Nor'West News: August 10, 2023
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12<br />
Thursday <strong>August</strong> <strong>10</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Incorporating<br />
best motorbuys<br />
www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />
Nissan X-Trail a luxurious ground-breaker<br />
NISSAN’S 4 TH generation X-Trail<br />
is a ground-breaker. It’s the first<br />
sold here with hybrid technology<br />
and the first SUV produced<br />
under the joint Nissan, Renault<br />
and Mitsubishi Automotive<br />
Alliance.<br />
This latest X-Trail is touted as<br />
Nissan’s most technologically<br />
advanced SUV and is unique in<br />
the world of hybrids, offering an<br />
EV-like drive experience without<br />
ever needing a plug or fast charger.<br />
Unlike conventional hybrids,<br />
Nissan’s e-POWER technology<br />
delivers a constant EV-like drive,<br />
thanks to the driven wheels being<br />
powered only by the electric<br />
motors.<br />
Both the exterior and interior<br />
of the new X-Trail are smart,<br />
modern and versatile.<br />
The flagship $66,990 model<br />
Ti-L e-POWER with e-4ORCE,<br />
supplied for this road test, is the<br />
Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />
real luxury SUV deal – and it<br />
needs to be with that hefty price<br />
tag.<br />
It includes a panoramic sunroof,<br />
tri-zone climate controlled<br />
air conditioning, heated steering<br />
wheel, <strong>10</strong>-speaker sound system,<br />
and hands-free opening of the<br />
rear tailgate.<br />
Its high-output 2.1kWh battery<br />
is teamed with a turbo-petrol<br />
engine, power generator, inverter<br />
and twin electric motors, with<br />
a combined system output of<br />
157kW. Charging the electric<br />
motors is the sole mission of a<br />
1.5-litre turbo-charged threecylinder<br />
petrol engine, and the<br />
wheels are exclusively driven by<br />
the electric motor. Pure electric<br />
motor drive means there is none<br />
of the power lag of an internal<br />
combustion engine or traditional<br />
hybrid.<br />
Thanks to the addition of a<br />
rear motor, the powerful dual<br />
e-motor system offers nippy acceleration,<br />
with a zero-<strong>10</strong>0km/h<br />
time of just 7.0 seconds. The<br />
e-4ORCE twin-motor all-wheeldrive<br />
system delivers reassuring<br />
traction in damp, muddy and<br />
icy conditions. It’s smoother and<br />
livelier to drive that most hybrids<br />
– and about as close as you will<br />
get to full EV driving in a vehicle<br />
that isn’t EV, but does a great job<br />
of impersonating one.<br />
A new-generation CVT (Constant<br />
Variable Transmission)<br />
delivers better fuel economy<br />
thanks to improved ratio coverage.<br />
Several upgrades ensure a<br />
big step up from the lethargic<br />
and indifferent CVT used in the<br />
previous model.<br />
For a mid-sized SUV this one<br />
is roomier than most with and<br />
load space to burn, with a generous<br />
sized boot.<br />
Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility<br />
suite of active safety tech has<br />
greater capability. Standard<br />
functions include Predictive<br />
Forward Collision Warning,<br />
Intelligent Cruise Control with<br />
Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane<br />
Departure Warning and Rear<br />
Auto Emergency Braking with<br />
pedestrian and cyclist detection<br />
technology. An Acoustic Vehicle<br />
Alerting System on e-POWER<br />
models lets other road users<br />
know an electrified vehicle is<br />
approaching, when the X-Trail<br />
is operating in near-silent EV<br />
Mode.<br />
The advanced multi-link rear<br />
suspension excels when under<br />
siege from sudden direction<br />
changes, or different road cambers.<br />
The suspension and steering<br />
establishes greater interactions<br />
between driver, vehicle and<br />
road, which make this vehicle a<br />
more enjoyable drive than any<br />
other X-Trail.<br />
This isn’t a serious off-road<br />
vehicle. If you wanting that then<br />
you’ll need to look elsewhere.<br />
However, it’s perfect for<br />
powering its way up ski field<br />
access roads or reasonably well<br />
formed gravel tracks, but its<br />
average ground clearance make<br />
excursion over more demanding<br />
terrain risky.<br />
Rating out of <strong>10</strong>:<br />
Performance 8; Handling<br />
7; Build Quality 7; Comfort<br />
7; Space 8; Styling, 8; Test<br />
consumption 5.8L/<strong>10</strong>0km;<br />
Value for money 6; Safety<br />
– 5-star ANCAP crash<br />
rating. Overall points out<br />
of <strong>10</strong>: 7.5<br />
Vaughan pirie<br />
owner operator<br />
027 565 5577<br />
vpbaeries@gmail.com<br />
www.vpbaeries.co.nz<br />
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