From September 2010, buyers of the Nissan X-Trail SUV will benefit from a series of extensive updates to maintain its position in the SUV segment as one of the few, versatile and agile four-wheel drive vehicles on the European market.
Already well regarded for its durability, comfort, practicality and convenience, the changes refresh Nissan X-Trail's exterior styling; improve the interior perceived quality and functionality, as well as mechanical and aerodynamic changes. These revisions contribute to Nissan X-Trail's improved economy and CO2 output.
The most obvious changes have been made to the frontal aspect of Nissan X-Trail which emphasize a feeling of integration to the car body, with completely redesigned grille, headlights and bumper assembly. Directly from the front, the more sophisticated, technical appearance makes the car look more dynamic. The grille is of higher quality and flows down into the bumper assembly. The lower part of the bumper is angled outwards, suggesting a wider track and more solid stance.
The overall feeling from the front expresses the sense of unity to the top and bottom.
The grille retains the twin angled struts either side of the Nissan logo, which is a signature found on Nissan's SUV range globally.
The lights are sleeker and more technical in appearance, with either Xenon or halogen projectors (depending on grade) for the main lights, halogen parabole for the high beam. The turn signals remain integrated in the assembly above the headlights. On mid & high grade models, the background is painted black, and on the entry grades, silver. fog lamps are mounted below the headlights, recessed in the bumper.
2011 Nissan X-Trail
At the rear, the Nissan X-Trail's distinctive vertical lights have been updated to incorporate LED light technology for the running lights and braking, improving fuel economy, visibility and, therefore, safety. The turn signal is incorporated into the lower portion of the light assembly, with the running/brake lights to the outside of it.
In profile, the Nissan X-Trail's stance has been improved thanks to an increase in wheel size, with a ten-spoke 18" alloy wheel design, which is also wider, now up to 225/55/18 in size giving to Nissan X-Trail even more stance to the road.
The small increase in tyre width has led to a slight widening of the wheelarch moulding, which adds a little extra presence to the Nissan X-Trail's stance.
There is also a new double five-spoke design of 17" wheel, giving an added premium feeling to the Nissan X-Trail thus equipped.
Nissan X-Trail's dimensions have slightly changed as a result of the exterior updates; the overall length has increased by 10mm as a result of the redesigned front end, while the height and width also increase by 10mm due to the increase in tyre width and diameter.
Moving to the interior, the design has been updated to give a more harmonious ambience thanks to improved materials and better colour coordination, in particular, the area around the base of the A-pillar.
The materials used for the switch surrounds on the steering wheel, around the gear selector and on the door-mounted armrest have all been improved for better touch feeling, while thicker, soft-touch materials have been chosen for the cloth seats.
For the leather equipped interior, the stitching is more attractive and more premium
The driver will appreciate the improved visibility and legibility of the new main combimeter, with bigger and clearer speed and engine speed readouts enhancing the quality. In between those principal dials is a new drive computer with a white-on-black display for maximum clarity. The computer offers a series of useful information for the driver, including: fuel economy, outside temperature (including ice warning function), cruising range, average speed and a reminder to take a break.
The drive computer screen can also display additional information such as warnings for low fuel, parking brake, undetected Intelligent Key and open door, as well as vital maintenance information, such as tyre maintenance, low oil and a service reminder.
Rear occupant comfort has been improved thanks to redesigned front seats, creating an additional 10mm of knee-room, without compromising on comfort for the front seat occupants. And to better survive the wear and tear of the Nissan X-Trail's busy daily life, the rear tonneau cover material has been upgraded.
Reflecting its role as a hard-working family car, the Nissan X-Trail can be specified with a glovebox that will either keep its contents warm or cold - ideal for drinks - depending on the prevailing conditions and if Nissan X-Trail's occupants need cooling down or warming up!
And to ensure that drivers and passengers returning to the Nissan X-Trail in cold conditions can defrost as quickly as possible, the heating system has been upgraded for quicker warm-up, as well as more efficient cooling in hot conditions.
Rear seat passengers can now enjoy a toasty drive as the revised Nissan X-Trail will be available with rear seat warmers, offering two levels of heating.
A new innovation for Nissan is the integration of the Nissan X-Trail's rear view camera display into the central ceiling mounted mirror, meaning cars that are not equipped with Nissan's navigation system can still benefit from the security, precision and confidence that comes from the rear view camera, complete with distance markings to help judge the proximity of the car or any obstacles behind.
The high resolution display appears in the rear view mirror when reverse is selected, meaning that the driver can reverse in full confidence without removing his eyes from the mirror. And the brightness of the display automatically adjusts according to the level of prevailing light, guaranteeing a clear image on screen. The display can be deactivated if the driver prefers, with the switch located in the interior mirror..
Under the Nissan X-Trail's skin, significant updates to the diesel version have resulted in improved fuel consumption, reduced emissions and Euro 5 compliance. A key innovation is the addition of an extra injector port, taking the total number to seven, while the piston bowl has been adapted for the new injector configuration.
The manual gearbox has revised ratios for a better compromise between acceleration, fuel economy and emissions, while the automatic gearbox has been modified for reduced friction. An additional feature is the gearchange indicator function in the drive computer screen, showing drivers when to change gear for optimised economy.
Thanks to optimised underbody aerodynamics, Nissan X-Trail's Cd is reduced from 0.36 to 0.35, and the adoption of low rolling resistance tyres, the Nissan X-Trail's environmental impact has been lessened, with significant improvements in C02 output and fuel consumption.
Speaking about the updates to Nissan X-Trail, Vincent Wijnen said: "All of these changes will reinforce the X-Trail as one of the few genuine compact SUVs which can just as comfortably tackle the demands of everyday family life, as it can a muddy, slippery track when it transports a family for a weekend of adventure. X-Trail customers love it for its ease and convenience of daily use, no matter what situation they find themselves in. With these revisions to Nissan's evergreen X-Trail, there is even more to love about X-Trail."