The Tan Chong product and marketing people we spoke with while testing the new X-Trail were excited about proclaiming their new SUV as all new in design. Undeniably it is, taking advantage of the current Alliance C-Platform (This is a Renault and Nissan shared platform), this X-Trail come with all new panels, interior plastic bits and even engine. However, like the iconic Porsche 911 where little has changed in its design over the many years in production, Nissan designers have worked with an approved design loved by families and local town councils alike and worked at its basic form to get more into this new X-Trail.
The first thing that strikes you climbing into the 2010 X-Trail is its roomy interior’s reassuring feeling of harmony and simplicity. This car’s chief designers and stylists may have been Japanese, but in the X-Trail there is a hint of the French tendency towards self-indulgent complexity with its digital multi-function display which we found too small yet stylish in its presentation.
It incorporates fuel, temp, odometer, fuel economy, fuel range and even elapsed time. The instrument cluster has returned to the front of the driver.
This X-Trail offers excellent ergonomics and passenger comfort with electric front seats and adjustable reclining rear seats. The driver’s seat is electrically adjusted. The rear bench has a 60/40 fold function with a folding armrest.
It can also fold flat to accommodate bulky cargo. In the rear, the cargo floor is removable and washable with a class leading space of up to 603-liters. Under it is a drawer to stow more items. There is keyless ignition and safety features are class high with EBD, 2-airbags, ABS, BA and a 6-Star rating from the Japanese Assessment Board.
This X-Trail is a reasonably responsive driver, fully competitive with the other SUV’s in its class. Its 2-liter engine is smooth and quiet in normal driving, but accelerating hard onto a highway to join the flow of traffic, its thrust is only adequate and the rumble it makes reminds you that this is after all only a small four-cylinder. But adequate is better than nothing, and in this class of vehicles, this X-Trail is more than competitive.
The Nissan-sourced 6-speed CVT semi-automatic transmission is smooth-shifting and excellent, giving this X-Trail a big advantage in efficiency over its older sibling.
The power steering is one of the X-Trail’s strengths. It’s well calibrated, giving you firm steering response, flawless road feel and no excuse to become uninterested in the driving experience Underneath the new shell it uses a reconfigured independent suspension front (MacPherson strut) and rear (multi-link) which gives this X-Trail a pleasant ride and good dynamics on the highway and city tarmac where it will be most of its life.
This X-Trail’s ride and handling are good with firm brakes, good pedal feel and exemplary modulation, and the chassis had only returned mild rolling in brisk cornering, as would be expected of a vehicle engineered and tuned using the best of Japanese and French ride and handing know how.
This X-Trail is imported from Indonesia and it comes with just a 2-liter engine. Backed with a strong 3-year or 100,000 kilometer warranty, we are sure its sales will be brisk as before and will offer previous X-Trail owners to visit a Tan Chong showroom soon.
Nissan X-Trail Specifications
Engine: 4-cylinder Petrol
Displacement: 1997cc
Gearbox: 6-speed semi automatic CVT
0-100km/h: NA
Top Speed: 181km/h as tested
Max power: 139 hp @ 5200 rpm
Max torque: 198Nm @ 4400 rpm
Selling Price: 149,500
