Nissan X-Trail E-Power: More EV than hybrid

What is it?

Petrol/electric powered vehicles have been around for nearly a quarter of a century since Honda and Toyota launched their Insight and Prius models respectively.

Over the years more hybrids have arrived and now almost every brand has a variety of them.

Indeed, most Toyotas are available only as hybrids.

Along the way batteries and electric motors have evolved and they have become much more affordable than early models.

Although Nissan was an early adopter of fully-electric technology, with the LEAF hatchback — it didn’t offer a hybrid until 2023 when the Qashqai and X-Trail e-Power variants were added.

However, there is a significant difference between e-Power models and the conventional petrol/electric powertrains of other hybrids.

Where others use the battery-powered electric motor to drive the car at low speeds before switching over to relatively large petrol engines, the e-Power operates in reverse.

Two large electric motors always drive the wheels and are constantly being charged by a smaller petrol engine.

It’s a bit like an electric car with a range extender, minus the capacity to store the power generated of course.

What’s it cost?

Our test car was the X-Trail hybrid or, to give it its full name, the X-Trail e-Power e-4orce with the latter tag describing the all-wheel drive system that controls torque and braking for each wheel individually.

X-Trail hybrid comes in three variants, ST-L, Ti and Ti-L, priced from $50,765, $55,465 and $58,465 respectively plus on-road costs.

The fourth-generation X-Trail follows a distinctly Nissan angular design direction, sharing several sharp lines with the Pathfinder and Qashqai.

Only a revised V-Motion grille and badging distinguish the e-Power hybrids from petrol variants.

Lighting is up present-day standards with auto LED headlights, tail lights, daytime running lights and fog lights.

ST-L rides on 18-inch alloys wheels, Ti and Ti-L have 19-inch alloys as standard while Ti-L gets the option of 20-inch alloys.

Depending on variant, there are 13 colours from which to choose.

Only one, red, is standard all others are cost option including a number of two-tone combinations.

Entry level X-Trail hybrid ST-L comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, with Bluetooth, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and six-speaker audio (but no navigation).

Ti and Ti-L get a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, and wireless charging.

There are four USB ports: USB-A and USB-C in the front and charge only USB-A and USB-C in the back, with 12-volt outlets in the front and luggage area.

There’s also a 10.8-inch head-up windscreen display and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, with customisation of information clearly and easily accessible.

Smartphone integration has been upgraded with wireless smartphone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay for seamless connectivity, along with additional USB-A and USB-C charge ports for keeping smartphones and tablets topped up.

X-Trail hybrids earn a five-star ANCAP rating under 2021 test conditions and added information and testing.

Active safety is covered by forward autonomous emergency braking (pedestrian and cyclist), adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and ProPilot lane keeping, traffic sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention alert, and reverse autonomous emergency braking (pedestrian).

Ti and Ti-L variants warn pedestrians close to the vehicle with an external audible sound in almost silent EV mode.

Seven airbags include a centre airbag between front seat occupants.

All new Nissan vehicles come with a 10-year, 300,000km warranty but with the stipulation that all servicing must be carried out at dealerships.

What’s it go like?

All X-Trail hybrids are five-seaters. A third row is available only with the petrol variants.

Inside, the surroundings are a blend of quality craftsmanship and materials highlighting comfort and convenience all round.

Comfort is covered by 10-way power-adjustable (and heated) front seats, three-zone climate control, six-speaker audio (with digital radio), leather-accented trim and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

Special attention has been paid to ergonomics and tactile feel of the switchgear and buttons used in the cabin to lend them a high-quality feel.

A two-tier centre console provides plenty of space to stash items, with a charge pad in more expensive models for mobile devices.

Move to the back and the first thing you notice is the rear door opening to 85 degrees, which makes it easier to get in and out.

The rear seats, split 40:20:40, can slide forward for more boot space, or back for maximum passenger room legroom.

With all seats upright cargo space is 575 litres and to around 2000 litres.

A power tailgate eases loading. 

There’s no spare wheel of any sort, only a puncture repair kit.

The centre console has a floating design, with room for large items in a rubberised section underneath.

A shift-by-wire gear selector is compact and user-friendly.

Also on hand are buttons for EV and e-Pedal modes, as well as a rotary dial to access drive and terrain systems.

As mentioned, the e-Power system uses electric motors at the front and rear.

Because the engine is always running it sounds like a petrol car but drives like an EV.

The e-Power with e-4orce system comprises a high-output 2.1 kWh battery together with a power generator, inverter and twin electric motors – 150kW for the front and 100kW for the rear — with a combined system output of 157kW.

A turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with advanced variable compression charges the battery pack.

It eliminates the need for an EV charger.

Like most SUVs it operates predominantly in two-wheel drive with drive to the front-wheels through a single-speed reduction gear.

Towing capacity for the e-Power models is rated at 1650kg, compared to 2000kg for petrol versions.

As with all vehicles that start off with an electric motor, X-Trail e-Power delivers smooth and almost instant acceleration off the mark.

Add excellent noise cancelling measures within the cabin, it’s almost silent.

When called on for more power, the petrol engine and generator chime in with a not too unpleasant hum, keeping the battery pack charged and, if needed, directly powering the electric motor.

EV or e-Pedal control is instigated by means of buttons on the centre console and can be operated for a short distance.

On test, however, a press of the EV button was answered by a message saying the battery was not charged sufficiently to sustain electric-only operation.

The e-Pedal had no such impediment, leaving the accelerator to apply the brakes automatically when the foot was lifted off, slowing the car almost to a halt.

A drive and terrain mode selector offers five different modes: Auto, Eco, Sport, Snow and Off-Road.

With a 55-litre tank, Nissan claims combined fuel consumption of 6.1L/100km using 95 RON fuel.

The test car recorded 5.7L in urban driving where the battery is dominant but jumped up to 7.1L/100km on a motorway due to the extra engine usage.

What we like?

• Good city fuel consumption
• Rear doors open to 85 degrees
• Excellent noise cancelling measures

What we don’t like?

• Hybrid a five-seater
• Only a puncture repair kit
• Red the only free colour option

The bottom line?

The X-Trail hybrid is an outstanding long-distance cruiser, with the benefits of an electric vehicle — but without any range stress.

The instant response delivers fast and safe acceleration to make overtaking or merging onto a motorway easier.

It leans more towards being a fully electric vehicle rather than a hybrid SUV, but there’s the added running cost of buying petrol to factor in.

The premium purchase price over petrol-only models is offset somewhat by the increased Ti/Ti-L equipment levels.

 

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