Nissan X-Trail: Ready for anything

Just last month, Nissan Cebu introduced the all-new Nissan X-Trail compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) to the Cebuano market.
The X-Trail is one of the vehicles Nissan is pinning its hopes on in order to bolster its presence in the Philippine market.
The Japanese automaker picked the right vehicle to do the job as this SUV has what it takes to be a winner.
The third-generation X-Trail has a sleeker look compared to its boxy predecessor, an engine that is fuel efficient yet powerful, a comfortable cabin, and enough techy features inside and out to make it one of the best all-around compact SUVs that is ready for any action on the road.
And here’s where it separates itself from its competitors: the X-Trail is a seven-seater crossover.
Although the third-row — standard on all two variants — may be a bit tight for an adult, its presence still serves as an advantage since it can, after all, carry two extra passengers. Small ones, though.
But the theater-style, three-row seating in an interior filled with luxurious paneling with soft-touch surfaces isn’t the highlight of this SUV. There’s more. Much more, actually.
Topping the list is the advanced chassis control technologies—Active Ride Control, Active Engine Brake, Cornering Stability Assist, which Nissan Motor Co. claims are the first in the world.
Active Ride Control monitors the road surface and effectively alters the suspension damping to control the vehicle’s pitch, managing body roll during high-speed cornering. Fine control of engine torque and the brake reduces vibrations and vehicle swaying on rough roads to improve riding comfort and the sense of safety.
Active Engine Brake assists in speed adjustments when cornering, reducing the number of times the driver steps on the brake pedal when cornering. This helps to lessen driver fatigue.
Cornering Stability Assist controls the brake to allow for stress-free cornering and minimal steering effort for smoother and safer driving.
All these came into play when Cebu Daily News tried the top-of-the-line X-Trail in different road surfaces in Cebu over the weekend. Driving it was a fatigue-free experience indeed, both on and off the road.
The comfort can be credited to the “zero gravity” seats that won’t make passengers feel stressed especially during long drives.
In the city, the X-Trail is easy to maneuver with its light steering. Aside from that, it’s also stable and smooth on the highway.
Off the road, it’s a monster, a beautiful one at that, thanks to its All-Mode 4×4-i system that can be controlled through a knob situated in the center console.

And the power of this vehicle just gives the driver peace of mind in any trail.
The 4X4 variant is powered by a 2.5-liter direct-injection engine that is capable of churning out 171 ps of power and 233 newton meter of torque.
But the X-Trail isn’t just fun to drive anywhere, it’s also easy to park.
This is made possible by the Around View Monitor, where four cameras placed around the vehicle to give the driver a 360 degree bird’s-eye view of the SUV with selectable split-screen close-ups of the front, rear, and curbside views displayed in a 5-inch monitor in the dashboard.
But this feature isn’t available in the 2.0 4X2 variant of the X-Trail. Still, the lower variant isn’t a pushover. Its engine has a maximum power of 144 PS and a torque of 200 NM.

Except for the bigger engine, the 4X4 capability, Hill Descent Control, Around View Monitor, cruise control, Bluetooth and a few other creature comforts, the 4X2 variant shares almost the same features with the top spec such as dual airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, Vehicle Dynamic Control (stability control), Hill Start Assist, push-button ignition and daytime running lights. /with reports from motioncars.inquirer.net

Here are more photos of the X-Trail in action on and off the road: (PHOTOS BY LITO TECSON)

Read more...