The number of family sport utility vehicles in Nigeria has risen as Stallion NMN, the Nissan sales company, has introduced the third generation X-Trail to the country.
With its elegant design and improved off-road capability, the new seven-seater car is expected to win more customers to the brand from the crowded SUV market in Nigeria. The last generation X-Trail was built to sit only five passengers.
The Group Managing Director, Stallion Motors Nigeria Limited, Mr. Parvir Singh, said at the presentation of the new vehicle along with another new Nissan model, Qashqai, in Lagos that the brand hoped to increase its market share of the nation’s auto market this year from nine per cent (in 2014) to eleven per cent.
“The arrival of the all new X-Trail is expected to change the perception of fond admirers of the predecessor model,” the company said, in a statement.
Specifically, it noted that the new Nissan X-Trail had been “completely transformed to a fashionable, safer and more family-oriented SUV with a new variant, offering a seven-seat capacity.”
It described the vehicle as an epitome of innovation, incorporating new design dynamics and different marketing direction.
According to Nissan, the new X-Trail has traded off its boxy lines and upright stance for trendier and fashionable styling.
It listed vehicles in the same segment it would compete with as Suzuki Grand Vitara, Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
Singh, however, noted the new X-Trail had some unique and innovative features that would make it attractive to adventurous young people.
Interior
Available as a seven-seater for the first time, the new X-Trail cabin is said to be a significant improvement over the utilitarian fit-out in the old model, with plenty of soft touch surfaces and bruised metallic accents.
It has a height-adjustable driver’s seat and front armrest with airy and spacious cabin to deliver very comfortable space up front.
The middle row seats can slide and recline in a 60/40 split with plenty head and legroom for adults to lounge in comfort.
The firm noted, “The overall effect is an interior that looks and feels decidedly more premium with a new steering wheel, instrument cluster and a liberal spread of piano black plastics that complete the makeover.”
Other comfort deriving features of the vehicle are push button start, LED daytime running lights, cruise control, dual zone climate control, rear seat air conditioner vent with shut vent, intelligent key and panic alarm with Bluetooth phone connectivity and music streaming.
Exterior
Its angular headlamps with LED daytime running lights have replaced the squared-off headlights, slab-sided door panels and pillar-mounted tail-lights in the old edition.
These features, according to Nissan, have been integrated into a sleek version of the traditional three-piece grille, flowing profile lines and horizontally aligned tail-lamps.
The cabin also benefits from a complete makeover that looks more premium, featuring a stylish new steering wheel, instrument cluster, dashboard and centre console layout.
Nissan also said it had improved the X-Trail’s practicality by incorporating rear doors that open out to almost 80 degrees with a new split-level cargo area.
Infortainment
Motoring journalists had a feel of the new car and the ‘infortainment’ features much later during a test drive from the Gbagada to Victoria Island.
This revealed the vehicle’s five-inch LCD screen located in the centre of the instrument cluster.
The company said, “It displays the vehicle power between the front and rear axles, helping to give the driver information on available traction and control. The Advanced Drive Assist Display provides information directly in front of the driver to minimise time looking away from the road.”
With reduced friction and hydraulic losses, the car is expected to gain improved fuel economy of 7.9 litres/100km.
The test drive also revealed the satisfying weight and responsiveness of the car to the electrically assisted power steering.
The new X-trail also has an appreciable ground clearance over the last generation, “but an off road loop still shows the four-wheel-drive version with Nissan’s 4×4-i system that electronically control the over steer and under steer of the vehicle. This helps in giving the vehicle the extra stability required in difficult driving conditions by confronting the yaw rate,” it stated.
Safety
The safety shield features of the X-Trail comprise Hill Start Assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Anti-Lock Brake System and SRS airbags system.
“This is in addition to the ‘zero-gravity’ inspired front seats that are superbly cushioned and wonderfully designed to make long stints behind the wheel a real pleasure,” it stated.
Engine
The X-Trail has 2.5-litre petrol engine, noted as essentially a carryover from its predecessor, with just an extra kilowatt of power added to increase output from 125kW to 126kW, but with 233Nm of torque.
The four-cylinder engine delivers sufficient punch off the line (without feeling sporty), and there is decent mid-range pull for safe high-speed overtaking on country roads.
It also came with an improved Continuously Variable Transmission described as more refined than the competition.
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