Nissan Philippines has undergone a change of management, now being handles by the mother company from Japan, and renaming itself as Nissan Philippines Inc. in order to regain what was lost in what was once one of the largest carmakers in the country. Regaining foothold of an already crowded market can be really challenging, and what is Nissan Philippines Inc.’s strategy you may ask? It seems they are bringing up a line-up that is feature packed and aggressively well-priced. That applies to the newly-launched vehicle we are talking about. One of the most highly anticipated compact crossover SUVs in the Philippines, the Nissan X-Trail.
The third generation Nissan X-Trail diverges from its predecessors completely. Gone are the square and boxy designs of old, replaced with a sleeker, more contemporary design. Nissan’s V-Motion grille is complemented by a sleek pair of projector-type headlamps w/ LED daytime running lights, which also complements the boomerang-shape tail lamps.
One of the X-Trail’s key selling points is the available third row seating, bring the seating capacity up to 7. The Chevrolet Captiva is the only other vehicle that offers a third row in this segment. Flexible seating increases practicality. 40/20/40 split folding second row seats and 50/50 split folding third row seats that fold flat to the floor means the Nissan X-Trail can also double as a minivan/MPV when it comes to carrying capability.
The Nissan X-Trail’s interior is luxuriously appointed with high quality materials. There are plenty of soft-touch surfaces and high-gloss piano black trim all around the cabin, which makes this a very relaxing place to sit in, especially for long journeys. The 2.5 4WD models adds a 5.0 inch central TFT LCD infotainment screen with Bluetooth capability. Smart key with push-button start and steering wheel audio controls come as standard on all variants.
In the safety and convenience front, Nissan has pulled out all the stops in this new X-Trail, with a plethora of first in it’s class features fitted as standard on all models. Active Ride Control is the segment’s first active suspension, a system which continually monitors the road and adjusts the dampers in order to give the perfect setting for handling and comfort. Active Engine Brake, on the other hand, increases safety and stability, adjusting the engine speed to ensure smooth braking when turning. Hill Start Assist applies the brakes when setting off in a hill, ensuring your X-Trail does not roll back and collide with the vehicle behind it.
The Nissan X-Trail has always been known as one of the few compact crossovers that is actually more of the off-road go rather than the show. It’s capable 4×4 system has been further refined to make it easier to use, particularly the introduction of the 4×4-i system. It uses a knob to clear the space in the center console, and can be switch to 4WD lock whenever the situation demands for it.
That doesn’t stop there, there are more innovations available in the 2.5 4WD model. A feature usually reserved for luxury cars, the Nissan X-Trail introduces a first-in-class Around View Monitor (AVM). It is a 4-camera system, in which these cameras are combined in order to give the driver a seamless and clear top down view of the vehicle. This feature works in tandem with the standard view of the X-Trail’s rear view camera.
The Nissan X-Trail is powered by 2 engines. The 4×2 2.0 model is powered by a MR20DD inline-4 DOHC petrol engine that produces 142 hp and 200 Nm of torque, while the 4×4 2.5 model is powered by a QR25DE inline-4 DOHC petrol engine that produces 169 hp and 233 Nm of torque. Both models are mated to Nissan’s XTRONIC CVT with Tiptronic mode.
2.0 4×2: P1,375,000 (P1,350,000 until October 31, 2014)
2.5 4×4: P1,580,000 (P1,550,000 until October 31, 2014)
Which is better, captiva or the x-trail?
The X-Trail is the better pick. I haven’t been in this new generation of the X-Trail, but the previous generation of the X-Trail alreadu fits my preference more than the Captiva. The X-Trail feels more robust, more refined, and has a better quality feel than the Captiva. The new generation should further enhance those traits, coupled with a host of new features, even in the 2.0 4×2 model.