Ulasan Nissan X-Trail e-Power: lebih baik dari Toyota RAV4

Apa itu?

The hybrid version of Nissan’s X-Trail, which competes against the best-selling Toyota RAV4 in the very popular mid-sized SUV category in Australia.

Called the e-Power, this unique series-hybrid powertrain is available on three of the four X-Trail grades – ST-L, Ti and Ti-L. The base ST comes as petrol-only.

Apakah mobil ini memiliki silsilah balap?

Nissan has plenty of racing pedigree – whether at the Bathurst 1000, Bathurst 12 Hour, in the Japan Grand Touring Car Championship and Super GT, at Le Mans, in Formula E. But the X-Trail itself has minimal motorsport history aside from taking on the famous Dakar Rally in 2002, driven by French rockstar, the late Johnny Hallyday. We’d love to see a new X-Trail Dakar car for the modern era, of course.

Apa yang ada di bawah kap mesin?

There’s a petrol, turbocharged 1.5-litre inline three-cylinder engine, although it’s never connected to the wheels at all.

The engine functions exclusively as a generator for two electric motors which do all the propulsion. Taking a totally different hybrid approach to arch-nemeses Toyota, you could think of the X-Trail e-Power as an electric car but with a fuel tank and internal combustion engine instead of a giant rechargeable battery pack (a much cheaper approach – for now).

The front electric motor is 150kW and the rear, 100kW, making the X-Trail e-Power all-wheel-drive. Total system output is 157kW.

Bagaimana cara penanganannya?

Compared to a normal internal combustion engined car, the e-Power has responsive, near-silent electric acceleration – which we love. The buttery-smooth electric motors also elevate the X-Trail’s driving refinement to a new level.

The engine constantly kicks in and out, although it’s pretty quiet. Boot it and the engine wakes right up and sits at a fixed amount of revs, making the X-Trail e-Power momentarily feel like it’s a normal car with a constant variable transmission (CVT).

The handling is good, even if ultimately the weight blunts the e-Power’s cornering abilities. The e-Power system is about 235kg heavier than the non-hybrid versions (the Ti-L is 1911kg).

Ke mana Anda paling ingin mengendarainya?

The urban jungle is where the X-Trail e-Power excels. Sitting in traffic with the engine automatically off is serene, while it usually stays off as you enjoy the silent, smooth response of the electric motors. Especially punching off the line as the lights go green.

Seperti apa interiornya?

No matter the grade, the latest-generation X-Trail is a massive step-up on the old one, offering a budget-premium feel and more interior space. It’s a simple yet smart place to be, feeling contemporary and a bit classy.

That’s especially in the Ti-L e-Power, the top-spec grade. Its quilted Nappa leather seats are very luxe, and its dual 12.3-inch digital displays give it a high-tech feel.

How much does the Nissan X-Trail e-Power cost?

The entry-level ST-L e-Power is $49,990, while the Ti e-Power is $54,690 and the Ti-L e-Power $57,490 – all prices before on-road costs.

Apakah saya akan membelinya?

Yes – even if the X-Trail e-Power still uses more fuel than a RAV4 hybrid. It has a nicer, slightly roomier interior than the Toyota and it drives better, if you ask us. It’s also slightly more practical, with a sliding second row and rear doors that open almost 90 degrees.

Our test yielded 6.4L/100km whereas the Toyota will get closer to 5.0L/100km – and this could still be the clincher for some. Nissan also recommends 95RON premium unleaded to the Toyota’s 91RON, and the X-Power is surprisingly expensive to service, $2020 with a prepaid plan.