Nissan Launches Two-Wheel Drive X-TRAIL

Just as What Car? magazine announces the X-TRAIL as its best compact 4x4 for 2005 Nissan goes and confuses the judging panel with the introduction of a new two-wheel drive version. It could be classed as a family car, as an estate or as a compact MPV. But if anyone’s going to be confused, it’s the anti-4x4 lobby. The X-TRAIL 4x2 looks exactly the same as the 4x4.

Naturally the 4x2 version costs less than the equivalent 4x4. In fact with a starting price of £15,795 it is a generous £1200 less than the outgoing 2.0 SE 4x4. A second version powered by Nissan’s award-winning 2.2-litre dCi engine is also available priced at £17,395 which is £1500 less than its equivalent 4x4. Generous yes, but Nissan hasn’t stopped there: a further £650’s worth of extra equipment has been placed onto the specification list, 4x4s also included. So, alloy wheels are now fitted as standard on all versions. SE and SVE get a 16-inch version and an all new 6 spoke 17-inch is fitted on the Sport and T-SPEC. Also included is standard cruise control on both the 2.5 petrol and 2.2dCi engine versions. Prices do see a small blip upward with a rise of £300 but even the hardest critic could ‘steel’ see that this is £350 for nowt.

T-SPEC and SVE benefit even more with side privacy glass. This helps to make the interior a cooler place to be as only 5%, normally 35%, of the harmful UV rays can penetrate through the tinted exterior. The T-SPEC and SVE also get Traffic Management Channel (TMC) added to their BirdviewTM satellite navigation system. It helps to guide you around any road traffic incident that may have occurred up ahead. And, lighting up the road like daylight are a pair of xenon headlamps - only the T-SPEC gets these though.

Should you wish to be a bit different then a new colour known as Baltic Blue has been included on the colour palette. It’s designed with the young in mind…

All these specification and price adjustments will start from late March followed by the introduction of the 4x2 version from May onwards. So the chaps at What Car? have a little more time to decide a category for it.

To summarise the changes

• 4x2 introduction from May 2005 – starting price of £15,795 OTR
• 16" alloy wheels on SE and SVE versions, 17" on Sport and T-SPEC
• Cruise control now standard on all 2.5 petrol and 2.2dCi engine versions
• Privacy side glass on SVE and T-SPEC
• Xenon headlamps with wash system for T-SPEC
• Satellite navigation now with Traffic Management Channel (TMC)
• Price increase of £300
• Plus it comes with the satisfaction of a London Mayor - or does it?

http://www.carpages.co.uk/nissan/