Test drive Nissan X-Trail 2003-2007 SUV

In the trail x

Leaving the next turn on the mountain road in Greece, I noticed a huge turtle crawling. It’s too late to beat the brakes - I had to make a moose rearrangement, or rather a turtle. Wow, ”my colleague said to the right,“ but this is a high SUV! ” Indeed, it is a pleasure to manage the new X-Trail.



View from the platform
From the moment of release in 2000, more than 800,000 Nissan X-Trail has diverged around the world. The buyer was offered a relatively inexpensive car with good highways and off -road abilities. And in appearance, the X-Trail was a harsh male car. But it's time to update.
The most important news is the platform on which the Qashqai crossover has already been built. In front - an independent spring suspension of the McPherson type, fixed on the subframe, behind - an independent multi -link.
The new Intelligent All Mode 4x4-I reads data from ESP sensors, the steering angle and the position of the accelerator pedal. In the operating mode of the X -Trail - a front -wheel drive car, the rear axle is connected by an electromagnetic coupling, dividing the torque between the axes in half automatically, at the command of the processor.
The new X-Trail has acquired electronic off-road assistance systems. Among them are Uphill Start Support (USS) - Help for Trogany on the Raise and Downhill Drive Support (DDS) - help with descent. USS on the rise of more than 10 degrees holds the car from rolling back until the very moment the movement upwards. And DDS automatically maintains a speed of 7 km/h during descent, preventing wheels from blocking. New engines appeared under the hood. Firstly, it is already a well-known Renault 2.0 DCI diesel in Europe with a Common Rail injection. On the X -Trail, it will be installed in two versions - 150 hp. Paired with a 6-step mechanical or automatic transmission and 173 hp. Only with mechanics. Unfortunately, neither one nor the other option will be brought to Russia. For our market there are two gasoline engines - 2 -liter with a capacity of 141 hp. and 169-horsepower 2.5 liters. Two transmission: 6-speed mechanical or variator. Interestingly, gasoline motors will not be supplied to Europe.
 
Family practices
It's time to drive. The first thing that catches your eye is the normal location of the dashboard. The indicatments of the speedometer and tachometer are read well, and the liquid crystal indicators of the fuel level and the temperature of the coolant are blind - you have to peer into a small round window between dials. Beautiful, but uncomfortable.
Otherwise, everything is not bad. Even a tall driver can easily sit behind the wheel. Electroregulations of the front seats are quite enough. We were pleased with good lateral support and thoughtful geometry of the profile of seats. The rear passengers are also quite comfortable, the legs are more than enough. In addition, the back can be thrown back 12 degrees for a more convenient planting. The rear sofa is folded in the proportion of 40/20/40, allowing you to transport long -meters and leaving a place for passengers. Almost vertical side folds of the body and a high ceiling provide a supply of space both in width and above the head. An additional sensation of volume in the cabin gives an increased hatch in almost the entire length of the roof.
The materials of the finish have become noticeably better. Since, as the creators of the car assure, many X-Trail owners are transplanted from family cars, they paid much attention to practicality. Torpedo has a spacious box in the center, in which 10 CDs can fit, two very convenient cup holders over ventilation deflectors with cooling function. In the trunk there is a two -level floor with a drawer for small things, and its coating is made of special non -slip and easy material. By the way, the size of the luggage compartment increased, adding 127 mm and 174 in length in a length, and the volume now reaches 603 liters. Having folded the rear seats, the beneficial space can be brought to impressive 1773 liters.
 
Chassis, trails and highways
The behavior on the road has also changed. First of all, Eura settings were better. A clear force in the near -Stolium zone and feedback appeared. When driving along winding paths, there is a pleasant elasticity of the steering wheel in corners.
Since only gasoline engines are relevant for our country, we will talk about them. During the test, it was possible to ride only on a 2.5-liter motor with a variator. Great tandem! The insufficient moment on the bottoms fully compensates for the work of the variator. Good dynamics remains up to 5000 rpm. If you convert the KP into manual mode, then you can twist the engine to maximum revolutions, while the selected gear is held to the last.
When setting up the chassis, a good compromise has been achieved between handling on the highway and off -road qualities. Despite the impressive moves of the pendants and a high body, the car almost does not roll in the turns. Moreover, the chassis settings are partly spurred by an active ride. The course stability system interferes in management only at the last moment-first standard ESP tools are used, and then, to nevertheless refuel the car to the turn, the abilities of the All Mode 4x4-I can be attracted.
The smoothness deserves respect. Small joints on the road generally go unnoticed, and larger irregularities only slightly remind of themselves with insignificant shocks. Noise insulation has improved noticeably. Even pebbles on a dirt road are not annoyed with a knock in the wheel arches. The engine is practically not heard up to 4000 rpm.
The car has become more comfortable and better in sled qualities, but the appearance will not scare away the fans of this model a strongly released feed with a massive rear stand and the lowered glazing line? The anterior optics and rear lights have become even larger. The smooth lines of the body give the impression that we have a refined city dweller. However, a number of accessories can emphasize an off-road image of the machine, such as already known in the previous X-Trail, roof rails with built-in foglights, wheel pads, steps and decorative arcs. For lovers of outdoor activities, there is the opportunity to install fasteners for bicycles, skis, trunk on the roof and other pleasant little things.
The novelty will appear in our market closer to the fall. Then official prices and lists of sets will be announced, but orders for the new X-Trail are accepted now.
 
 
 
 
 
Maxim Pastushenko
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"