2023 Nissan X-Trail E-Power hybrid order books open

The 2023 Nissan X-Trail E-Power hybrid will be available to pre-order this month, ahead of its Australian launch early next year.

Nissan Australia has confirmed the electrified X-Trail medium SUV will be offered in range-topping Ti and Ti-L grades, with pricing and full details to be announced in the coming months.

It will compete against the top-selling Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – which faces potential wait times stretching beyond 18 months – and other newcomers, such as the Haval H6 Hybrid.

16

As with the internal-combustion Ti and Ti-L grades, the X-Trail E-Power will be exclusively offered in a five-seat, all-wheel-drive guise.

Features remain identical to the petrol Ti and Ti-L, but with a blacked-out grille, unique badging, and the addition of 20-inch alloy wheels for the latter grade (petrol Ti-L scores 19-inch units).

The regular X-Trail Ti is priced from $49,990 before on-road costs in 2.5-litre AWD petrol form – suggesting a price beyond $52,500 for the E-Power, or above $55,000 drive-away.

Seven-seat options are limited to the entry-level ST and mid-spec ST-L, which will not be offered with a hybrid powertrain.

While the third row of seats is available on European examples of the X-Trail E-Power, the larger Pathfinder and premium push of the X-Trail's hybrid technology means lower-spec or seven-seat options are unlikely in Australia, at least initially.

16

2023 Nissan X-Trail E-Power features

Ti

Ti-L, in addition to Ti

Full details will be announced closer to the local arrival of the Nissan X-Trail E-Power in early 2023.

16

Engine, motors and fuel economy

The hybrid X-Trail uses Nissan’s unique E-Power setup, which features a petrol engine acting as a generator for the electric motors – rather than sending power to the wheels, like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Under the bonnet, the X-Trail E-Power features a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine – running Nissan’s variable-compression technology for reduced fuel use and greater performance – which produces 106kW and 250Nm, used to charge the small battery pack.

The petrol engine is used only to charge the vehicle’s 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery when necessary, allowing for lower emissions.

An electric motor fitted to the front axle develops 150kW and 330Nm, with local examples featuring standard all-wheel-drive, which brings an additional 100kW and 195Nm electric motor fixed to the rear axle.

16

A maximum combined power output of 157kW is claimed in five-seat, ‘e-4orce’ all-wheel-drive form, with a seven-second 0-100km/h sprint time and a top speed of 180km/h. A combined torque figure is unavailable.

Nissan claims its electronic e-4orce all-wheel-drive system allows for optimised interior space, with a lower centre console and floor area due to the lack of a traditional driveshaft.

The Japanese marque also says the X-Trail's CMF-CD platform, shared with the new-generation Mitsubishi Outlander, allows for practicality to remain identical to the petrol model.

For instance, the battery is mounted below the front seat, rather than under the boot or rear seats, to keep luggage space at around 560 litres.

16

A fuel consumption figure of 6.1L/100km is claimed, while CO2 emissions are listed at 139g/km, subject to final homologation.

For reference, Toyota claims the RAV4 Hybrid AWD will sip 4.8L/100km and produce 109g/km.

Like the all-electric Leaf hatchback, E-Power hybrid vehicles benefit from Nissan’s E-Pedal Step drive experience, allowing drivers to accelerate and decelerate using the throttle only.

When using the E-Pedal Step, the brand says the vehicle will slow at 0.2g to reduce speed down to a "creeping" level, but not a complete stop.

16

Availability

The 2023 Nissan X-Trail E-Power hybrid will arrive in local showrooms in early 2023, following the launch of the internal-combustion X-Trail medium SUV in the fourth quarter of this year.

It will be joined by the smaller Qashqai E-Power, which is expected to arrive at the same time as its larger sibling.

Pricing and full details will be announced in the coming months.