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Nissan X-Trail
I've gotta get this started here because this could be a welcome competitor in the ever-expanding SUV market and it would be an important vehicle for Nissan, who would finally get a player in the car-based crossover SUV market (a segment that they are totally absent from).
Here are a couple of links that suggest the car-based entry-level SUV market might just have a new, formidable competitor.
http://forums.vmag.com/suvcrv0999/messages/3060.html
Here are a couple of links that suggest the car-based entry-level SUV market might just have a new, formidable competitor.
http://forums.vmag.com/suvcrv0999/messages/3060.html
and an update:
http://forums.vmag.com/suvcrv0999/messages/3075.html
hope it's all true, Nissan, 'cause we(you) need this vehicle now!
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"just right size"....not too big, not too small
superior AWD system - FWD only for economy, AUTO for set & forget traction....it's also more pro-active than re-active in that it coumes into play before wheel slippage (e.g. during acceleration) and it has a "LOCK" feature for when the going gets really tough.
Good balance of economy/power....the Altima 4 is all I need....top of the class 4cyl power with near top of the class economy....the V6 (also from the Altima, I assume) should satisfy any power freaks.
Washable luggage area - beats the heck out of carpeting
A proper Swing Up Hatch....my big beef about the CR-V is it's damage-prone, inconvenient, rear-view-blocking, curb blocking side swinging door external spare combo.
If it's marketed as it is in Australia, should offer more features for less $$$ than the competition.
I expect the CR-V (esp.2002) will have the edge in room and possibly refinement....would expect both to be quite reliable
That's partly why i started this thread....to try and drum up some more information.
(doesn't have that stepped roof). It's also a whopping 900 lbs lighter and horsepower-wise, the X-Trail four has 175-180 vs. the X-terra's 190? hp six. Needless to say, gas mileage is far superior. Towing capacity is 15-1600 lbs for unbraked trailers and I think about 3500 lbs for braked trailers......these are New Zealand Nissan figures btw......they have a great pdf format downloadable brochure.....you have to convert the figures from metric though.
http://www.nissan.co.nz/nissa_bin/model_core.html?dealer=&id=11
.....some great pix and info
I want it over here now!
It would be my choice over the CRV (2002), Rav-4, Triscape, Liberty, Vue etc.
Only other unknown is the 2003 Forester.
BTW, given how the Forester is priced up here in the great white north, I think the Xtrail would be my choice over it as well.....even without seeing or hearing about the 2003 model.
if you check out some of Nissan's european sites, you get to see the steering wheel on "our" side.
however, they get the japanese mkt 2 litre 4 good for only about 137 hp. as far as i know, the 2.5 litre 4 is the new altima engine, so hp should be about 175-180 and torque figures should be the same as the new altima as well.
Nissan Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 191
Gardena, CA 90248
(800) NISSAN-1 (or 800-647-7261)
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Eastern / Central Time
has a New Zealand review of the new CR-V which is generally positive but does mention it's formidable competition, "non tougher than Nissan's much-lauded X-trail and Mitsubishi's clever Airtrek".
i agree, miamicrv, that the new CR-V is somewhat disappointing, and would like to have the option of choosing the X-Trail over it. Come on Nissan, pick up the ball and run with it.....you have a winner with the X-Trail. Toyota(incl Lexus) has 3, soon to be 4 car-based SUV's, Honda has 2, Saturn, Mazda, Ford, even Hyundai has one. You guys have ZERO......get with it!
2002 CR-V: 119Kw@6500rpm & 219Nm@3800rpm
2002 X-Trail: 132Kw@6000rpm & 245Nm@4000rpm
should translate to:
2002 CR-V: 160Hp/162lbs-ft
2002 X-Trail: 177Hp/181lbs-ft
anyway you say it, X-trail outguns CR-V
and weighs less too:
2002 CR-V 3201-3347 lbs
2002 X-trail 1400 kg = 3086 lbs
availability in the U.S.
We don't know the source of the rumors you mention, but X-Trail will not be
introduced into our U.S. model line for model year 2002. X-Trail was
considered for North America but was not taken. With Xterra for low
authentic low price SUV and Pathfinder for the upper end of the compact SUV
segment, we have two very competitive and successful product offerings.
We take pride in the fact that Nissan vehicles are regarded as some of the
most reliable and value-added vehicles in the world. Nissan strives to
produce quality products that are stylish, yet efficient, dependable, and
durable. Nissan produces many different vehicles to suit different
lifestyles and needs, worldwide. Nissan North America, Inc. is the
distributor of Nissan vehicles approved for the U.S. market. At this time,
Nissan North America, Inc. does not feel that it is in its best interest to
market X-Trail in the U.S.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. We appreciate your
interest in Nissan. If you have any other comments or questions, feel free
to contact us.
Sincerely,
Jon
National Consumer Affairs
Nissan North America, Inc.
Print | Download
The Xterra can not compete with the Escape, CRV, Rav-4, Vue, Forester etc in the same way the Xtrail would.
The Xtrail is "right-sized" for many people and would be a HUGE hit in North America!
GET WITH THE PROGRAM NISSAN!!
No doubt who ever at Nissan made this decision has their job on the line based on sales of the Xterra.
Another silly marketing move that will cost $$$$.
GET INTO THE REAL WORLD NISSAN!
GET THE Xtrail over here now!
You have got until next fall when the new Forester comes out. Me (and many others) will buy either the Forester, CRV, Triscape, Vue etc.
But definitely not the Xterra.
