2005 Nissan X-Trail Exclusive Review By Tony Whitney ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nissan has one of the most comprehensive lineups of SUVs on the market, ranging from the medium-sized Xterra through the durable Pathfinder and luxurious Murano to the recently-introduced Armada full-size sports ute. The one area where Nissan didn't have anything to offer was the entry-level segment for compact, 4-cylinder powered, economical SUVs. Nissan's "price-point deficiencies" have now been addressed by the upcoming 2005 X-Trail, a small, sporty SUV aimed right at the heart of a market dominated by products like the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape. Now Nissan has "something for everybody" in the SUV market - everything from the affordable new X-Trail to the big Armada, with all points covered in between. It wasn't too many years ago that all Nissan could boast in this market was the Pathfinder. The Japanese-built X-Trail is not entirely new, incidentally. Based on Nissan's Primera sedan, it has been sold in other world markets for some years and is thus a very proven product. I would imagine that reliability levels for the X-Trail would thus be much higher than would be the case with a vehicle that was a new design. The X-Trail will not be sold in the US, so this is a case of "only in Canada." This size of SUV sells very well in this country and is, according to reports, not so hot south of the border. The X-Trail has won numerous awards in the countries where it's been sold since 2000. The attractive and svelte X-Trail has a distinctive body style, but there are no gimmicks to impede practicality. It's a very straightforward design which should win considerable market appeal. The front fenders are made from polyurethane, so won't dent or distort. Bump them slightly and they simply return to their original shape, which should please people tired of parking lot dings. The vehicle is easy to get in and out of and the rear hatch reveals a good-sized load floor despite the X-Trail's compact dimensions. The rear seats fold flat for a bigger cargo floor and according to Nissan, there are 25 different seating configurations (one sturdily-built Nissan executive told me it was possible to sleep in the rig). The cargo floor is removable and washable. The instrumentation is easy on the eye and all the dials are centrally grouped, which one soon gets used to. Power comes from a 2.5-litre 16-valve twin cam 4-cylinder engine which would be quite at home in a sports coupe. It produces 165 horsepower - good for this class - and 170 ft-lbs of torque at 6,000 rpm. It provides the fairly light X-Trail with plenty of snap and the vehicle drives much like a decent sedan. Nissan points out that the X-Trail's engine is more powerful than rival four-bangers in such products as the Toyota RAV4 (161hp), Honda CR-V (160hp), Jeep Liberty (150hp) and Mazda Tribute(130hp). Other technical highlights of this excellent little powerplant include variable valve timing, an aluminum block and head, balance shaft technology for smoothness and a direct ignition system. Nissan's up with the very best when it comes to engine technology, so the efficiency of the X-Trail unit is really no surprise. There are front wheel drive and all wheel drive models and two transmissions are offered - a 4-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual. Check with your dealer which drivetrains are available with the trim level you choose - LE, XE or SE. the LE luxury model is only available with all wheel drive, for example. Although the X-Trail is an entry-level SUV, the basic specification sheet includes many features that are often costly options. Anti-lock brakes are standard on all X-Trails, along with electronic braking power distribution (EBD) and brake assist. These computerized braking aids offer far more immediate response than any driver could muster in an emergency. Air conditioning is standard too, along with a good AM/FM/CD sound system, cruise control, power windows and locks and a long list of practical and cosmetic goodies. This may be an entry-level vehicle, but Nissan has not created a "stripper" here to keep the price down. The top-of-the-line X-Trail LE boasts a rear spoiler, automatic climate control, 8-way power driver's seat, leather seating surfaces and driver and passenger side impact air bags. I drove my X-Trail across Vancouver Island to Tofino, often using roads in a poor state of repair. The little rig was surprisingly supple over the bumps and provided a sedan-like ride for all occupants. Visibility proved very good indeed and engine power was well up to the long hills to be tackled on some parts of that route. The compact SUV market in Canada is very competitive (44 per cent of all SUVs sold here are "small") and products like the CR-V and Escape are hard nuts to crack for a newcomer. Even so, the new X-Trail promises to gain some early ground on its rivals and establish itself among the top sellers in the segment. Preliminary prices are a base of $25,900 for a 2WD X-Trail, going up to $33,800 for a flagship version with all the bells and whistles. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Back to Tony Whitney's Auto Reviews Page