The time it takes an automaker to bring over a specific model tells you how important a region is to them. The Rogue was unveiled in the United States in June 2020, but the equivalent X-Trail didn’t make its debut in Japan until July of this year. The midsize SUV, complete with three-row seating, optional all-wheel drive, and an electrified powertrain powered by a three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine, is now available in Europe.
Inside and out, the X-Trail destined for the Old Continent is large enough to accommodate passengers up to 160 centimetres tall in the rearmost seats. The second-row bench has a 60:40 split configuration and can slide forward to make access to the third row easier. The cargo capacity is 585 litres with the seats in place, which is 20 litres more than its predecessor.
The previously mentioned combustion engine does not actually drive the wheels. Instead, the 1.5-liter three-pot engine is used to generate the necessary electrical energy for the battery, which is then fed to the electric motor. This method leads Nissan to claim that the X-Trail behaves similarly to an EV, providing its full 330 Newton-meters (243 pound-feet) of torque almost instantly. The 201 horsepower e-motor allows for a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) time of 8 seconds.
2023 Nissan X-Trail (Europe)
Nissan will also sell the X-Trail with AWD in Europe, using an electric motor on each axle for a total output of 210 hp. In all-paw mode, the SUV will complete the sprint in 7 seconds for the five-seat model and 7.2 seconds for the seven-seat model. When purchasing such a vehicle, most people aren’t concerned with top speed, but the single-motor configuration has a top speed of 106 mph (170 km/h), while the dual-motor configuration has a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h).
If that powertrain sounds too complicated, there’s also a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with mild-hybrid technology. It has a variable compression ratio and sends power to the wheels the old-fashioned way, with 161 hp and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) going exclusively to the front wheels via a CVT because this engine does not have AWD.
Elsewhere, it’s the same Rogue we’re used to, with a 12.3-inch driver’s display and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The body is available in ten exterior colours, as well as five two-tone shades. The X-Trail is already available for order in some European markets, with prices starting at €38,080 in Italy, where it is available in four trim levels.
