The all-new 2015 Nissan X-Trail....2.0l or 2.5l?

The all-new Nissan X-Trail was launched about a month ago here in Malaysia and today, very early in the morning of the third day of the year of the Goat that I have decided to give my opinion on this SUV.

The 2015 X-Trail is based on the latest Renault Nissan common module family platform and would be used by both Nissan and Renault to make lots of cars. Right now I know that this X-Trail is sold as the Nissan Rogue in America and the X-Trail elsewhere. A short wheelbase variant of this SUV is also produced and sold as the Nissan Qashqai or as Clarkson once called it, the Kumquat. Hey, I'm not the only motoring journo who likes giving new names to funny named Nissan if you get my drift. I suppose it has been quite lucky for Nissan Malaysia that they sold the X-Trail as an X-Trail instead of a Qashqai. It'll be a marketing nightmare trying to try sell the product. Cashcow you say? 

Anyway, the all new (3rd gen) X-Trail is actually quite a good looking vehicle. The exterior is good looking from the front and looks impressive when viewed from the front three quarter angle. The lines are sharp, and dynamic. It looks all modern instead of looking like a squared off chunky off roader when it is actually a small SUV that people would buy and use in the more urban areas.

The interior is also quite good if not great. It could have been better if there were more soft touch plastics around but it is quite a pleasant place to be in. It is not large like you would feel in something like a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport but you would not find it cramped. The interior of the X-Trail i saw was black, which is a nice change in a Nissan. Usually i find that Nissans sold in Malaysia by the official dealers have the most uncle-like of interior colours. Cream, cream and sometimes grey. So this is a good thing.

As for the other specs and goodies, you get front and rear parking sensors as well as a reverse camera. Other usual refinements include keyless push start, auto climate controls, rear air vents, auto wipers and headlights as well as the usual vehicle safety electronics and airbags. There is ABS, hill descent, traction control, hill start assist and something called the active ride control...which adjusts braking and engine torque to smoothen out the ride when it hits a bump. Of course, this is just some electronic nanny in action. You are not getting magic ride like in a Mercedes S-class which has cameras and radar to see the road ahead of the car and adjust as such. More of a gimmick in my opinion this ARC.

Anyway, this are all the usual stuff and gizmos you woudl find in almost any new car on sale today. What I like about the new X-Trail is the fact that Nissan is using direct injection for the Front wheel drive 2.0liter model. I like direct injection engines. The one is the Nissan has about 144hp but 200nm torque. A conventional outside the combustion chamber multi point injection engine would make a good 10nm less usually and this is what counts when lugging something like an SUV around. And i like the fact thar Nissan has decided to sell it with this efficient engine rather than a conventional multi point injection engine. The 2.5 4wd version still comes in the normal engine, but it has 171hp and 233nm. Not great, but adequate in my opinion. You still can cruise at over the speed limit with ease. What the 2.0liter will give you over the 2.5 is better efficiency and economy. Oh, both come with the CVT gearbox with on the fly diff switching and diff lock for the 2.5. But, I somehow think that this isn't meant for heavy duty work too with such a tranny unit ( CVTs aren't too well known for its robustness if you get what I mean).

And this folks is why I would just choose the 2.0l 2wd X-Trail over its bigger 2.5liter version. And honestly, in all the years of following the off-roading scene, I've not known anyone who bought an X-trail and take it into the Malaysian rain forest for a challenge. I've actually known a few large construction companies using the earlier X-trails for their engineers to use but I would hardly call them heavy duty vehicles as they are only used to go to the project site and back. And now, if you look how nice, feminine and curvy the X-Trail looks, instead of how tough and manly like, say a Nissan Patrol from the late 1980s, you'd just want to carry some bicycles, surf boards, poodles, some kids and the maid or stuff from the nearest Cold Storage.

So just pay RM143,284.59 for the Nissan X-trail 2.0l cvt and save the extra RM23,000 or so over the 2.5l cvt version. Buy some 2.5l badges. Like how some of you buy Lexus badges and stick it on your Vios knowing or not knowing that there isnt a Vios sized Lexus in existence. This would be slightly better. 

There, now isn't that great consumer advice for the new year?