Space Technology

By: Vladimir Melnikoff
Success makes addicted - on still more success. Nissan could sell world-wide approximately 800,000 vehicles from its first compact sport utility Vehicle (SUV) with name X-Trail since the year 2000.

Into Germany nearly each second user had driven a sedan or a combination before. Why should one change thus something for the new edition?

Outwardly proof of worth, inside however…

Nissan decided in view of this success history to build with the exterior on the proven and essentially offer under the sheet metal new, particularly since with customer opinion polls it had turned out that three of ten X-Trail-drivers use their SUV actually also in the area and a further quarter him than towing vehicle. The successor could thus nothing by his area qualities lose, should better to the road be however at the same time adapted.

Good “climbing characteristics”

In the area the new one in the rauen mountains of north Greece proved now that it to it-won on this occasion. On the platform of the Qashquai developed and with an automatically connecting all-wheel drive provided, he creates amazing climbing portions without complaints from the obviously very torsionally stiff body. A Differenzialsperre and a mountain driving off assistance, which limit the speed on approximately 7 km/h by ABS, help it.

Comfortably on such as off Road

On the road the investment disburses itself into the new chassis. The straight line discharge convinces, and the driving dynamics fits likewise. It is no curve miracle, but it masters also mountain passages quite manierlich and - owing to its standard ESP - unproblematically. On the road and in the area equally the X-Trail moves its passengers amazingly comfortably.

Propulsion variants

Well the combination with the 2-Liter-Dieselmotor with 110 KW /150 HP of achievement and a maximum torque of 320 Newtonmeters (Nm) with the six-course transducer mechanism pleased us. In addition Nissan offers a 2,5-Liter-Diesel with 127 KW/173 HP, which with the mechanism can be likewise rigged. Both engines with a six-course hand switch are supplied in series.

In addition two four cylinder Benziner are available, of one with two litres capacity, 104 KW/141 HP and 196 Nm, the larger with 2,5 litres, 124 KW/169 HP and 233 Nm. Nissan assumes however in Germany nearly 90 per cent of Diesel can be brought to the man. But first consumption speaks. For the Diesels 7.1 litres and/or 7.4 litres per 100 km are indicated as normal consumption, for the Benziner of 8.7 and/or 9.8 litres plus mechanism addition, if the transducer mechanism is ordered. If one decides for the stepless CVT transmission, consumption sinks easily.

Handling characteristics

With the road performances the Benziner and the Diesels take themselves not much. The smaller accelerate the X-Trail in approximately 10 seconds of 0 to 100 km/h, the larger need for it one second less. In the maximum speed the Diesels with scarcely 190 km/h and approximately 200 km/h lie even a little more highly than the Benziner. But they offer then also approximately 40 per cent more torques, meanwhile jeep drivers did not only learn which to estimate.

More ITS than seem…

That outwardly apparently so little changed new ones grew after the slogan: More its than seem. However at tray surfaces, beverage holding and pilot possibilities in the interior he offers now approximately 50 litres of volume. Its trunk grew even on class optimum of more than 600 litres, if one takes the lower load soil out, under which approximately 120 litres camouflaged area hide themselves. If one leaves in the vehicle, 40:20 develops after surrounding the rear seat in the relationship: 40 a completely even loading area. Without the soil maximally 1773 litres of volume are available. That empty something over two tons weighing X-Trail can zuladen - depending upon equipment - between 460 kilograms and well 530 kilograms and draw as Diesels maximally two tons.

To the Interieur

Only in the interior we had with this first establishment of contact somewhat too meckern. Thus one decided with the instrument panel to throughout high-quality materials, but there is too many, and properly matching finished they could also be. In addition the instrument panel with the put on peak in the center and many corners and edges works rather fissured as elegant or sporty.

Also we would have found gladly larger seats with better side stop. But side stop for particularly fast curves was not the goal of the developers. The X-Trail is not a curve artist, but in the best sense a good car: useful, on the height of the compact SUV time and with good manners.

The price structure

Manierlich is also the price structuring for Germany. The new costs approximately 1500 euro more as the old, has however Diesel soot filters and ESP to offer in series and shows also otherwise clearly more qualities than the old person. It will give the 2007-er to class in three equipment lines: XE, SE and LE. The price margin reaches from 26,900 euro to 35,140 euro for the fully equipped LE with the strong Diesel and mechanism. Not a straight good deal, in addition, no reason to predict the end of the Erfolgsstory of the X-Trail.

(ar/Sm)

Automotive blog