Nissan X-Trail ePower e-4orce review: Hybrid takes on Toyota RAV4

The RAV4 Hybrid has been one of the hottest tickets in the new-car market for the past few years, but a challenger has arrived with a different take on technology.

The Nissan X-Trail hybrid will take the fight to Toyota’s RAV4. Picture: Supplied.

It’s a different take on hybrid power

The runaway success of Toyota’s hybrid RAV4 has prompted competitors to follow suit. Kia and Hyundai have responded with conventional hybrids that employ a similar set-up to the Toyota but Nissan has taken a different tack. While the Toyota uses an electric motor to supplement the petrol engine, the X-Trail’s electric motors actually drive the wheels. The petrol engine merely serves as a generator to recharge the battery that powers the electric motors. The innovative set-up means the X-Trail drives like an electric car, delivering the instant response and smooth, quiet operation of an EV. The only time the petrol engine makes itself known is when it fires up to recharge the battery, which usually happens when the car’s been idle for a while.

Nissan’s take on hybrid technology is different to Toyota’s. Picture: Supplied.

The hybrid option isn’t cheap

The hybrid is only available on top-end, all-wheel-drive Ti and Ti-L versions of the X-Trail. The Ti model is the cheapest of the pair, starting at about $56,400 drive-away, while the Ti-L will set you back about $61,700. That’s roughly $4000 more than their petrol-powered equivalents. That’s a lot more than the cheapest RAV4 hybrid, a front-drive GX model that starts at roughly $45,000 drive-away, although a similarly equipped RAV4 Edge is $61,600 drive-away. The RAV4 promises to be cheaper to run, too, as it uses less fuel – 4.8L/100km to 6.1L/100km – and costs less to service ($1150 compared to $3171 over five years).

The hybrid option is only available on more expensive versions of the X-Trail. Picture: Supplied.

But there’s plenty of gear to justify the price tag

The Ti is well equipped, with big twin 12.3-inch screens on the dash and in front of the driver. A head-up unit displays vital information such as speed and navigation directions on the windscreen, while the rear view mirror can be switched to a camera feed, allowing you to see the road behind even when the luggage area is packed to the roof. Other luxuries include leather-accented seats, a panoramic sunroof, classy ambient lighting in the cabin, heated front seats and a bird’s eye view rear camera. The extra $3000 ask for the Ti-L delivers bigger 20-inch alloys, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, quilted Nappa leather upholstery, a 10-speaker Bose audio unit and rear window shades. There’s also a wireless charging pad and wireless Apple CarPlay, although this proved glitchy during our test.

The cabin is well presented and generously equipped. Picture: Supplied.

Safety is top notch

All manufacturers have extensive crash avoidance technology these days but not all are created equal. Nissan’s system is one of the better set-ups. The lane-keep assist will track faithfully on a freeway, gently and silently pulling you back into line if you stray. The radar cruise is also adept at keeping a safe distance between your car and the one in front. If you take your hands off the steering wheel, though, the Nissan will let you know quickly and forcefully. It starts with a beep that gets more insistent, then there are flashing lights in the dash and finally a “whoop, whoop” sound that’s right out of a doomed airliner cockpit.

Nissan’s safety tech is better than a lot of rivals. Picture: Supplied.

Highway cruising is its forte

The X-Trail is an excellent companion on a family road trip. The new model is wider and taller, which means head, shoulder and leg room are generous. The boot’s a decent size, too, with a clever false floor for hiding valuables. The cabin finishes and detailing are top-notch and extensive sound deadening keeps road, engine and tyre noise at bay. The effortless performance of the electric motors makes overtaking a breeze, while clever torque distribution tech tucks the car’s nose neatly into corners. It’s no sports car, but it doesn’t lean and pitch as noticeably as some rivals.

Originally published as Nissan X-Trail ePower e-4orce review: Hybrid takes on Toyota RAV4