New Delhi: Nissan is planning some big launches for the Indian market but the most important one is the X-Trail SUV as that for now has been confirmed for our market as the first entry. We spent some time with the car at the unveiling event to see what this big SUV is all about. For now, the X-Trail would be tested for our roads and the launch would be expected to happen next year.
It is a premium luxury SUV aimed at the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq and the Hyundai Tucson while being powered by an interesting powertrain.
The X-Trail is bigger now and is a plus sized SUV with a typical Nissan design language but it does stand out while the size also helps. The front-end has a large DRL which is separated from the fog lamps while the grille is big as well. SUV design elements are there including thick cladding.
The stand out is the interior which has loads of tech while the show car has good quality matching other similarly sized SUVs. There are premium leather, quilted seats while there is a massive heads-up display, a full 12.3-inch TFT digital display for the driver and a 12.3-inch touchscreen.
The HUD is 10-inch and displays a huge amount of information. The India spec X-Trail would be expected to have a panoramic sunroof while a 7-seater could also be offered along with a 5-seater version. Other features include 3-zone climate control, Amazon Alexa and connected tech plus more. We found the interior to be spacious with a comfortable rear seat.
What will set the X-Trail apart would be its e-Power system which is not your average hybrid. The X-Trail has two electric motors, a petrol engine, and a lithium-ion battery. The petrol engine is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol which acts as a generator and does not drive the wheels. Hence you do need to fill fuel but way less and drive it like an EV basically. This results in fuel economy which would be much better than other SUVs of its size plus the X-Trail will also have the electrified all-wheel drive system as well.
It is a complicated system for sure but the X-Trail feels different and if priced well, the unique hybrid system will have takers for sure. The big talking point is the pricing since we aren’t sure whether the X-Trail would be assembled or most likely be an import but in this premium segment price is not as issue as seen with the Fortuner while a premium hybrid SUV could certainly give Nissan a slice of this segment.
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