Spotted at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2014 was the new third-generation Nissan X-Trail. Assembled in Cikampek, West Java, the Japanese seven-seater SUV made its debut in the archipelago a couple of weeks ago, making Indonesia the first country in ASEAN to receive it (the car was also launched in the Philippines last week).
Looking pretty much like a stretched Qashqai, the X-Trail features Nissan’s latest design language, with its “V-Motion” grille, slim headlights, D-pillar kink, C-shaped tail lights and assortment of sweeps and curves.
The interior will be familiar to anyone who’s driven the Teana, except for the standard third-row seats. Our man Danny Tan – who was at the show – says the seating arrangement is more 5+2, as the rear-most seats are only really suited for children.
Two four-cylinder petrol engine choices are available – a Serena S-Hybrid-derived MR20DD 2.0 litre direct-injected mill developing 144 PS and 200 Nm, as well as a QR25DE 2.5 litre MPI motor from the Teana that produces 171 PS and 233 Nm. The former is available with either a six-speed manual or an Xtronic CVT, the latter only available with the Xtronic. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels.
Standard on all models are LED daytime running lights, auto headlamps and Active Ride Control. The 2.0 CVT adds self-levelling full-LED headlamps, auto wipers, heated door mirrors, keyless entry, push-button start, power-operated front seats, an Around View Monitor and an ECO mode switch, while the 2.5 is the only one with cruise control, 18-inch wheels (other models get 17’s), leather seats and dual-zone climate control.
Safety-wise, the Indonesian X-Trail comes with just dual airbags, but it also comes standard with ABS with EBD and brake assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Hill Start Assist, Active Trace Control (called Active Understeer Control on Malaysian-market Teana models) and ISOFIX child seat anchors on the second row bench. The 2.5 also benefits from Active Engine Braking.
Prices start at Rp. 383 million (RM103,300) for the 2.0 litre manual, rising to Rp. 413 million (RM111,300) for the CVT-equipped 2.0 litre and Rp. 431.5 million (RM116,900) for the 2.5 litre model. Five colours are available – Premium Bronze Metallic, Floral White, Phantom Black, Smokey Grey Metallic and Diamond Silver Metallic.
Malaysian distributor Edaran Tan Chong recently announced that the X-Trail will make its way to our shores by the end of the year, locally-assembled and ready to take on the Honda CR-V, the Mazda CX-5, the Ford Kuga and the seven-seater Chevrolet Captiva.
