Oilers added to Nissan X-Trail range

Nissan has added two diesel version to its X-Trail compact SUV range in New Zealand and hopes the vehicles will restore sales to former levels in a market segment CEO John Manley says is declining.

Till the compact SUV segment began contracting about two months ago, X-Trail four-wheel drive sales had been running at around 60 a month since the model’s NZ launch in November of last year – a figure double that of the previous model.

The new X-Trail models run a 2.0-litre Renault M1D turbodiesel (Renault owns Nissan) developing 110kW of maximum power and peak torque of 320Nm.

Both models are fitted with a six-speed automatic gearbox. Initially Nissan isn’t offering a manual gearbox version, Manley saying there has been no customer demand for one. Should demand build a manual could be offered.

Existing petrol-powered CX-Trails use either a five-speed manual or continuously variable ration (CVT) automatic. Manuals make up only five percent of petrol X-Trail sales, Manley says.

Nissan says the diesel X-Trail is capable of fuel economy of up to 8.6 litres/100km compared with the petrol version’s 9.3.

Diesels will be sold in TS specification with cloth upholstery and TL, with leather cabin trim and a chromed grille. They have six airbags.

Detailed illustrated stories, along with on and off-road driving impressions will appear in Auto Trader magazine, on sale nationwide on August 28,