2023 Nissan X-Trail e-Power hybrid priced from $54,190, here early next year

Nissan Australia will offer its X-Trail e-Power hybrid in two premium trim levels from early 2023 to take on the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

13 Oct 2022 at 5:00 pm

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James Wong

Marketplace Editor

James Wong

Marketplace Editor

Nissan Australia has confirmed details for its new X-Trail e-Power hybrid, with pricing to kick off at $54,190 before on-road costs for the RAV4 Hybrid rival when it arrives early in 2023.

The hybrid X-Trail will only be offered in high-spec Ti and Ti-L trim levels, and represent a $4200 premium over the equivalent X-Trail 2.5-litre petrol. Toyota’s most expensive petrol-electric RAV4 is the Edge AWD Hybrid, which starts at $52,700 before on-roads – $2500 dearer than the Edge AWD petrol.

It also means the X-Trail e-Power starts at a similar price to the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV (from $54,590), which shares the same basic architecture but offers a 84km electric-only range and lower claimed fuel consumption.

Nissan Australia claims the X-Trail e-Power with e-4orce all-wheel drive will use 6.1 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, 1.3L/100km more than a Toyota RAV4 AWD Hybrid.

The X-Trail e-Power’s point of difference to other hybrids is the petrol engine doesn’t directly drive the wheels. It’s attached to a generator which can power the e-motor through an inverter, and charges a 1.8kWh battery pack.

There are two electric motors – 150kW front, 100kW rear – to deliver what Nissan says is a “constant EV-like drive experience”.

It has Nissan’s e-Pedal mode, the brand’s speak for one-pedal driving. This feature debuted on the Leaf electric hatchback, and also appears on the all-electric Ariya crossover offered abroad.

Nissan quotes a system output of 157kW, while torque is rated at 330Nm on the front axle and 195Nm at the rear. The company doesn’t quote a combined torque figure.

Meanwhile, the petrol engine is a 1.5-litre unit with variable-compression combustion technology and a turbocharger, packing outputs of 105kW and 250Nm.

The petrol X-Trail, by comparison, is powered by a 135kW/244Nm 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine hooked up to a CVT automatic. Both front- and all-wheel drive are offered. Combined fuel efficiency is rated at 7.8L/100km for the petrol AWD drivetrain.

Specification for both the X-Trail Ti and Ti-L e-Power largely mirrors that of the equivalent petrol variant, with a couple of exceptions.

X-Trail e-Power models don’t feature a spare wheel like the rest of the range, instead offering a tyre repair kit.

Both X-Trail e-Power variants also offer an exclusive Champagne Silver with black roof exterior finish, though the petrol can be had with a Champagne Silver exterior sans contrast roof option.

Finally, the X-Trail Ti-L e-Power (from $57,190) is the only variant in Australia to get 20-inch alloy wheels with 255/45 R20 tyres. These are the wheels fitted to the overseas model shown in the press images.

Like the petrol-powered Ti and Ti-L grades, e-Power models are five-seat only despite a third row of seating being available in the Japanese domestic market.