The fourth-generation Nissan X-Trail crossover (T33) has been present in Ukraine for several years, and it is well known to existing owners and potential customers. However, this is not a reason to stop in its development, on the contrary, it is a reason to take the next step and offer something new in the model line. For example, a special version of the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek, which we will discuss today in the format of the most important questions and answers!
This new version of the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek - what makes it so special?
At least in terms of exterior design. Without changing its body in general, the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek crossover has several distinctive details. First of all, the eye stops at the front bumper with protruding "fangs" around the fog lamps. By the way, these are LED headlights; like almost all the front optics, only the turn signals have incandescent bulbs. The second characteristic element is the black and silver 18-inch wheels with a very interesting design: black double spokes merge into one massive silver element as they approach the rim. We've seen this somewhere before... I'll even tell you where - similar wheels were on the Nissan Navara pickup truck of the 2020s. Only there were 6-spoke wheels, and here we have 5-spoke wheels.
And then there are the traditional changes for such special versions: black trim on the rails and black mirror housings (of course, where can you do without it?), a lacquered dark gray insert on the rear bumper instead of the traditional silver one, a dark line around the grille instead of the usual chrome one. That's all the differences. It seems that there are not many of them; however, it is enough to distinguish the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek from other crossover variants.
The design of the current generation of NissanX-Trail T33 hints not only at its predecessors in the T30 and T31 series, but also at "real men's SUVs"; don't you agree? From this point of view, the new version of Nissan X-Trail N-Trek fits well into the character of the car, as if hinting at the desire for off-road adventures. The front bumper's fangs are positioned in such a way that they will be among the first to hit snow or mud on the road. We can say that the front overhang has increased, but there is no official information about changes in overall dimensions. The following is also stated: length - 4.68 meters, width - 1.84 meters; height - 1.725 meters; wheelbase - 2.705 meters. The ground clearance of the NissanX-Trail is 192-210 mm, depending on the powertrain, type of drive, number of seats in the cabin; no additional increase in ground clearance for the N-Trek version has been announced.
Well, there aren't too many differences on the outside... And what's inside?
The cabin has a familiar front panel with a pair of large displays and a two-story center console, with a separate climate control unit and a convenient paddle switch, with wireless charging and memory of the settings for the power seat of the driver and even the passenger. It seems that someone in the comments wrote that this is important for a family car - well, the Nissan X-Trail has it all.
Behind, everything is also familiar: large doors with the ability to open almost perpendicularly (85 degrees) and a great supply of space, a second-row sofa that slides back and forth (about 10 positions) and is adjustable in the backrest angle (I counted 5 positions), a separate climate control zone and heated seats, side sun shades. And if you look behind the rear, you'll even find a third row of seats. However, there is frankly not enough space there: you need to partially move the second-row sofa to accommodate your knees; the headrests extend almost to the roof and still rest against your neck. And on a bumpy road, it throws you around noticeably. At these moments, you envy the passengers in the second row, where it's much more comfortable - both in terms of equipment and just in terms of the feeling of softness of the suspension.
But, whatever one may say, this is an additional +2 seats, which can be an important advantage in case of emergency. In addition, the Nissan X-Trail unexpectedly impressed with its silence: for example, when driving at a highway speed of about 100-110 km/h, the cabin is so quiet that you can safely talk between the driver and passengers not only in the second but also in the third row of seats.
However, the Nissan X-Trail T33 had all these advantages from the beginning of its career. What has changed in the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek version? The seat trim has been changed: a special waterproof material has been used, which will be very useful for families with small children and the risk of constant seat soiling, or for fans of river and forest adventures who may bring dirt into the cabin. This finish has different textures in the central part of the seat (reminiscent of a golf ball) and on the side support elements, which makes the seat look nice, even despite the monochromatic dark gray color scheme. And not only does it look nice, but it feels nice as well: this central part of the seat is quite interesting to the touch and holds the body well. The test drive of the car took place in late fall and early winter, so at that moment I personally had no comments on these seats. However, it remains to be seen how this waterproof material will feel in the summer (and, of course, there is no perforation or ventilation in the seats).
