ST-L joins hybridised X-Trail range

NISSAN has announced that it will introduce a mid-grade variant to its X-Trail e-Power with e-4orce (electrified all-wheel drive) line-up from the second half of this year.

The ST-L grade will join highly specified Ti and Ti-L variants within the petrol-electric hybrid portfolio, taking to nine the total number of offerings available in the range.

Priced from $49,490 plus on-road costs, the Nissan X-Trail ST-L e-Power with e-4orce is $4700 cheaper than the current entry point into the electrified X-Trail line-up, and $3200 dearer than the petrol-powered and seven-seat ST-L AWD.

Offered exclusively in five-seat configuration, the newcomer will feature the same driveline as its high-grade counterpart with the equipment levels found in the petrol-powered equivalent.

The hybridised X-Trail range will vie directly with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, forthcoming Honda CR-V e:HEV, and perhaps even the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid, despite offering different technology to them all.

Unlike conventional hybrid systems, Nissan’s e-Power technology provides motive power by electric motors only, the petrol engine only used to charge the battery or to power the inverter directly.

Powering the X-Trail e-Power with e-4orce range is a 2.1kWh battery and sophisticated 106kW/250Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol generator with variable compression ratio, in combination with twin electric motors (150kW/330Nm front, 100kW/195Nm rear).

Total system power is listed at 157kW with a 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 7.0 seconds.

Fuel economy is rated at 6.1 litres per 100km on the ADR combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 139 grams per kilometre when operated on 95 RON premium unleaded fuel, almost 30 per cent more than the equivalent figure for a RAV4 hybrid that will also accept less expensive 91 RON fuel.

Standard equipment includes active noise cancelling, acoustic vehicle alerting system (activated at low speeds in EV mode), rear privacy glass, a self-dimming rear-view mirror, fog lights, a leather-accented steering wheel, eight-way powered driver’s seat, 40:20:40 split-fold and fore-aft sliding rear seats, heated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, cargo area luggage boards, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, 360-degree camera technology, LED head- and tail-lights, auto folding, heated and powered wing mirrors, and dual USB ports front and rear.

Infotainment technology includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen interface and six-speaker sound with DAB+ (digital) radio reception and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Safety equipment mirrors that available in the petrol-powered X-Trail range. The latest X-Trail scores a five-star ANCAP safety rating (tested in 2021).

Braked towing capacity for Nissan electrified X-Trail range is rated at 1650kg, or 350kg less than petrol-powered models.

Service pricing matches that of the standard X-Trail range with intervals set at 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. Servicing costs are capped for six years and total $3051 for the period, or $5 more than a comparable petrol X-Trail.

“Nissan’s e-Power technology has been incredibly well received by our customers, and we’re excited to be able to offer this efficient, EV-like drive experience across even more of the X-Trail range,” said Nissan Australia Managing Director, Adam Paterson.

“We’ve always said that e-Power needs to be driven to be believed, and the introduction of the X-Trail ST-L e-Power with e-4orce will give even more people the opportunity to do just that.”

2023 Nissan X-Trail pricing*:

*excludes on-road costs.