comforts for the occupants inside as the SUV moved from its more off-road roots to a more car-like direction.
However, the X-Trail story in India ended in 2014. Despite unveiling the third-gen (T32) version of the SUV, which featured even more car-like features and design, Nissan decided to pull the plug on the X-Trail for India, ending a nine-year-long journey.
Now, a decade after the X-Trail drove away from our shores, the Japanese SUV is back once again in its new fourth-gen (T33) avatar. We recently got the chance to get behind the wheel of the new 2024 Nissan X-Trail in New Delhi to experience the SUV as it returns to our nation's roads...
Nissan X-Trail Review: Design & Features - Big & Bold
The new fourth-generation Nissan X-Trail sees the SUV return to a more SUVish design after going down the crossover route. The front end is upright and is dominated by the double V-Motion grille.
Flanking the grille on either side is the split LED headlight setup that combine to form the shape of the letter 'U'. The sharper top section acts both as the DRL and the turn indicator while the headlights sit lower on the front bumper next to vents that channel air towards the wheelarches.
The lower section of the front bumper features a large air intake with active shutters that open to feed cool air into the engine and close to help with the aerodynamic efficiency of the new SUV. Underneath the lower air vent sits a silver bash plate.
The sides of the new X-Trail are dominated by the snazzy 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels it rides on that are draped in are draped 255/40 tyres and sit under plastic-clad rounded wheelarches.
Other highlights of the new Nissan X-Trail include the floating roof design, blacked-out A, B and C pillars, wraparound LED taillights that feature a Boomerang-shaped signature lighting element for the brake lights and a small roof-mounted spoiler at the rear that hosts the third brake light.
Step inside the new Nissan X-Trail and you're greeted by an interior that features quite a bit of soft-touch materials to give you that premium feel. Sitting behind the flat-bottomed-steering wheel with paddle shifters is the 12.3-inch driver's display while the centre of the multi-layered dash is topped by an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that also displays the output of the 360-degree camera setup.
Underneath the infotainment screen are physical buttons to control its various functions followed by the central vents and the controllers for the dual-zone automatic climate control system and finally the USB ports, 12V socket and the engine start-stop button.
The central section between the driver and passenger seats sports the wireless phone charger, the gear shifter, electronic parking brake, drive mode switch and cupholders. The central armrest also opens up to reveal more storage space inside.
The Nissan X-Trail for India is the three-row seven-seater version of the SUV. The front seats are comfortable to be in as is the middle row, which features a recline function along with a 40/20/40 split.
The second row of seats offers ample room for even taller occupants though we do wish that there was more under-thigh support. However, the large sunroof makes you forget about most of those complaints as it makes the cabin feel even larger and roomier than it actually is.
The third row of seats is best left for the kids as it doesn't really offer much space for the normal adult. The seating position isn't the best nor is the ingress and egress, despite the wide opening doors and the rolling second row of seats.
In terms of safety, the X-Trail features seven airbags, ABS with EBD, VDC, traction control, all-wheel disc brakes, hill start assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system, a 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors and an electronic parking brake.
Nissan X-Trail Review: Specs & Dimensions - Variable Geometry
The 2024 Nissan X-Trail for India is offered with only a single drivetrain offering. This features a 1.5-litre variable geometry turbo, three-cylinder petrol engine that pushes out 161bhp at 4,800 rpm and 300Nm of peak torque between 2,800 and 3,600rpm.
The engine is aided by a 12V mild hybrid system and sends all its power to the front wheels of the X-Trail via a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The Nissan X-Trail sprints from 0-100km/h in a claimed 9.6 seconds and a top speed of 200km/h. Mileage is a claimed 13.7km/l.
The new Nissan X-Trail measures 4,680mm in length, 1,840mm in width, and 1,725mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,705mm. The 2024 X-Trail offers 210mm of ground clearance.
If you don't have a large family or aren't retrieving your mates from their latest pub binge by fulfilling your designated driver duties, we recommend folding down the third row of seats to access the full capacity of the 585-litre boot. If you're on a shopping trip or on the way back from Ikea and need more space, folding down the second row of seats increases the storage space inside to 1,484 litres.
Nissan X-Trail Review: Driving Impressions - Mostly Smooth Operator
The new Nissan X-Trail is an SUV built for comfort and the way it drives reflects that. It cruises on the highways with absolute ease and even in town, it is quite the comfortable car to be in.
The variable geometry turbo on the 1.5-litre three-pot engine is quite a clever bit of kit. At lower speeds, it maintains a high compression ratio (14:1) to give you the big fuel economy numbers desis obsess about.
However, mash the accelerator down in anger, and the engine switches to a low-compression ratio (8:1) that gives you access to all the power the force-fed three-pot has to offer. And while the 1.5-litre engine does make a bit of raucous noise, the acceleration while brisk, doesn't quite match up to the noise.
There are three driving modes on offer - Eco, Standard and Sport. Switching through these modes does bring about a change in the throttle response and steering weight. However, the steering is light enough in Standard mode to make parking a breeze.
The suspension setup of the 2024 Nissan X-Trail is quite softly sprung and it deals with road imperfections with absolute ease except if you hit a pothole at a high rate of speed. The soft suspension also means that there is a bit of body roll on the twisty roads but on the highway at higher speeds, the X-Trail feels planted.
Nissan X-Trail Review: Verdict & Final Thoughts - The Big Family Cruiser
The Nissan X-Trail sees the Japanese marque bring back a much-loved nameplate to the Indian car market after nearly a decade. The new Nissan X-Trail is an SUV that is comfortable both in the city and for long trips, making it the perfect option for those looking for a large-ish family SUV.
Continue with Google