The interior is familiar in literally every element: the general shape of the front panel, the two-story center console, ventilation deflectors and various switches. There is also an incredibly comfortable second row of seats (one of the best in the class) and a third row of seats, which is still there. However, in order to accommodate passengers in the third row, you will have to move the second-row passengers a little - thankfully, the movable sofa allows you to do this. A new feature that is specific to the version ofNissan X-Trail N-Trek is the waterproof seat trim. The trunk of the 7-seater car has a volume of 485 liters, but this is with the third row of seats folded. When the third-row seats are installed, there is only enough space behind for a couple of supermarket bags and one or two sports bags. The lower hidden niche is not very functional: it is almost entirely occupied by various elements of the car, including even the battery (this is a feature of the version with an electrified powertrain e-POWER). However, in general, the NissanX-Trail crossover resembles a modular construction set: with a 5-seater cabin, you can get an increased trunk volume (575-585 liters) and convenient movable shelves, with a 7-seater cabin and MHEV-hybrid, you can get a more spacious lower niche.
What about technical changes? Does the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek version differ in any way?
In general, no, it does not differ. We have a load-bearing body and fully independent suspensions, as well as the already familiar electrified e-POWER powertrain: this is when an electric motor is always responsible for turning the wheels, and the 1.5 VC-TURBO gasoline turbo engine is used only to drive the generator and generate electricity. Moreover, the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek in the version for Ukraine always has an e-POWER powertrain; a conventional MHEV hybrid is not offered in this case. But a different type of drive is offered: front or full e-4ORCE with separate electric motors in the front/rear - we have 157 kW or 217 hp of total power and 330+195 Nm of torque (for front/rear electric motor).
It has become a tradition that in modern Nissan vehicles, the e-POWER designation always means something good; and the double e-POWER e-4ORCE designation, respectively, means double the benefits. Accordingly, the test car Nissan X-Trail N-Trek e-POWER e-4ORCE (oh, what a long name...) embodied all the best that this model has. First of all, the excellent linearity of acceleration, reminiscent of an electric car: as far as the accelerator pedal is pressed, so much traction comes to the wheels, so much dynamics the car shows; and without any pauses and delays in the transmission or environmentally tolerant throttle. But at the same time, there is an incredible smoothness of movement and release of power and torque. During the dynamics measurements, for the first second or two, there is no awareness of the car's dynamics at all; only then does the realization come that the speed figures change more and more often - until they show the coveted "hundred" in just seven seconds. Moreover, this result was achieved for a 7-seater car (depending on the specific configuration, it is 30-50 kg heavier than a 5-seater) and on 18-inch winter tires (which usually have a slightly higher rolling resistance than summer tires).
Speaking of 18-inch wheels and winter tires, I think they are the ones to thank for the improved comfort. Let me explain in detail. Previously, I personally had some comments about the chassis setup that Nissan X-Trail has now: in turns and during braking, there is noticeable body sway, some vibrations and a kind of "sobbing" of the suspension when driving over bumps. It would be easy to say that the suspension was deliberately "relaxed" to maximize comfort - but no, it's not quite true: in general, the car was not stiff, but there were periodic tangible jolts from single deep pits under the wheels. There were some hints and suspicions that the 19-inch wheels (and summer tires) on the previous test cars were to blame. And now Nissan X-Trail N-Trek has proved that these suspicions were justified: smaller wheels and thick, "fleshy" tires (and once again, they were winter tires) allowed us to take another step towards comfort and softness of the suspension. The body sway remained, but there were almost no painful bumps. That's why the advice "smaller wheels, fatter tires" is more relevant than ever in the case of the Nissan X-Trail.
And don't worry about the loss of control - just understand that this is hardly a key issue for the Nissan X-Trail. The car reacts normally to the turns of a fairly light steering wheel with medium sharpness (2.5 turns from stop to stop), leans in turns and bows when braking, and if you overdo it with speed in a turn, it has certain leads to the outside of the bend. Fortunately, all these processes are quite smooth, they are understandable and logical for the average driver and do not ignite any driver's fire or even a candle in his mind. Perhaps this is for the best for a full-fledged family crossover. That's why I say that it is much more important and correct for Nissan X-Trail to get more comfort - and it happened.
