BAD-ASS X-TRAIL ATTACKS SKI SLOPES

Check this out. Nissan has modified an X-Trail SUV to work in the snow with the creation of the X-Trail Mountain Rescue Concept. The modifications include the replacement of the wheels with snow tracks, to give the X-Trail the traction to tackle slippery slopes. GMC did a similar thing with Sierra 2500HD All Mountain concept in 2018. As well as adding the tracks, a bespoke roof rack has been added to the X-Trail to carry an evacuation stretcher and snow shovels. A siren, flashing light bar and powerful lights have… Read more

NISSAN QASHQAI ST-L

Once known as Dualis, Nissan’s small SUV the Qashqai has grown in size and stature over the years. Sitting between the Juke and X-Trail in terms of size, the current, third generation Qashqai was launched in 2021. It’s 60kg lighter than before, stands taller, longer and wider, and has a longer wheelbase — and of course costs more. That means more room for luggage, and more knee and leg room for rear seat passengers. What’s not to like? STYLING The latest, third generation Qashqai comes in four grades: ST, ST+,… Read more

TASKMASTER OF HUGE PROPORTIONS

Question: does the Navara PRO-4X Warrior, a latecomer to the ranks, have enough to take on the army of talent in one of the most closely fought contests in the Aussie automobile market? With fully armed dual cab pick-ups the likes of the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota HiLux Rugged, Mazda BT50 Thunder, Isuzu’s D-Max and the US Ram holding the line, the Navara Warrior has its work cut out. Not that Nissan isn’t out to giving things a shake, calling on input from local specialist engineer Premcar, to light… Read more

X-TRAIL HAS ROOTS IN ‘ENEMY TERRITORY’

In one of the most competitive segments of the automobile industry one company has called on rivals for one of its most important products. Nissan has put together its fourth generation X-Trail with parts from the Mitsubishi Outlander on a Nissan-Renault Alliance CMC-F platform. Weighing in with six petrol-powered variants in front or all-wheel drive – there are two e- Power hybrid electric vehicles on the horizon – the bitser takes on the task of making up ground on well-established rivals such as Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Hyundai… Read more

NISSAN ALTIMA 2013 – 2017

Nissan Altima has been on sale in Australia since November 2013 and competed in the midsize sedan field. Leading the sales race was the Toyota Camry, with Ford Mondeo, Mazda6, Subaru Liberty and VW Passat also in the mix. Styling is a strong point of the Altima and it takes its own route, with wide horizontal chrome dominating the grille and a large badge in the centre. Indeed, it was a leader in style department as just about everyone else has taken up the big-grille look in in the years… Read more

NISSAN MURANO 2005 – 2015

Nissan Murano SUV was ahead of its time in styling and didn’t sell as well as it deserved in this country. But time times have changed and these days many SUVs and crossovers have smoother lines that look quite swish. Murano has stretch-out room for four adults. Three grownups in the back works fine if they aren’t overly broad in the beam. Four have stretch out space. As a real bonus the flat floor at the rear seats makes life easy for the person seated in the centre. Too often… Read more

NISSAN Z NISMO COMING DOWN UNDER

Nissan has confirmed that the high-performance Nismo version of its Z sports coupe will be coming to Australia later this year. On sale here since mid-2022 the Nissan Z is the latest in a line of sports cars that go all the way back through the golden era of Nissan sports cars from the 1969 Datsun 240Z to the 370Z, the last one to have a three-digit prefix, signifying engine size. Due here in late 2023 the new Z Nismo will come in a single grade, priced at $94,000 plus… Read more

NISSAN MICRA 2007 – 2016

Nissan Micra is a stylish little city car that looks just right in the crowded cities all over the world. Mitsubishi is master at small cars and the Micra is one of the best it has ever penned. There’s pretty good interior space for a car in this class. Rear seat legroom is acceptable to most adults, but the right-rear seat space will depend on how tall the driver is. The sloping roof can cause hassles for taller passengers. It’s sold as a five-door hatch, in a market segment where… Read more

CLASS ACT – NISSAN PATROL WARRIOR PREVIEW

Nissan or should we say Premcar has previewed the Nissan Patrol Warrior. Due later this year, it features a 50mm lift, cosmetic changes and a bi-modal exhaust system with tailpipes that exit in front of the rear wheels — so you can hear them better. Premcar’s Engineering Director Bernie Quinn said the underlying idea was to increase the Patrol’s capability rather than “shift’ or takeaway from what it could already do. “Crucially it was engineered in Australia by Australian engineers for Australian customers,” he said. As well as the 50mm… Read more

X-TRAIL PUTS EXTRA ‘E’ INTO HYBRID SUV

Not to make too much of a point about it, but beating of chests by automobile manufacturers about their fight to save the planet appear to be getting louder. Take Nissan, for example, with its new X-Trail petrol / electric hybrid SUV. Badges announcing e-Power and e-4orse, the company’s commitment to electrification, are plastered prominently all-round the vehicle on top of the restrained EV initials (for electric vehicle) found on rego plates of similar cars. Under the skin e-POWER is a 100 per cent electric motor-driven system Nissan claims gives… Read more