Modern, but not aggressively so, the looks of the all-new Nissan X-Trail concept work well
Nissan X-Trail has been a major player in the SUV field in Australia for many years, so it didn’t make sense to mess overmuch with the basic design.
Just revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show as a concept, but which we predict is pretty close to the real thing, the latest Nissan X-Trail is sits about midway between a crossover and a ‘real’ SUV.
Arguably the biggest change in appearance is the conventional shape of the taillights, rather than the very distinctive lights of previous generations that ran all the way to the roof. The nose has an interesting new design theme that carries sufficient cues to the current one to be classed as a major evolution rather than a revolution. That’s smart in a car that’s so distinctive that it can be recognised from a hundred metres away.
The biggest news in the Nissan X-Trail concept is the option of two extra seats to make room for up to seven inside. Whether this will make it to Australia isn’t known at this stage. Quite a few Asian SUVs are sold with two or three rows of seats, but local importers generally feel the rearmost seats are too small for this country. We will have to wait and see.
Cleverly, the Nissan X-Trail concept has rear side doors that open to almost 80 degrees to make for easy access to the rearmost seats. Nissan points out this also makes it easier to get a child into and out of the child seat.
This X-Trail has a longer wheelbase to provide greater interior length. As well, the front seats have sculpted seat backs to provide extra legroom in the seats behind them.
The second row seats recline and slide and, where fitted, the third row folds forward to increase luggage space. The cargo area can be divided into upper and lower sections. In its topmost position, the board can hold up to 10 kilograms of luggage, or 75 kilograms in its lower position.
New Nissan X-Trail will be the first model to benefit from the latest generation NissanConnect in-car navigation, information and entertainment system with smart phone connectivity. It will give access by way of a 7-inch colour touch screen.
Inside, the Nissan concept show car has an interesting mix of geometric shapes done in metallic and piano black finishes. Neither too futuristic nor overly retro it works nicely.
As is common these days the Nissan X-Trail is built with either two or four-wheel-drive.
The X-Trail AWD looks to have better than average off-road traction for a crossover SUV thanks to an advanced electronic all-wheel-drive system, tagged as Nissan All Mode 4x4i. Controlled by a rotary switch on the centre console, it offers a choice between two-wheel drive, Auto mode or Lock offering permanent four-wheel drive.
Further details of all-new Nissan X-Trail engines will be released closer to the cars on sale date in Europe next year. Other than hints that the engines will be smaller in capacity and more fuel efficient nothing more is being revealed about them.
No timing for the new Nissan X-Trail in Australia has been announced at this stage, but given the success of the Japanese company here in recent years you can be sure we won’t be very far down the waiting list.
