Subtly reworked Nissan X-Trail makes showing in home market

With four years having passed since its world reveal under the X-Trail name, Nissan has given its three-row compact crossover its first mid-life facelift, albeit only in Japan.

A market where sales started in 2022, the updates to the fourth generation T33 X-Trail are expected to be rolled-out in other markets soon before the end of the year.

New outside and in

Debuting two years after its updated North American sibling, the Nissan Rogue, which previewed the X-Trail when it went on-sale in 2020, the X-Trail’s changes borrow significantly from the Stateside sibling, but with unique touches also included.

Externally, these comprise new alloy wheels up to 19-inches, a refreshed gloss black grille, a new front bumper with a gloss black and satin silver front skidplate, new headlights and daytime running LEDs, and new LED diodes for the taillights.

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Inside, the previous ‘tan’ Nappa leather upholstery colour makes way for Nissan calls “subdued brown”, while the instrument panel has been given a black finish.

A new cloth upholstery option for the seats and replacing of the previous type-A with type-C USB ports complete the respective minor changes.

The more prominent changes include a new centre console complete with a larger smartphone charger, but with a market specific new gear selector.

In addition to a new steering wheel, the 12.3-inch infotainment system has been uprated to feature improved wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, integrated satellite navigation using Google’s latest software, a 3D 360-degree camera system and a transparent bonnet view display.

Hybrid only

Model-wise, the Japanese market X-Trail provides seating for five or seven with a choice of three trim grades: S, X and G.

On the power front, two versions of Nissan’s e-Power hybrid powertrain are offered, both modelled around the 1.5-litre variable compression turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine.

Part of the brand’s KR family, the first, a mild-hybrid, develops 120kW/300Nm, and is mated to a CVT driving the front wheels.

The flagship option comes in the shape of Nissan’s e-4ORCE system, which combines a 116 kW version of the same engine with two electric motors: a 150kW/250Nm unit at the front and a 100kW/195Nm module at the rear.

Compared to the mild-hybrid, propulsion comes solely from the electric system as the only function of the combustion engine is to act as a generator, meaning it has no direct connection to the drive wheels.

The combined output, with drive going to all four corners through a uniquely tuned CVT, is 157 kW.

Outlook for South Africa

Priced from ¥3 843 400 to ¥4 946 700, which amounts to R459 582-R591 511 when directly converted, the facelift X-Trail has been given the go-ahead for South Africa instead of being replaced by the incoming rebadged version of the Renault Boreal.

This, according to Nissan’s Africa division boss Jordi Vila, who also remarked that a possible overlap between the two models isn’t expected given their different segment focus.

“In terms of the positioning of the vehicle and pricing, and technology, it won’t cannibalise sales [of the X-Trail],” Vila told the media on the sidelines of the unveiling of the Navara Stealth last month.

The remaining of the X-Trail will see it form part of an eventual five-model SUV range comprising the Magnite, the replacement for the Qashqai modelled on the Renault Duster, the aforementioned twin of the Boreal and the all-new Y63 Patrol.

For the moment, no details about the South Africa-bound X-Trail are known, however, expectations are it will keep the seven-seat layout as standard, together with a combination of the CVT and the normally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol engine outputting 135kW/244Nm.

At present, the X-Trail range spans three models: Visa, Acenta and four-wheel drive Acenta Plus priced at R687 900, R751 900 and R812 900 respectively.

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