With the addition of the new 2005 Nissan X‑TRAIL, Nissan Canada Inc. has all the sport utility bases covered with eight uniquely different SUVs in its lineup.
"X‑TRAIL is an innovative entry-level sport utility vehicle that perfectly complements Nissan Canada's current lineup of SUVs," says Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada director of marketing. "Small SUVs make up 44 percent of the SUV market in Canada, and X‑TRAIL gives us a highly efficient, extremely adaptable entry into that market."
X‑TRAIL joins an SUV roster that includes the authentic Xterra, the rugged Pathfinder, the sophisticated Murano and the full-size Armada.
"Just as the new full-size Nissan Armada crowns our strong SUV lineup,X‑TRAIL gives it a strong foundation," Forsyth says. "Along with SUVs from our luxury division Infiniti - the FX35, FX45 and the new full-size QX56 - Nissan Canada Inc. clearly offers the most comprehensive SUV lineup in Canada."
Forsyth says X‑TRAIL was conceived and designed for people who enjoy life intensely and in a practical way. "It offers a sedan's functionality for city driving, with the fun and adaptability of a utility vehicle," he added.
The 2005 X‑TRAIL, which will go on sale in Nissan dealerships across Canada this spring, is not available in the United States where buyers favour larger SUVs, but it's been a smash hit everywhere it has been sold.
Introduced in 2000 in Japan, X‑TRAIL won Japan's Good Design and Internet Car of the Year. Introduced two years later in other markets, X‑TRAIL scooped up a showcase full of 2002 awards in Europe and Mexico, including:
- Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) award
- GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Best Small SUV
- Picked Best 4x4 by Al Volante (Spain)
- AutoExpress (U.K.) new car award
- Mexico Best Public Image award
- Ireland's Best SUV
X‑TRAIL is powered by a 165-horsepower 2.5-litre 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder engine that produces 170 ft-lbs of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Available in front-wheel-drive (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations, X‑TRAIL is offered in three trim levels, base XE, sporty SE and luxury LE, the latter only available with AWD. Nissan's all-wheel-drive system features an active torque distribution management system with an electro-magnetic clutch. The system is designed for smooth starts, better fuel economy and better traction.
The system allows X‑TRAIL owners three choices of drive configuration - '2WD' for economical around town driving or for clear, dry driving conditions when only the front wheels are doing the driving; 'Auto' for deteriorating road conditions due to rain, ice or snow; or 'Lock' to lock vehicle into all-wheel-drive for serious off-road driving or deep snow or mud conditions.
In 'Auto' mode, the system detects excessive slip and shifts torque back and forth between front and rear wheels automatically.
Nissan applied for more than 500 patents for the sophisticated AWD system, which was developed from Nissan's advanced home-market Skyline sports car.
A four-speed automatic transmission is standard on all FWD models. On AWD X-TRAILs, a five-speed manual transmission is standard on XE and SE trim levels while the four-speed automatic is an option. Top-of-the-line LE AWD models feature a standard four-speed automatic.
A "Snow-Mode" switch is standard on all front-wheel-drive models. When activated, this switch retards engine power to the front drive wheels to help maximize traction under slippery conditions. Grip at startup on ice or snow is significantly improved.
While X‑TRAIL is considered Nissan's entry-level SUV by virtue of its size and price, it is anything but entry-level in terms of the equipment and features on all of the five models offered.
For instance, standard equipment on X‑TRAIL includes four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), EBD (electronic braking power distribution) and BA (Brake Assist).
Exterior features include: three-dimensional headlights; colour-keyed front and rear bumpers, bodyside mouldings and outside mirrors (power adjustable and heated); 16-inch steel wheels with full wheelcovers; roofrack rails; chromed door handles and liftgate finisher; and elegant high-mounted three-dimensional taillights.
A unique X‑TRAIL feature is its front fenders, which are made of polyurethane the same colour as the bodywork and are designed to return to their original shape after a slight bump. They are five kilograms lighter than comparable steel fenders.