The excellent e-POWER powertrain with all-wheel drive e-4ORCE demonstrates excellent dynamics: Nissan X-Trail is currently the best in class in terms of acceleration from 0-100 km/h - just over 7 seconds. This is not about sporty feelings (acceleration is very smooth), but about a quick start from a standstill and confident overtaking - because the subsequent dynamics, silence in the cabin, and stability in a straight line allow NissanX-Trail to easily reach speeds far beyond the "hundred". The drive mode selector affects the powertrain's response, the level of power steering, and even the operation of the regeneration system. An additional B-mode of the transmission selector also increases the intensity of recovery, which is very convenient: you can quickly switch between the standard D-mode (like Drive in a conventional automatic) and B-mode with increased recovery with just one click. On the road, the body doesn't creak even when the wheels are hung up, and the OFF-ROAD mode (for all Nissan X-Trail with all-wheel drive, not just the N-Trek) allows you to selectively apply the brakes to simulate inter-wheel locks. It works: where NissanX-Trail stops in normal driving modes with unloaded wheels slipping, in OFF-Road mode and with occasional brake squeaks, it can still crawl forward. Fuel consumption in the city averages 6-7 liters per 100 km; similar 6.5 liters are obtained on the highway "hundred".
How much does the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek cost and how much does the Nissan X-Trail cost in general?
Speaking specifically about the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek version, this car is offered only with the e-POWER powertrain, with front or all-wheel drive, and with a 5- or 7-seater interior. The level of equipment indicates that the N-Trek version is in the middle of the pack: there is already a 360-degree view, advanced climate control, and a power front seat adjustment, but there is no Bose music or panoramic glass roof. So the price of the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek is average among other model variants - about 1.83-2.02 million UAH ($44-48.5 thousand), depending on the type of drive and the number of seats in the cabin.
However, if we talk about the Nissan X-Trail in general, we have a very wide field for choosing the desired option: a conventional MHEV hybrid or e-POWER powerplant, front or all-wheel drive, the ability to choose a 5- or 7-seater interior; plus five trim levels. And even the Acenta starter kit already offers: a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, heated steering wheel and all seats, three-zone climate control, an 8-inch central touchscreen display, a rearview camera, emergency braking, lane-departure monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intelligent cruise control, six airbags, FULL LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and more.
TheN-Connectapackage adds the following: a central 12.3-inch touchscreen display, 360-degree cameras and MOD moving object recognition system, eco-leather seats, power front seat settings with memory, heated windshield, tinted windows, and more. In fact, the new version of the NissanX-TrailN-Trek is roughly the same as the N-Connecta in terms of equipment, plus it has additional differences in the exterior and interior, as described above.
At the highest level is the Teknapackage : it adds a panoramic glass sunroof, Bose audio, 19-inch alloy wheels, matrix headlights with adaptive high beams, a projection display for the driver, and more. And the Tekna+ package also includes premium leather upholstery with decorative stitching.
The very great strength of the NissanX-Trail is the offer of an extremely wide range of equipment, engines, interiors, and drive types: almost 20 options! Moreover, from the start, a digital instrument panel, numerous heated seats, advanced climate control, many security systems are offered - I think this is very important in terms of positioning NissanX-Trail as a family car. The second trim level adds a widescreen center display, a modern multimedia system, 360-degree view; and the new version of Nissan X-Trail N-Trek adds its own design and original seat trim. The maximum configurations offer something from the world of automotive luxury: a panoramic roof, premium sound, and leather on the seats. The crossover NissanX-Trail is ready to respond to completely different customer requests and budgets: the price of the car starts at about UAH 1.4 million ($33.6 thousand) and reaches UAH 2.23 million ($53.5 thousand) - choose anything as long as you have enough money.
So, instead of summarizing: should I buy or not?
The answer to this question has already been found in the relevant comparison guide for several similar SUVs. I can go on and on about the design and chassis setup, but the truth is that the Nissan X-Trail crossover has a lot of advantages that make it one of the best cars in its class today: a very wide range of versions, modern electrified engines, 5- or 7-seater interior, good equipment with a bunch of safety systems. The new version of the Nissan X-Trail N-Trek does not take away any of these advantages, but adds its own: an original design, more practical interior trim, and better comfort (thanks to 18-inch wheels). If you were missing something from this list to build the perfect Nissan X-Trail of your dreams, then congratulations - now you have an additional opportunity to do so.
