Nissan x-trail e-power 2023

There's no denying Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid is one of the most in-demand models currently on sale in Australia, with wait times stretching out to 18 months in some cases.

Hoping to capitalise on the growing appetite for a hybrid family SUV, Nissan will bring to market its X-Trail e-Power early in 2023.

However, unlike the Toyota, the X-Trail e-Power promises the driving feel and experience of a fully electric car, but without the drawback of lengthy recharge times.

How? Well electric motors power the wheels, but a small petrol engine produces the electricity – and can be filled up at any servo when the tank runs empty.

Seems pretty good right? Especially when you consider that driving range is one of the big hurdles many customers present when thinking about buying an EV.

So, let's find out if Nissan can have its cake, and eat it too.

Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?   7/10

The e-Power versions of the 2023 X-Trail will top Nissan's new mid-size SUV line-up, which means it won't come cheap.

This powertrain is offered exclusively to the two highest grades – the Ti and Ti-L – but that also means each car will come fitted with most of the goodies you'd expect from a cutting-edge new model in 2023.

Starting at the very bottom, the petrol-powered 2023 Nissan X-Trial range starts at $36,750, before on-road costs, for the entry-level ST in two-wheel drive guise.

Standard equipment on this one includes 17-inch wheels, roof rails, LED head- and tail-lights, and an 8.0-inch multimedia screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

The ST can also be had with seven seats and all-wheel drive for $39,790, with equipment levels remaining the same.

Next rung up is the ST-L, priced at $43,190 and $46,290 for the 2WD five- and 4WD seven-seat variants, respectively.

And for the extra spend, buyers net rear privacy glass, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, synthetic leather interior, 18-inch wheels and a sliding rear seat.

The Ti grade is available exclusively with AWD, adding 19-inch wheels, genuine leather interior, a panoramic sunroof, tri-zone climate control, a powered tailgate, wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch driver display, a 10.8-inch head-up display and a big 12.3-inch multimedia system with built-in satellite navigation, raising the price to $49,990.

The Ti-L grade, priced at $52,990, adds in a heated steering wheel, up-rated Bose sound system, Nappa leather, heated rear seats and remote engine start.

Opting for e-Power however, will set buyers back $54,190 for the Ti and $57,190 for the Ti-L, which is $4200 pricier than their petrol-powered equivalents.

Equipment also carries over from the petrol Ti and Ti-L to the e-Power versions.

There's no denying you are paying a premium for the hybrid powertrain, but even the cheapest X-Trail e-power is more expensive than the priciest Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Haval H6 Hybrid.

In fact, for the price of the Ti e-Power you could just about get into plug-in hybrid model like the Ford Escape or Mitsubishi Outlander, which could save you more on your fuel bill if you have somewhere to charge it up.

And while Nissan has tried to justify the higher price with a boatload of equipment, a $55,000 starting price for this e-Power could put it out of reach for some families.

Is there anything interesting about its design?   8/10

From the outside the e-Power is not easily distinguished from its petrol-powered X-Trail siblings, but there are some stand-out features like the unique badging and the exclusive 'Champagne Silver' exterior colour.

The front-end features Nissan's signature 'V-motion' grille, while the sleek and slender daytime running lights help convey a more confident and athletic appearance.

And of course, it wouldn't be an SUV with off-road intentions without a contrasting front skid plate!

In profile, the X-Trail e-Power kind of looks a bit... boring? At least to us.

The Ti has 19-inch wheels while the Ti-L has 20s to try and jazz things up a bit, but it just looks too ‘generic SUV' in our opinion.

At the rear the Nissan X-Trail looks a bit more eye-catching thanks in large part to the roof-mounted rear spoiler and the rear window glass that smoothly melds into the tail-lights.

It creates this upright and boxy aesthetic that is continued down into the chunky boot lid and ruggedised rear bumper.

Step inside and Nissan's strategy of modernising the look and feel, but playing it safe with the design continues.

The cabin of the e-Power is headlined by this massive multimedia touchscreen that, thankfully, features buttons.

The climate controls are also physical buttons – halleluiah! – while the centre stack keeps things neat and clean and finished in a nice glossy black.

Nissan has also fitted the X-Trail e-Power with a flat-bottomed steering wheel – a feature you might find in sportier models – and the digital instrument cluster is clear, concise and customisable.

Overall, the X-Trail looks ready and rugged enough to actually tackle a trail, and keeps Nissan's family SUV offering fresh against newer rivals.

How practical is the space inside?   9/10

The X-Trail sits on the larger end of the mid-size SUV spectrum, as some versions are available with seven seats, but that means five-seat versions like the e-Power are afforded fantastic interior space.

Up front, there's plenty of room to get comfy, and the electronic seat adjustments help to dial in the perfect driving position.

Storage options include deep door bins, generous cupholders and a deep underarm cubby.

The second row is also generous with space, and the e-Power's seats are able to slide forward and backwards for either more legroom or more carrying capacity in the back.

