2024 Nissan X-Trail Petrol Pros & Cons Explained

Nissan is bringing back the X-Trail nameplate to the India market after more than a decade. This premium 3-row SUV or Crossover will compete with options like the Skoda Kodiaq and the Volkswagen Tiguan. To be imported as a CBU or a Completely Built Unit, this new model might carry an ex-showroom price of about Rs 40 lakh. Should you look at this Japanese offering in you are in the market for a premium, full-size SUV? Here are pros and cons that you should be aware of. To stay updated with such insightful sections, make sure to join our 91Wheels Whatsapp Channel, specifically curated for all the avid petrolheads with extensive coverage of the latest news and insights from the automotive space.

Nissan X-Trail Pros

Design

The current X-Trail not only has a sizeable road presence in terms of size, it also looks modern and muscular enough. The front is bold and brings a much needed wave of fresh air in the segment. Design cues do remind us of other global models like the Qashqai and Ariya. At the side, segment's best looking 20-inch alloy wheels take centre stage and lend this SUV a very sporty and stable stance. The rear is good if not as good as the front of the SUV. On the move, the Nissan X-Trail does turn heads and is surely a good plus point here.

Competition Check : The Volkswagen Tiguan wears an understate look though the Kodiaq is a close match. That said, both these rivals will get a facelift this year itself.

Powertrain

While the 2024 Nissan X-Trail might sport a small 1500cc engine, it excels in terms of technology and punch on offer. The mild hybrid set-up offers a boost of as much as 30 PS of power and outright acceleration is great for a small engine. Pedal to the metal, the X-Trail sprints from 0 to 100km/h in less than 9.5 seconds which is great for an automatic SUV. Part throttle response is surprisingly very good and this is due to the CVT automatic gearbox. This gearbox does not have the typical rubber-band effect either and the 8-step transmission does the job pretty well.

Competition Check: Though the Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan 180+ bhp of power, for most usage patterns, the X-Trail does not feel underpowered at all. Plus, the CVT is pretty responsive for city runs.

Efficiency

There are two reasons why the Nissan X-Trail is efficient for a large SUV. First, the small-capacity engine has variable compression tech and this means under less load, the compression goes high and so does the efficiency. Second, it has a mild hybrid set-up and also aiding this is a clever CVT gearbox. All these factors come together to make this the most fuel-efficient SUV in the segment. In urban conditions with moving traffic, you can expect double digits and out on highways, at 90-95 km/h, the Nissan X-Trail will deliver over 15-16 kmpl. The 55-litre tank means a range of over 800km before requiring a fill-up. Do note, the ARAI-rated figure stands at 13.7 kmpl.

Competition Check: While the Tiguan is rated at 13.3 kmpl as per ARAI, the Tiguan offers a lower-rated fuel economy of 12.7 kmpl. These figures are lower than that of the Nissan X-Trail

Ease of driving

If you are planning to upgrade from your smaller vehicle, the big Nissan X-Trail will not intimidate you at all. The low dashboard and large windows aid visibility and this is very important while driving in traffic. And then the light steering, responsive CVT and excellent NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels ensure an easygoing nature. Unlike larger, bigger SUVs in the same price band (Gloster and Fortuner), the X-Trail offers easy driving.

Practical

SUVs and crossovers are used for family outings and should make everyone's lives easier. In this regard, the X-Trail has ample brownie points. For instance, the cup holders are XL size, storage space under the front arm-rest is good and you have sizeable space under the central console area (below the cup holders) for pouches or even tablets. The 2nd row offers generous space and even two 6-feet tall people can sit one behind the other without a worry in the world. With the 3rd folded, boot space is a massive 585 litres. Fold the 2nd row and this increases to a staggering 1,424 litres.
Lastly, the rear doors open almost 90 degrees wide which means ingress and egress very easy for the elderly or your little ones

Don't miss: MG Gloster Facelift coming soon!

These positives aside, there are a few shortcomings with the 2024 Nissan X-Trail as well. If you planning to buy one, please keep these in mind. Let's cover them in detail below:

Nissan X-Trail Cons

Powertrain

Yes, I mentioned this as a plus point above, but there are two sides of a coin. Unlike bigger SUVs in the same price band, the X-Trail does not offer a diesel engine. Let's admit it: there is no match for the bucket loads of torque that an oil burner offers. Second, the Tiguan and Kodiaq offer a bigger petrol engine, more power and higher torque. The X-Trail, when driven with a full load and air-con running, might feel underpowered on hills or climbing fly-overs in my opinion.

Competition Check: Both the Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan offer a 2.0 turbo petrol offering 180+ bhp of power, more than X-Trail's 163 horses.

Features - the lack of it

This is a very important point and if you are eyeing this segment, please pay some attention. The X-Trail misses out on a lot of important and key features for a car that is above Rs 30 lakh. The front two seats are not powered or ventilated, there is no ADAS, no AWD, no power function for the tailgate, no wireless connectivity for Android Auto or CarPlay and even leather seats have been given a miss. Though the audio quality from the infotainment is excellent, the screen size is definitely small.

Competition Check: At Rs 40 lakh, the Skoda Kodiaq L&K is feature-loaded to the brim. Some of these include powered seats, AWD, ventilated seats, powered tailgate, Connected App etc.

Price

As the Nissan X-Trail will be imported into India as a CBU or a completely built unit, it means higher import taxes and duties as compared to CKD or Completely Knocked Down Kits. CKDs are assembled in India, which in turn generates jobs and hence attracts lower taxes. While the Volkswagen Tiguan has an ex-showroom price of just over Rs 35 lakh, the Kodiaq demands Rs 40 lakh for its exceptionally L&K version. The X-Trail, as per my calculations, will (almost) hit the Rs 40 lakh mark and may feel expensive for many due to its smaller engine and fewer features.

We drove the Nissan X-Trail a few days back around Gurugram [see the video above] and I came back impressed with a lot of key factors. While the pros outweigh the cons, the high sticker price might make it a low seller. That said, I understand Nissan India is not looking at volumes, but rather wants to showcase what the brand can offer in terms of premium offerings.