Test Drive Nissan X-Trail since 2011 SUV
Nissan X-Trail: Strokes to the portrait
Nissan X-TRAIL is present on the market not so long ago: the Nissanovsky Parquetnik was debuted, that is, later its main competitors. But now, in early 2004, an updated version of X-Trail is coming to the market - with a modified appearance, an arranged interior and a new turbo diesel engine.Three years on the standards of the automotive business - a relatively small period in order to expose the car upgrade. This usually happens after four, or even five years old. And in the case of X-Trail about restyling, at all so far, it was too early: the model and so sold with a bang. Apparently, Nissanovs wanted to immediately solve two problems: to present a new Turbodiesel to the public and at the same time update the model so as not to do this in a year and a half. And maybe now it will always be: in the framework of the company's development program, Nissan Marketers could easily provide such frequent upgrades of their models. After all, Nissan in recent years the design pays a lot of attention ...
What is the difference between the 2004 model year? In our version - practically nothing. A little changed the form of the front bumper and the falseradiator lattice - that's all the Facelifting. But if the Sport version turned out to be on the test, then we could see another distinctive feature of the renovated cars - new rings for the roof trunk, with the fog lights integrated into them.
The profile of X-Trail has not changed, and the feed remains the same. With the exception of one minor detail - on the rear bumper now two round dogs instead of the former rectangular.
Inside changes more. Above the salon well worked. Plastic panel has become better. But it is softer only visually, and in fact the same tough, as in the dorestayling car. Changed the central console. The dashboard remained in the center, but the console itself is now another, more comfortable. Ventilation deflectors have a different design, but the main innovation is another climate control unit, with rotating handles. It is more convenient to operate and more expensive in appearance has become an audio system: instead of a liner magnetic with small buttons and finishes under aluminum, normal music, made in one color scheme with a panel appeared. Also on resting cars, a very convenient remote control appeared on the steering wheel.
Front chairs with hypertrophied side support look perfectly, but in fact no more convenient than in the dorestayling car. Soft sidewalls and lateral support do not provide. And adjustment in height, as it seems to us, here is completely inappropriate - the seat, on the contrary, I want to omit below. By the way, in this version, the electric drive seat, as well as the front passenger - before, there was no such thing. The sport version has a slightly different decoration of the cabin, there is more aluminum, as well as stylish pads on the pedal.
Transmission on restyled cars remained the same, which is even good, because it is one of the best transmissions in the classroom. It does not just provide an X-Trail with a drive on all wheels, but also allows the driver to choose one of their three modes, each of which is designed for various movement conditions.
The first mode is 2WD - designed to operate the car under normal conditions. The leading is only the front axle, and the entire torque is transmitted only to it - the rear wheels are not activated. This allows you to save fuel, as well as improve overclocking dynamics on dry asphalt.
The second mode is also intended for operation of the machine under normal conditions, but in this case the rear axle is automatically connected when the front wheels are slipped. This mode is convenient when driving along a slippery road or in winter, when it is impossible to predict the clutch coefficient with asphalt. The connection time of the second axis is minimal, and everything happens automatically, so the driver does not even know how the proportion of torque on which axis is transmitted.
Well, the third mode of operation of the transmission - Lock - is intended only for movement in difficult conditions, when the machine can be forced. In this mode, the mid-space coupling that connects the rear axle is rigidly blocked, and the torque is distributed between both axes. The rigid lock allows you to more accurately predict the behavior of the car on slippery ground, and also reduces the probability of slipping one of the wheels, which often leads to a vehicle injection. In Lock mode it is more convenient to ride deep snow or dirt - uniform and constant distribution of torque over the axes makes it possible to increase the permeability. But as soon as you select on the asphalt, you need to immediately go to automatic mode or in general turn on the drive to the front axle - on the usual coating, the LOCK mode cannot be used. However, even if you forget to switch to the transmission to another mode, the control electronics will make it itself.
Gasoline engines on restyled cars remained the same: in the basic version of X-Trail equipped with a two-liter 140-strong motor, and the top version received a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 165 hp. For two, only a five-speed mechanical transmission is offered, and a 2.5-liter motor can be combined with both mechanics and a 4-speed automaton.
But the turbodiesel is now another, more powerful and treagoral. With a previous working volume of 2.2 liters, it develops the power of 136 hp, and the torque indicator is increased to 314 nm at 2000 rpm. For comparison: it used to be 114 hp. and 270 nm under the same 2000 rpm.
Naturally, we were most interested in the Turbodiesel - after all, it is with such a motor Nissan X-Trail that is best for sale in Europe. But in our republic - there is a completely different matter, so the test turned out to be a top version with an automatic transmission, leather interior and a 2.5-liter gasoline engine.
On gasoline two-liter X-Traile, we have not yet been brought, but version 2.5 was also not impressed. Acceleration is not so rapid, as you expect, and noise from the engine is too much. It turns out that this version with an automatic dynamics is practically the same as the two-liter motor on the mechanics. Overclocking from space up to 100 km / h in X-Trail 2.5 Aut. It takes 11.1 seconds, and in twos from the mechanical checkpoint - 11.3 seconds. By the way, the six-cylinder car with a mechanical transmission is not much faster - 9.9 seconds. So our choice is a new 2,2-liter Common-Raylovsky turbodiesel with a capacity of 136 hp, which is equal to a gasoline dial. And at the maximum speed, thanks to the 6-speed gearbox, which is offered only for the turbo code, even exceeds the gasoline option for 3 km / h!
In addition to not very impressive overclocking dynamics, the 2.5-liter version was very surprised by the abundance of vibrations. At idle, the four-cylinder engine transmits vibrations on the steering wheel: not deadly, but it annoys a little. And when the automatic transmission is on the drive, the vibrations begin to be transmitted also on the body, and even on the driver's seat. And it turns out that at the crossroads a 2.5-liter X-TRAIL tears the same as a turbodiesel machine.
Automatic transmission, affordable only with this motor, is also not particularly impressed with its advantages. It is a four-stage, transmission is very stretched, which adversely affects the dynamics, especially in transitional modes. Switching - sluggish, but tough, especially if you use kick-down. But there is little sense from him, because the switching down is very stretched in time, and the rapid acceleration does not work. Especially inconvenient This automatic machine for fast maneuvers in the city: while the box is converted until it turns down until the machine is accelerated, the window in the stream is already closed. But if you just ride, without jerks and movements, then Nissan X-Trail 2.5 AUT is felt quite comfortable and quiet car. By the way, the manual regime, as well as sports, is not provided here, so the driver in any case has to put up with the leisure of the machine ...
Pavel Kozlovski
A source: Autogase / N 15 (454) dated 04/27/04