The Xterra is a niche vehicle. It's only real competition is the slightly more nimble Liberty.
The Liberty, though, is far more cross-shopped against the Triscape, Vue, CRV etc.
wow.
produce quality products that are stylish, yet efficient, dependable, and
durable."
The Pathfinder and X-Terra fit the above description with one glaring exception.....at 18-24 miles per (Imperial) gallon (compared to 26-34 for the X-Trail), they are ANYTHING BUT EFFICIENT!
In Canada, only the V6/AWD version of the X-Terra is available at around 30K.....add a couple of grand if you want the super-charged version. So there is a gaping whole in the lineup for a more affordable, efficient, 4 cylinder AWD SUV. This could easlily be filled by the 4 Cylinder X-trail.
Since even the 6 cylinder X-Terra (at almost 2 tons) is somewhat underpowered, Nissan could easily drop the 4 cyl X-Terra from the US market and replace it with the 4 Cyl X-Trail....price it, nicely equipped at around 27-28K (Canadian) and you would have a formidable competitor in the CAR-BASED, LIGHT SUV market. Don't even bother with the V6 X-Trail, let the X-Terra handle the V6 end of the market. And if the names are too similar, and since X means "cross" anyway, call the X-Trail the Cross-Trail in North America
(you already have a concept 4x4 called the Cross-Bow).
With the car-based SUV market expected to X-plode!over the next few years, without the X-Trail, Nissan is just kissing those sales goodbye.
Until they offer an economical, efficient, car-based SUV in our market, I will NOT be shopping for a Nissan SUV.
Hey, Toyota has FIVE Suvs: RAV4, Highlander, 4-Runner, Sequoia, Landcruiser.
Nissan North America needs to get a clue, is right.
Hello CR-V, Forester, Vue, Escape, Tribute, Rav-4 etc.etc.
2002 X-trail 1650 kg = 3637 lbs.
I don't think the X-trail would outgun the new CR-V, its extra 20 lb-ft of torque is roughly carrying an extra ~300 lbs.
Is this the right site?
www.nissan.com/au
I've also read reviews for the X-trail on 4carUK and they say the X-trail is a bit of a slouch(couldn't find the article now). That's why I'm questioning the weight spec that's given.
Also note that the Aussie/NZ Xtrail (and the one we were supposed to get) are the only ones in the world with the 175 hp Altima 2.5l four....all other markets including Japan & England get a 2.0l 136 hp four....that would account for it being a bit slow.
http://www.nissan.co.nz/nissa_bin/model_core.html?dealer=&id=11
Also, wasn't the X-trail supposed to have an extra 3rd row?
My guess is that the Xtrail would outsell the Xterra by a factor of 5 to 10. Not chump change.
The automotive business is about gaining market share. The Xterra is not even close as a spotlight vehicle for the masses. Big, clunky, slow, rough riding, gas pig.
The Xtrail would be a very hot item in NA.
If Nissan's marketing department can't admit that they wrong, then the Nissan senior executive should take the bull by the horns, and get somebody in there that really understands the North American market.
If you are writing letters to Nissan pleading to have the Xtrail brought over here, GO OVER THE HEADS of the marketing department.
Like I said before, if they're worried about X-Terra overlap, just bring in the 4 cyl. X-trail
(it's got more than enough power) and call it the Cross-Trail if they're worried about confusing buyers. But the sooner the better if they don't want to be left hopelessly behind. Hell, even lethargic GM is bringing out the VUE and VIBE over the next few months.
Otherwise a 2.6 - 2.8 litre 185HP v-6 would be the ticket.
Nissan's V-6's are really goods motors.
Otherwise you get another CRV / Rav-4 "wheezer".
in their most important market in the world.
C'mon Nissan, how about us (US&Canada)
As far as the enthusiast driver, the X-trail will out-accelerate, out-stop, out-handle and at the same time get much better mileage than the "niche" X-Terra.
As far as mall-shopper, the X-Trail will do much better off-road than the Escape, CRV, Rav-4, Vue etc.
Nissan is totally missing the boat in North America by not having the X-Trail over here. It is blowing away the competition all over the place.
GET WITH IT NISSAN!
Most of the 250,000+ people in North Amercia every year buying the Escape/Trib, CRV, RAV-4, Vue are not interested in the heavy cludgy X-Terra!
Ugh....
It's the most capable of all the car-based utes off-road, with mileage and performance at or near the top of the class.
BTW....the S/C Xterra sucks back even more gas than the regular one and probably would still have trouble outrunning an Escape.(or even the new CR-V, for that matter)
The X-Trail is better than the CRV, Escape et al at "logging road" type off-roading to go hiking or whatever to help you get through some of the tough spots like mud, sand, snow etc that may hinder the others.
The X-Trail is required in North America.
Way, way more demand for this type of vehicle than the X-Terra. Does not matter what the X-Terra pundits think about the X-Trail. They are but a small minority of SUV buyers.
It sounds like Nissan's North American marketing & engineering department's success is riding on sales of the X-Terra. The CEO and other top brass of Nissan should step in and straigten them out.
The positive thing for the X-Terra right now is all the bad press its main competitor is starting to receive, the Liberty. I don't wish any harm to DC, but that's the way the cards have fallen.
SC X-terra: Don't even talk about that. Most of the reviews I've read say that it offers no better performance than the N/A engine!
I do like the X-Terra's new round headlights set inside plastic. It just looks very rugged, genuin rugged too. The X-trail's headlights...for a lack of a better word...look circumcized. It's just peeled back too much.