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Nissan’s X-Trail Gets Electric Power but Not as You Know it

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Nissan is part of the “Alliance” which is reputed to sell 1 in 9 vehicles worldwide. In Australia, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Renault share technology and platforms in a more circuitous way. Little is made of it publicly, but behind the scenes the cross pollination yields fruit, most recently in the push for electrification. Nissan X-Trail E-Power E-4ORCE is that fruit.

The 2 posh models now have a new hybrid style option of electrification that has benefits far above the mere saving of fuel. That’s as well, frankly, that saving is not as much as you  may think. The real advantage is the fabulously smooth drive more akin to an electric car.

When we surveyed LGBTI drivers, you told us you wanted value for money. Some gay drivers didn’t care much about the looks, and other would only shop badges. Most gay and lesbian drivers cited the environment as being part of their decision process.

So, IN YOUR EYE climate change deniers, gays get shit done!

Specifications HERE: T33_X-TRAIL_eSpec_ePOWER

Let me explain:

Some hybrids use both the battery-driven electric motor, and a petrol engine, to drive the wheels. It creates an Achilles heel in the form of the much-maligned (by me) CVT automatic. This horrid bucket of pus saps every moment of joy from your drive. Not only does it make engines scream for mercy, they the awful habit of flying apart, flinging bits of themselves at their outer walls.

Try googling failed CVT sometime.

Instead, the E-power system uses either 1 or 2 electric motors powered by an inverter drawing power either from a battery, or the petrol engine. Importantly, the petrol engine never drives the wheels directly, and electric motors only require a 1-speed reduction gear. Voila! The CVT’s services are not required.

Nissan markets 2WD X-Trails elsewhere, but Australian buyers will only get the AWD E-4ORCE option. Adam Patterson, head bloke at the Australian operation, says nothing is ruled in or out. If feedback warrants a rethink, the system may be offered on pov models, and in 2WD.

Important side note:

What a colossally stupid name. It is meant to meld 4WD and FORCE into a single word, but if you say it the way it is spelt, it would sound like, “FOR-ORCE”. Some people say I am pedantic, but I can’t think why.

Video Review:  2023 Nissan X-Trail E-Power E-4ORCE

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ABOVE: 2023 Nissan X-Trail E-Power E-4ORCE

Is the Nissan X-Trail E-Power E-4ORCE system is better than the opposition?

Consider the absence of the little-lamented CVT, and the way the AWD system works. To demonstrate this, we must first talk about the best seller in the segment, Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid, priced at up to $56,650. It comes as a 2WD or AWD but the AWD comes only in the top model, and functions more or less as Toyota Hybrids always have.

The RAV4 has an almost insignificant rear motor, and the system is still manacled to a dreadful CVT. These 2 things do it no justice. The system output is 163kw made up of the 131kw petrol engine and 2 electric motors, 88kw front, 40kw rear. The total system output does not equal the power of each motor/engine added up because of the way the power is shunted from axel to axel.

The same is true of the Nissan. The 106kw 1.6L 3-cylinder petrol turbo engine powers the battery and/or the generator, thus the wheels, via the inverter to the 150kw front motor and 100kw rear motor.

Instead of the appalling rubber band feeling of the fun-sapping CVT, you get the instant torque of the dual electric motors and their single speed reduction gear, just like any other EV. You can feel the torque the moment you press your hoof down.

The shunting of power changes with the selection of drive modes, including off-road modes. Left in auto, the shift of torque between front and rear can change in 1/10,000th of a second, leaving the RAV4 in its dust.

Then we come to the fuel economy, which on the face of it, casts the X-Trail in a poor light, at  6.1L/100k for the Nissan VS 4.8L/100k for the Toyota. Our RAV4 reviews have shown Toyota to be a little boasty-pants, with the promised 4.8L/100k being more of a wish than a reality.

Nissan X-Trail E-Power E-4ORCE on the road

That utterly daft name complicates the issue. X-Trail AWD Hybrid is simpler, but Nissan will have none of it, so to assuage their frayed sensitivities we’ll continue to use the daft name.

The safety and driver aids are the same as the petrol X-Trail we reviewed last year, so read that or DOWLOAD THE SPECIFICATIONS HERE:  T33_X-TRAIL_eSpec_ePOWER

The drive experience is very different to her dinosaur-burning sisters.