Even the middle seat is surprisingly usable thanks to a fairly flat floor, and the outboard seats offer more than enough of head-, leg- and shoulder-room even for our 183cm frame.

Amenities in the back extend to bottle-compatible door bins, map pockets, air vents and a fold-down armrest.

Open the boot and the X-Trail e-Power will swallow up to 575 litres with all seats in place – just 10L down on the petrol-powered, five-seat version.

Fold the second row down, and there's space for long and tall items from Bunnings or Ikea, though Nissan is yet to reveal the exact volume in this configuration.

What are the key stats for the engine and transmission?   8/10

While the X-Trail e-Power is propelled by electricity, you might be surprised to find a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet.

This unique arrangement means that petrol goes in, and the engine produces electricity to spin the wheels.

Power and torque outputs for the engine are largely inconsequential, as it is designed to operate at peak efficiency for the electric motors.

Speaking of which, the motors output a combined 157kW of power, but an overall torque figure is a bit harder to determine – though the front motor pushes out 330Nm and the rear makes do with 195Nm.

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How much fuel does it consume?   7/10

Officially, the X-Trail e-Power sips 6.1 litres of petrol per 100km, which betters the petrol-only Nissan mid-size SUV line-up, but maybe not by as much as you think.

In 2WD guise, the 2023 X-Trail will return a 7.4L/100km reading, which is raised to 7.8L/100km with AWD optioned.

And while the X-Trail e-Power's 6.1L/100km figure is higher than the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's 4.8L/100km claim, Nissan has stated the X-Trail e-Power is more about the driving experience than efficiency.

We'd argue, however, that fuel economy is a pretty important metric when buying a hybrid SUV, and in this regard, Nissan does fall behind the segment leader.

What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?   7/10

Nissan's new-generation X-Trail is yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, and therefore does not have an independent crash-test rating.

However, over in the US, where the X-Trail is known as the Rogue, the NHTSA awarded Nissan's SUV a four-star rating.

It must be said however, that Australian-spec cars vary wildly in terms of production location and specification, so how much the US rating will apply to local cars is murky, at best.

Regardless, all 2023 X-Trails come fitted as standard with a raft of advanced safety equipment, highlighted by autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.

Stepping up to the ST-L adds lane-keep assist, a surround-view monitor and front parking sensors, while the Ti scores automatic high-beams.

Warranty & Safety Rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited km warranty

What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered?   8/10

Like all new Nissans sold in, the X-Trail e-Power comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

This warranty falls short of Mitsubishi's 10-year conditional warranty, as well as Kia and Skoda's seven-year offering, but is in line with the industry standard and matches Ford, Mazda and Toyota.

Servicing pricing is yet to be revealed for the new X-Trail e-Power, but maintenance intervals are every 10,000km or 12 months – matching the petrol-powered models.

What's it like to drive?   8/10

Nissan's e-Power set-up is a hybrid, but it's probably unlike any hybrid car you've driven before.

And that's because, unlike Toyota's series parallel set-up that can occasionally operate under electric-only power, this X-Trail is 100 per cent propelled by electricity.

Therefore, it has all the advantages of an all-electric powertrain – meaning instantaneous response and a linear power delivery, but because the electricity is coming from the small petrol engine up front, there are no lengthy recharge times required – just fill it up with petrol!

At least, that's what Nissan wants you to believe. In reality, at higher speeds, the throttle response isn't quite as you'd expect, especially if you've driven a full EV like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6 before. There just isn't that sense of immediacy or urgency when the speedo climbs close to triple digits.

At slower speeds around town however, the powertrain feels fantastic. You can even use the e-pedal to boost regenerative braking to help with efficiency, and unlike the Leaf, Nissan has not tuned it for one-foot operation.

This means you don't get the jerky stop-start action when trying to park, resulting in a smoother driving experience overall.

The steering is also well-weighted, which is a nice surprise in a vehicle in this class, and actually feels connected and provides good feedback to what is happening underneath.

The ride is also surprisingly good, even with 20-inch wheels fitted to our test car. Bumps and road imperfections are soaked up ably, and it's especially helped out by the plush interior and seats.

It's not perfect, mind you, as the X-Trail e-Power certainly feels hefty when you start to sling it around corners – it does weigh close to two tonnes, after all.

That's because there are two electric motors for all-wheel drive grip, but don't expect the X-Trail e-Power to tackle the Rubicon trail.

This set-up does allow for torque vectoring, though, and affords the sure footedness you might be looking for in a family SUV.

There are also some downsides with the e-Power set-up, because you can still hear the engine meaning it won't be as quiet as a full EV.

There are also tailpipe emissions, as the combustion process produces waste – so it's not as clean as an EV.

But as a whole, Nissan's answer to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a great one.

Verdict

If you're still on the fence about the electric future, Nissan's X-Trail e-Power might be the solution for you.

It offers the driving feel of an EV, but can be topped up with petrol at any nearby servo, and is as sure-footed as almost any other rugged SUV out there.

Sure, the price is getting up a bit, but having an electric car without the range anxiety could very well be worth the peace of mind.

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