Nissan has ushered in the next-gen X-Trail SUV for Europe. Unlike its cousins in China and the USA, the Old World version will be available in a couple of hybrid variants.
In all cases, the hybrid system comes based on a simple 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine. The base spec combines it with a 12V starter-generator, resulting in what we call a mild hybrid. It makes 163 PS (161 hp / 120 kW) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque, needs 9.6 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph), and has no purely electric driving mode.
Opting for the more expensive hybrid gives you a range-extender (REX, or serial hybrid) vehicle where the internal combustion engine only serves as a power generator for the main electric motor. This version makes 204 PS (201 hp / 150 kW) and is faster on the uptake with an 8-second launch time.
Heading into the future, Nissan plans to launch a three-motor X-Trail variant similar to the REX, but with an added electric motor on the rear axle. As a result, the car will drive all four of its wheels with 213 PS (210 hp / 157 kW) and conclude the sprint in around 7 seconds.
Ordering is already available in the UK starting from £32,030.