Nissan X-Trail e-Power on sale from $54K + ORC

NISSAN has officially launched its X-Trail e-Power with e-4orce petrol-electric medium SUV range in Australia this week, despite the vehicle being in showrooms since December last year.

Priced from $54,190 plus on-road costs – or $4200 more than the petrol-powered equivalent – the highly specified two-variant hybridised X-Trail range will vie directly with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, forthcoming Honda CR-V e:HEV, and perhaps even the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid, despite offering different technology to them all.

Unlike conventional hybrid systems, Nissan’s e-Power technology provides motive power by electric motors only, the petrol engine only used to charge the battery or to power the inverter directly.

The benefits are said to be instant response and more linear power delivery, the system proven previously in Nissan models sold overseas including the Note that competed with the likes of the Honda Jazz.

Powering the X-Trail e-Power range is a 2.1kWh battery and sophisticated 106kW/250Nm three-cylinder turbo-petrol generator with variable compression ratio, in combination with twin electric motors (150kW/330Nm front, 100kW/195Nm rear). Total system power is listed at 157kW with a 0-100km/h sprint of 7.0 seconds.

Fuel economy is rated at 6.1 litres per 100km on the ADR combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 139 grams per kilometre when operated on 95 RON premium unleaded fuel, almost 30 per cent more than the equivalent figure for a RAV4 hybrid that will also accept less expensive 91 RON fuel.

Locally, Nissan will offer all-wheel drive versions of the X-Trail e-Power with e-4orce in Ti and Ti-L grades only.

For the Ti grade, we find leather-accented upholstery, 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, LED indicators, digital rear-view mirror, tri-zone climate control, adaptive driving beam, auto wipers and a powered tailgate.

A 12.3-inch infotainment array includes wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto and DAB+ digital radio, the variant also offering a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.8-inch colour head-up display.

The flagship Ti-L (from $57,190 + ORC) adds a heated steering wheel, 10-speaker Bose premium audio, quilted Nappa leather upholstery, memory function for the front seats, rear door sunshades, a hands-free tailgate, and remote engine start.

Safety equipment mirrors that available in the petrol-powered X-Trail range while braked towing capacity is rated at 1650kg for both e-Power variants, 350kg less than petrol models. Service pricing matches that of the standard X-Trail range with intervals set at 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.

Service pricing is capped for six years and totals $3051 for the period, or $5 more than a comparable petrol X-Trail.

“This is a true best of both worlds solution, delivering the smooth and immediate acceleration of an EV, only without ever needing to plug in,” said Nissan Australia managing director Adam Paterson.

“The Nissan X-Trail e-Power with e-Force isn’t an evolution of an ICE powertrain, it’s a true bridge to Nissan’s fully electrified BEVs, like the Leaf or Ariya, delivering an EV-like drive experience, along with the confidence to travel as far as you need to.

“But efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of excitement. This is a premium SUV that delivers plenty of driving fun, along with all the technology and practicality on offer across the entire all-new Nissan X-Trail family.”

2023 Nissan X-Trail pricing*:

*excludes on-road costs.