Taking the beaten path, anew

One of Nissan's first cars to be launched in India was the X-Trail. Much before the company officially set up its plant and dealerships for locally manufactured cars, it was already selling its imports and the X-Trail was its most popular.

The X-Trail was the right sized premium SUV of that time, and it was supremely versatile for buyers looking to exploit its features and space. Looking back, the erstwhile model's design seems a bit gawky, though it was typically focused on practicality and off-road readiness. Last week we got a chance to test drive the new X-Trail Hybrid just outside the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. Nissan plans on bringing in the Hybrid model by the end of the year and our guess is that it will be an excellent alternative to some of the competitors in the sub-₹40 lakh price segment.

The 2016 Nissan X-Trail Hybrid has grown in size and stature. The crossover has typical Nissan design elements from all angles. There is a lot of the design flavour flowing in from its larger crossover sibling, the Murano. You can also find bits and pieces like the grille that seem to have been inspired by some of the other SUVs in Nissan's portfolio like the Pathfinder.

The X-Trail Hybrid is over 4.6 metres long with a comforting 210mm of ground clearance. It has a strong urban crossover flavour to it. The model we tested was only two-wheel drive. Despite the addition of the hybrid systems and parts, it still weighs in at just over 1,530 kgs (kerb weight). The rear of the X-Trail is now taller, more rounded (no more stacked tail-lamps) than the earlier model. The split tail-lamps are now wraparound style and sit well with the new design. The auto tail-gate is large and wide, offering easy access to the boot at the touch of a button, though some users may find the loading lip a bit high set. The 17-inch alloy wheels look too small within those wheel wells.

The cabin of the new X-Trail Hybrid is also typically Nissan in its layout. A simple, straight dashboard with a layered concept made of two different materials, 3-spoke, leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel and a few leather and some chrome elements are thrown in around the cabin. The fit and finish, and the quality of materials used is excellent. Even if the overall feel of the cabin is not one that matches the big boys of the luxury car club, it is certainly up there with the entry class models priced in the ₹30 lakh to ₹40 lakh range.

The new X-Trail Hybrid is a comfortable 5-seater with a fairly spacious boot. The leather seats are generally comfy, with the right levels of bolstering for the front two buckets, though the rear bench seems a bit flat. Wonder if that would be an issue on long drives.

Step into the X-Trail Hybrid and press the engine start button and nothing really moves under the bonnet. This is a Hybrid after all with an AC Synchronous motor that offers an additional 40PS of power and 160Nm of torque to work in parallel with the two-litre petrol engine that is sitting on standby under the bonnet. Shift the gear stick into drive mode, engaging the Xtronic CVT auto transmission and the car hisses forward slowly. Inside the cabin, all we could hear was the airconditioner's fan blowing air furiously to keep the interior cool. It was only mid-February, but afternoons in Delhi were already getting uncomfortably warm. Maybe Hybrids would help bring back the cold.

The hybrid system in this 2016 X-Trail is a parallel-assist system, which means that it detects the need of the driver based on inputs on the throttle and varies the level of assistance from the electric motor.

Gentle acceleration will mean that power will be entirely electric, until you cross the 30 kmph mark or until the lithium-ion battery's charge becomes low. Stomp the throttle for more speed or for climbing a steep incline, and the petrol engine and the electric motor will offer their combined outputs to propel you forward. The petrol engine takes over at higher speeds, but regenerative braking and parallel charging during highway cruising enables the battery to recuperate its charge. The X-Trail's system also offers engine braking in conjunction with the intelligent dual clutch control and the CVT gearbox for better braking power and also has a rash of other tech to brake and control each wheel for preventing slippage and loss of control under various circumstances. The 1,997cc, MR20 DD petrol engine is a dual CVT CS engine promising frugal performance with its valve timing control tech. The engine generates a peak power of 144PS @ 6,000rpm and a peak torque of 200Nm @ 4,400rpm. The engine's rated mileage numbers have not been announced yet and our assessment will also have to wait till a full test drive can be done.

The new X-Trail Hybrid will be a key addition to Nissan India's portfolio. The Halo car in the Japanese company's portfolio - the GT-R - is also scheduled to join the line-up this year, making 2016 an exciting year for this brand.

The X-Trail Hybrid will also be joining the race in a year when many competing models in that price range will witness considerable changes or facelifts. So competition will be fierce, but we are sure Nissan should be able to tap into an existing base of loyal customers for this crossover.

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