Pressing the starter, sparks up the twin 12.3” screens and 10,8” HUD, as well as the audio and the climate control. The engine usually remains silent unless the 2.4kw battery needs a bit of oomph.

The nannies are watching out from the very first moment, and after slipping the electronic gear selector into reverse, the reversing camera brings up a very clear image on the screen. In addition, the conventional rear-view mirror becomes an LCD monitor at the flick of a wrist.

Top Tip:

There is wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto for your listening pleasure, handy if you like Buddha hits as I do. It is no longer on DAB+ so streaming on LISTNR is your only option. If you’re going to use wireless CarPlay, be sure use the high-speed Qi charger or your phone will be flatter than roadkill.

The Drive:

David and I set off from the Maroorchy airport, in Mudjimba.

The Sunshine coast, and mountains beyond, conceal some of the most magnificent of driving roads in the region. Nissan chose this bag of mixed surfaces to showcase the best and worst of conditions the SUV might face. Moreover, it allows nowhere for foibles to loiter unnoticed.

After negotiating local roads full of bogans, caravans, and sundry shoppers, we headed for the tourist routes through magnificent stands of native rainforest. We often mention twisty mountain passes, but this gruelling programme included deeply rutted dirt, high-speed highways, graceful sweeping bends, sharp turns, and sudden switchbacks. There was not a single bucolic adventure missed out on.

The rutted dirt roads gave more than a little reason for concern, especially as David was once a rally driver. A Scandy flick in an unprepared SUV brings many a code-brown moment, and more than just one reason for an attack of the vapours.

The mountain passes on the other hand, were joyous. The temptation is to drive beyond the conditions, and indeed the ability of either car or driver. Sophisticated suspension makes the ride very good, even on the most horrific of surfaces.

Changing drive modes from highway to dirt made an enormous difference when things get a bit eggy. It is also useful on mud and wet grass.

The rooftop of the Sunshine coast has drivers passiing picturesque townships such as Maleny, Montville, Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious. Some have vistas across the valley to the coast, and Pacific beyond, and others are nestled within the bosom of ancient forests.

It is all within easy reach of the tranquil Queensland capital, Brisbane, AKA Brisvegas.

The final leg through peak-hour Brisvegas traffic saw off the last challenge, city congestion. The next few days were spent in and around the steamy, sub-tropical city. Although the EV-only range is little more than a few KMs, the engine rarely intrudes thanks to Active Noise Cancelation..

E-Pedal, common in EVs, is useful in town. You use the accelerator to keep your speed just so. Sadly, unlike other EVs, Nissan X-Trail E-Power E-4ORCE only slows to a crawl but not a stop, requiring a dab of brake.

Noise Cancelation

This is still a fairly rare feature. A microphone collects cabin noise and plays the opposite waveform, cancelling out most of the sound from the engine and other sundry sources. It doesn’t work against chattering co-pilots.

Camping – Yes or No

My advice is, GET A HOTEL. Dear god we were not in the dark ages. If you persist in this folly, there are off-road modes to assist the AWD system. It made a huge difference on the dirt roads, but as far as donning a backpack and pooing in a hole goes, you are on your own.

Gay campers exist, so I’m told. For me, 3 people sharing a bathroom at the Hyatt is camping.

A few final thoughts

During the mountain jaunt, our battery filled to the brim. the regeneration was still funnelling power into the inverter, so rather than overload the Lithium Ion Battery, Nissan X-Trail E-Power E-4ORCE channels the power back to the petrol engine. It works rather like a starter motor turning the crank, but it uses no petrol. It is an ingenious solution, and when asked why Nissan didn’t use a bigger battery instead, weight and cost were cited, and that was good enough for me.

The ride and handling are excellent in most situations, and the AWD more useful and more flexible than that of the RAV4. It is also quieter and almost as spacious. The cargo hold at 575L is only 10L less than the petrol model.

Looks are a matter of taste but equipment levels are impressive. There are a lot of gongs and bongs going off, but assuming they can be silenced, Nissan X-Trail E-Power E-4ORCE was extremely impressive.

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Nissan X-Trail E-Power E-4ORCE

Price: Ti $54,190 Ti-L $57,190

Engine: Petrol 106kw/250Nm

Electric: Front 150kw/350Nm, Rear 100kw/195Nm

Hybrid system output: 157kw

Transmission: 1-speed reduction gear

Econ: 6.1L/100k

 

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