Test drive Nissan X-Trail 2001-2003 SUV

Japanese in Finland

Sortering options
The appearance of the car is characteristic of this class, however, individual elements successfully distinguish it from the crowd. The general style of the machine is not aggressive, but the convex arches of the wheel arches above 16-inch cast wheels with tires 215/65R16 (possibly 215/70R15), as well as a strong metal protection of the lower part of the power unit, coupled with an impressive road clearance and small overhangs hint at extraordinary off -road opportunities.
The car has modest dimensions, but neither a driver with a front passenger (with an increase above the average), nor the riders of the rear seats in the cabin are closely. The floor of the salon is flat, only the front console is. Hence two pluses, a convenient landing and a trouble-free removal of dirt that fell into the salon as an reckoning for off-road adventures. There are no difficulties with the placement of the cargo: an even plastic floor of the luggage compartment with molded runners, the roof arcs, the transformed back of the rear seat allow you to transport any non -standard from ski to surf. The tightness of the body is guaranteed by the verified gaps of the doorways and reinforced rubber seals. And the smoothness and softness of closing, opening the doors can envy the cars more expensive. The salon is appropriate inexpensive, but with solid synthetic materials of pleasant colors. Next, bend your fingers: climate control, hatch, an electric package with a central lock, two nests in the front panel for cooling cans of drinking water, two duffel boxes for a driver and a passenger, in addition to traditional door pockets on a long journey, will not hurt.
The steering wheel of the X-trail of small diameter, pedals perforated for sport, seats with pronounced lateral support ... In general, they hint at active driving, and not only on asphalt. The multifunctionality of the car is obvious, so the consumer is offered four options for the decoration of the body and salon: comfort, sports, luxury and elegant. The engines also have a full pluralism of 2-liter gasoline QR20 with a distributed injection or a 2.2 liter turbodiesel; Both motors are four-cylinder, 16-valve. At the same time, the gasoline engine is aggregated both with a five -speed manual gearbox, and with a four -speed automatic, and a six -speed manual box is offered to the diesel engine. A car suspension is an independent front type McExon, the back is multi-link.
 
Riddles of abbreviations
The name X-Traile, as it were, hints at electronic intelligence, so it is. The new ESP+electronic stabilization system, which has already become familiar to ABS, other contrast TSC systems, control of the differential of increased ABLSD friction, the distribution of the EBD brake forces and the ALL MOOD UF -drive connection ... All these bells out can work both collectively and in themselves.
 
Three buttons
The scheme of all-wheel drive transmission is rare, but not a new one is implemented on Honda CR-V. The main executive element of the clutch of the rear axle, consisting of a set of leading and driven friction discs (in this version they are blocked by an electromagnet). The driver selects the desired mode by pressing one of three buttons: the front axle drive is 2WD, an automatic connection of the Auto button all -wheel drive, and the inter -axial lock, of course, Lock. Note that the last two modes wake up when you press the accelerator. According to the signals of the wheel sensors, the torque is redistributed between the front and rear axle in the maximum ratio of 57:43, as well as between the axle wheels and their free colleagues.
 
ON ROAD...
To evaluate the X in the movement, reporters were provided by one car with a gasoline and diesel engine, both with a mechanical gearbox. We are going!
On Avtoban, you do not feel this fact flawed. Both cars allow you to move at speeds up to 160165 km/h for a long time and confidently, while instead of the habitable by the Russians the whistle of the wind, you calmly listen to the music of the built -in radio. The muffled roar of the motor and the noise of the tires are reminiscent of speed.
We turn off the high -speed highway to a secondary highway ... Yes, not without reason in Finland there are so many cool motorbells and ralists: a person who is accustomed to such roads, a direct road to sports. The narrow ribbon of the road attracts us to the beauties of the northern country of the reversal, meadows, lakes and rivals, villages and farms alternate, as in a kaleidoscope ... good asphalt is sometimes replaced by gravel all the better, these are ideal conditions for assessing stability and controllability. Well, X-traile confirmed its sporting character accurately tracks the rotation of the steering wheel, spurred by one pedal and besieges the other. Dynamic accelerations on short straight lines, confident movement in complex turns, even when side sliding occurs, this is clearly contributed to the adjustment of the suspension. With a relatively high location of the center of the masses (all-terrain vehicle after ...), the bodies of the body are small and buildup does not occur. The comments are slightly increased noise and vibration from tires on a fine grader comb and not enough clear inclusion of gears in the six -a -piece diesel engine.
 
... and in a career
The old quarry is turned into a landfill ... Of course, when preparing the route, the entire set of obstacles and irregularities was carefully linked with the capabilities of the car, but it is all the more interesting to feel the real limit of the car without fear of damaging it. Here, the X-trail showed himself well that he is from the SUV generation. Confidently overcame the steep climbs and descents, transverse logs and longitudinal roles, rocky track, etc. Special impressions of the sections of the highway with maximum angles in lateral stability and when moving irregularities with diagonal hanging of wheels with the full course of suspensions. Here they proved their need for all -wheel drive and blocking. Honestly, sometimes I caught myself thinking that I wanted to go ... Pressure! However, the reducing transmission is not provided for, and therefore, and therefore, the diesel modification, which is painful at low speeds in these conditions, is preferable to gasoline. z
The all-wheel drive Nissan X-Trail belongs to the class of compact all-terrain vehicles with a supporting body or, otherwise, cars for outdoor activities (SUV). He made his debut in the fall of 2000 in Paris. Serial production began in Japan since November 2000 sales in Europe are scheduled for September 2001. Cars are equipped with gasoline 2.0 liters (140 hp) or 2.2 liters (114 hp) with engines, mechanical five- or six-speed gearboxes or four-speed automatic.
 
SUMMARY
X-traile a worthy successor of Nissan's traditions in the class of all-terrain vehicles. The symbiosis of new technical solutions and modern technologies allows us to count on the attention of the consumer leading an active lifestyle.
 
 
   
 

 
  
Anatoly Karpenkov
Photo: Nissan
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"