The idea of Nissan’s E-Power drivetrain sounded so smart: an economical petrol engine produces power for electric motors that smoothly drive the Nissan X-Trail. Our comparison test shows that this was only half successful.
This test of the Nissan X-Trail against the Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V is a shortened version of the extensive comparison in Auto Review 1. Buy the magazine now in the supermarket, bookstore or in our webshop.
This is how the Nissan X-Trail works with E-Power
The X-Trail with E-Power drivetrain uses a three-cylinder turbo engine to generate power for the front and rear electric motors. The system power is 213 hp, with which it sprints to 100 km/h in just 7.2 seconds. That makes the Nissan the fastest sprinter in our test.
The spontaneous acceleration is impressive and resembles that of an electric car. However, the electric drive sometimes responds with a one-second delay when you floor the accelerator after longer coasting periods.
E-Power consumption tested
You would think that Nissan came up with the E-Power technology to make a difference in terms of efficiency, but that is disappointing. On provincial roads, consumption still fluctuates neatly between five and six liters, but on the highway consumption increases. We drive along the autobahn and see the on-board computer even increase to twelve liters. The test consumption of the X-Trail ultimately amounts to an old-fashioned solid 8.9 liters per 100 kilometers. That’s 1 in 11!
Of Toyota RAV4 shows that it can be much more economical. Its powertrain consists of a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 178 hp that works according to the Atkinson principle, a 120 hp electric motor on the front axle and a 54 hp electric motor on the rear axle. The result is a low test consumption of 6.7 liters per 100 kilometers (1 in 15).
With equally large fuel tanks (55 liters), the result is obvious: the X-Trail driver is at the pump every roughly 600 kilometers, while the Toyota driver is there every 800 kilometers. That is an expensive disadvantage for the Nissan driver.
High towing weight, small trunk
Anyone who wants to go on holiday with the caravan must pay extra for the X-Trail with four-wheel drive. It can tow a braked trailer weighing no less than 1,800 kilograms; the e-Power with 2WD only tows 670 kilos.
And it’s not as if the trunk of the
Tip
Choose your car insurance
Buying a new car? At Interpolis you can now choose from comprehensive car insurance or basic car insurance.
Conclusion
The Nissan X-Trail E-Power fails. Its drivetrain is smooth but not economical, the tuning of the chassis has high and low peaks and the trunk is small. The result is third place, behind the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Toyota RAV4.
You read the complete comparative test Auto Review 1. You buy the magazine in the supermarket, bookstore or in our webshop.
Source: www.autoreview.nl
