Petrol models bump up and switch seating plans; clever new hybrids chart fresh territory.

PRICING of the next-generation X-Trail shows a $3000 to $5000 increase for the standard petrol editions while versions with a new hybrid drivetrain are $62,990 and $66,990 – new pricing territory for the type and more expensive than the sector favourite.

Nissan New Zealand is kicking off the launch of the fourth-generation car in its standard forms, apparently from next month, with the e-Power models coming in early 2023.

The technology will surely raise significant interest, and though it likely won’t be any more likely to steer clear of the derision those who commit to full electrics have for hybrid, there’s no argument Nissan has created a novel and clever type.

In base terms, e-Power is a series hybrid, with the front wheels being driven by an electric motor and a small battery that draws its power from a 1.5-litre variable compression ratio three-pot turbo petrol engine that’s designed to always run in the most optimal state for efficiency. X-Trail is the first e-Power with all-wheel-drive; that provision comes from it having an additional electric motor powering the rear axle.

As one overseas’ commentator commented: “Think of it as a petrol-powered electric car, with an ICE providing the electricity, rather than a large battery charged from an external source, and you’re pretty much there.”

The car goes to a fresh chassis - the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-C platform - and will front in five specifications.

In respect to that, there’s a big shake-up in spec for the pure petrols, retaining the familiar 2.5-litre with CVT with option of front-drive, and these have increased in price by $3000 to $5000, so start at $47,990 and run to $59,990. The e-Power models’ placement means their drivetrain effectively carries a $7000 premium over the high-end petrol ST-L and Ti-L equivalents with which they share badging comfort and driver assist spec.

The e-Powers are the first X-Trails in the $60k-plus zone. This pricing also makes them more expensive than the sector-dominating Toyota RAV4 hybrid - which avails in five specifications, from $47,290 to $58,790 - and the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, which starts at $56,990 under current pricing terms, but of course the drivetrain systems are not alike. Toyota’s delivers capability of driving wheels with petrol and/or electric propulsion.

In addition to placing it into X-Trail, the e-Power is also running in Nissan’s alternate sports utility, the smaller Qashqai, also incoming soon, and it has featured here already in ex-Japan pre-owned Nissans, notably the Kicks.

For X-Trail, Nissan in Europe rates the e-Power system’s combined output at 157kW, with individual torque outputs of 330Nm from the front motor, and 195Nm from the rear unit.

The result is a 7.0-second sprint from zero to 100kmh. Fuel economy on Europe’s WLTP test cycle in combined (urban and highway) driving is rated at 6.3 to 6.4 litres per 100km – about 10 percent higher than a RAV4 Hybrid AWD. In Australia, where testing is more lenient, Nissan claims an efficiency claim of 6.1L/100km. That’s thought to be around 1.9-2.4 L/100km ahead of a petrol X-Trail AWD.

Also available overseas is a cheaper front-wheel-drive e-Power model, with a 150kW output and a claimed WLTP fuel economy rating of 5.8 to 5.9L/100km. However, there is doubt this edition will avail to Australasia, at least not initially.

Nissan NZ advised the petrol prices to media last night and said detail about the e-Power prices would be forthcoming soon.

However, those stickers are already with Nissan dealers and being shared with potential customers, with no apparent caveats.

The e-Power hybrids are currently being experienced by several New Zealand writers in Slovenia and are the cars pictured today.

The new petrol-pure lineup has the ST and ST-L front-drive variants that were seven-seaters regressing to five chairs now, while all-wheel-drive editions that were five chair cars become to seven seaters. Only the Ti-L petrol retains in completely the same format as before.

So, that part of the family ticks as: ST 2WD, five seats, $47,990 (so up $5000, down two seats); ST 4WD seven seat, $49,990 (up two chairs, up $4000); ST-L 2WD, five seat, $53,990 (previously $47,490 and seven seats); ST-L, 4WD, seven seat, $55,990 (from $50,490 and five chairs) and Ti-L, 4WD, five seat at $59,990, so $3000 more than previously.

As is, Nissan NZ is signalling that even the standard X-Trail represents as the brand’s “most advanced SUV to date.”

Last month Nissan executives advised e-Power is a scalable system, so suited to large and small cars.

They suggest it is possible for e-Power to adapt to the next Navara – a co-join with the Mitsubishi Triton supposedly in the same vein as the current Ford Ranger/incoming Volkswagen Amarok and current Mazda BT-50/Isuzu D-Max – and its largest land lugger, the Patrol, which presently avails only in V8 petrol form. However, Nissan has added that it has definite plans to take those models down that technology track.

“In Japan, (-Power is used) on a different platform and in different components. Effectively, the architecture is scalable," Adam Robertson, a lead engineer for the e-Power programme, told Australian media.

When asked if the e-Power system could be scaled to suit a larger model such as a Patrol, Robertson is reported to have said: “Ultimately, the technology is scalable. e-Power as a concept is scalable. But I mean, obviously we wouldn't comment on any future plans on any models.”

A new Nissan Navara is expected in 2025 – developed alongside the next Mitsubishi Triton – while rumours suggest a new Nissan Patrol is going to be seen next year.

In a story published by the drive.com.au website, Robertson said an e-Power system on a larger vehicle would require more engineering than simply swapping in parts from the Qashqai and X-Trail – as the hybrid system in these vehicles has been tailored specifically for their platform.

Standard features for the Nissan X-Trail e-Power appear to match the variants they’re based on.

X-Trail e-Power-specific features referenced in Europe include a regenerative braking system – which can bring the car to “creeping speed”, not a full stop like some ‘one-pedal’ driving systems in electric cars – while in Japan there’s a noise cancellation system.

A ‘vehicle-to-load’ system – which features a home power outlet in the car capable of providing up to 1500W to power small electrical devices – does not appear to be available outside of Japan.

Arrival of the X-Trail and Qashqai, with the new Z sports car and Pathfinder also in the wind, will be of relief for Nissan’s dealer network, which has progressively struggled this year to represent new product in the showroom as examples of run-out products have exhausted and Covid impingements have kept other current product in short supply at best.