Inside, the five-passenger cabin features a front bucket driver's seat that is eight-way adjustable, including lumbar support. The reclining 60/40-split rear bench folds down and allows skis or other long objects to pass through into the trunk area. The seat includes a removable fold-down centre armrest that allows wider objects, such as snowboards, to pass through the seat as well.
Other standard interior features include manual air conditioning with Microfilter, six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, cruise control, power windows and door locks, leather-wrapped steering wheel, tilt steering, dual vanity mirrors, illuminated entry system, four cupholders and titanium-coloured instrument gauges including a tachometer, trip odometer and digital clock.
A reinforced cabin structure is designed for safety and greater durability. The bodywork is highly resistant to twisting and bending, which reduces the chances of creaks and rattles even after long, hard off-road use.
X‑TRAIL's 2.5-litre engine, which is equipped with a block heater, has an aluminum alloy monoblock and cylinder head to reduce weight and vibration. Engine technology includes Nissan's Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS) and Nissan Direct Ignition System (NDIS)which replaces the distributor and high tension cables with independent coils in each sparkplug for better performance at any engine speed. It also features modular engine design, microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, molybdenum coated lightweight pistons and electronically controlled throttles.
This engine, called QR25, features a silent chain drive and a balancer system that effectively negates vibrations without taking up a lot of space - combining ideal packaging and smoothness.
X‑TRAIL's 165-horsepower engine is more powerful than four-cylinder engines in the Toyota RAV4 (161 hp), Honda CR-V (160 hp), Jeep Liberty (150 hp)and the Mazda Tribute (130 hp).
X‑TRAIL's interior is roomier than its main competitors. With its second-row seat folded down, X‑TRAIL offers 8.5 cubic feet more than Tribute, 5.4 more than RAV4 and 3.8 more than Liberty.
The interior's adaptability is also one of X‑TRAIL's strong suits. Its second-row seats, for instance, fold flat for maximum cargo capacity and easy loading and unloading.
Another unique feature of X‑TRAIL's luggage compartment is its "fiberglass reinforced plastic" (FRP) construction. The dimpled floorboard is both water- and scratch-resistant and can be easily removed for quick and easy washing, making it ideal for carrying sports equipment, plants, pets and outdoor equipment.
A centrally-mounted instrument panel provides an unobstructed view of the instruments no matter how the driver adjusts the steering wheel. The centre panel also frees up space for a lidded storage box that has room to store a cellphone, wallet or up to 12 CDs and incorporates one of two 12-volt power sockets provided in X‑TRAIL.
X‑TRAIL's suspension is independent MacPherson struts in front with independent parallel bars at rear and stabilizer bars both front and rear. The design relies heavily on Nissan's off-road technology to provide optimum driving comfort on rough roads and better control on uneven surfaces.
Safety features on X‑TRAIL include three-point retractable safety belts at all five seating positions, doughnut-style headrests on all seats, active head restraints for front-seat occupants and front and rear impact absorption zones. Childproof door locks and Isofix child-seat anchors on outboard rear seats are also included.
X‑TRAIL SE models include all the features of the XE plus 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, six-disc in-dash CD changer, heated cloth front seats, variable intermittent wipers and a large power glass sunroof. The X‑TRAIL sunroof is particularly striking because of its size, two or three times as big as power sunroofs found on other small SUVs.
The top-of-the-line LE model adds a rear spoiler, automatic climate-control air conditioning, eight-way power driver's seat, leather seating surfaces and driver and passenger side-impact airbags to the SE's impressive list of equipment.
The LE can also be equipped with a Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) that monitors vehicle stability through a variety of sensors located throughout then vehicle and compares this information to driver input. The system automatically reduces engine torque delivery and brakes individual wheels to correct an understeer or oversteer condition that can occur on slippery surfaces or during an obstacle-avoidance maneuver.
X‑TRAIL is produced by Nissan in Kyushu, Japan