Nissan has unveiled its new X-Trail large SUV, which ups the ante on design, comfort, on-board convenience and driving.

Deliveries of the new Nissan X-Trail start in October

Open for orders now, it’s built on the CMF-C platform from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which is also used for the Qashqai, and is available in both five- and seven-seater versions. Prices start from £32,030 with a £1,000 uplift for seven seats.

Engine line-up covers two options: a 163hp 1.5-litre mild hybrid petrol with two-wheel drive and the e-Power full hybrid powertrain, expected to make up the majority of demand and available as either 2WD or 4WD.

Already seen in the Qashqai, the e-Power combines a 1.5-litre variable compression ratio turbo petrol engine with a high-output battery, power generator, inverter and a motor on the front axle, giving a 204hp output. It costs an extra £2,435 compared to the mild hybrid petrol and uses a range-extender set-up whereby the electric motor is the sole source of power to the wheels; the petrol engine is only used to generate electricity, which is either transmitted via the inverter to the battery pack, the electric motor or both, according to the driving scenario.

This set-up means there’s no delay as with an internal combustion engine or traditional hybrid, bringing a more instant, linear response to the accelerator and avoiding the ‘rev-up’ effect of traditional hybrids under hard acceleration, making it more refined.

The e-Power system can also be specified with an e-4orce all-wheel drive system for an extra £2,200. Due to also debut on the Ariya electric crossover in early 2023, this adds a 136hp motor on the rear axle, delivering a total 213hp of power and 0-62mph time of 7 seconds. It’s also said to provide 10,000 times faster rear torque response than a mechanical 4WD system while delivering constant torque redistribution and near perfect weight balance.

The X-Trail e-Power also features Nissan’s e-Pedal Step ‘one pedal’ driving set-up. Already seen on the Leaf, this allows drivers to accelerate and brake using only the accelerator, taking the repetitive strain out of stop-start urban driving, when activated.

Exterior design brings signature Nissan design elements such as the floating roof and V-motion grill, while the cabin is set to set “a new segment standard for elevated ambience, distinctive design and enhanced usability”.

Access to the rear has been made easier with wider-opening passenger doors and the second row of seats splits in a 60:40 configuration, plus there is a central hatch to enable long items such as skis to be easily transported. Individual rear seats on seven-seater versions disappear into the floor and are designed to accommodate passengers up to 160cm in height, said to be amongst the most generous in the segment, while also enabling passengers to put their feet under the second row of seats.

Boot space is up to 585 litres, an increase of 20 litres, and the X-Trail can be specified with luggage boards to optimise space plus a powered hands-free tailgate.

Five trims are offered and bring access to connected services including smartphone, in-car Wi-Fi for up to seven devices, NissanConnect Services and a dedicated app with which to interact with and monitor the vehicle.

Onboard tech includes a 15w wireless charge pad for smartphones and a larger, higher-resolution 12.3-inch NissanConnect display screen to access navigation, entertainment and vehicle settings, compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the latter now wireless.

Drivers get a new high-definition, fully electronic 12.3-inch TFT multi-information screen and a new 10.8-inch head-up display, said to provide the biggest-in-segment image size.

The new X-Trail is also equipped with next-generation ProPilot assist with Navi-link, able to accelerate and brake the vehicle within a single-lane on a highway and updated to now able to adapt the car’s speed according to further external circumstances. It can also interact with the X-Trail’s blind-spot radars to help prevent a lane-change manoeuvre if there is a vehicle in the blind-spot zone.

Added safety comes from Nissan’s Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking with predictive function to check out for vehicles suddenly stopping in front and brake accordingly.

Deliveries of the new Nissan X-Trail will start in October.