Nissan's popular X-Trail range of sport utility vehicles has been strengthened with the introduction of additional comfort and safety features which should extend South Africa's best-selling SUV's appeal to an even wider customer base.
The new X-Trail range now boasts electrically-adjustable leather seats on all 4x4 models (2.5 petrol manual, 2.5-litre petrol automatic and 2.2 diesel manual) as well as the addition of side impact air bags for the front seat passengers.
The full range, including the 2.0 4x2 manual model, now offers privacy glass on the side windows while rear park sensors on all four models are the only external distinguishing feature of the new level of spec. The tint film is applied on the inside of the glass and is therefore better protected from lifting or scratching.
"The X-Trail has been one of Nissan's great success stories during the past four years and has enjoyed the status of being South Africa's top selling SUV for the past two and a half years," said Nissan's general manager of marketing and planning, Gerhard Fourie.
"During this time the SUV market has grown by 30% and there have been many new entrants to this segment challenging X-Trail's market leadership, which accounted for a 26% market share in 2005 (31% in the compact SUV segment). Market share for the first six months of 2006 is up to 33% among compact SUVs.
The X-Trail's roomy and modern interior, with its distinctive centrally-mounted instrument binnacle, is considerably enhanced by the addition of full leather trim. The electronic seat adjustment facility (as offered by bigger brother Pathfinder) raises the level of comfort features to that only found on more expensive competitors.
X-Trail's versatile space easily accommodates the equipment of an active leisure lifestyle, with hyper roof rails (and built-in auxiliary lights); split-fold rear seats, electrically operated sliding sunroof and a generous luggage area that is finished in a tough plastic coating that can be washed down.
The 'entry level' 4x2, which is the best-selling SUV in South Africa year to date, is powered by Nissan's economical multi-valve 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that develops 103 kW and 192 Nm of torque.
The 4x4 petrol models are powered by an economical multi-valve 2,5-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 132 kW of power and 245 Nm of torque through a manual five-speed transmission or a four-speed automatic gearbox.
The 4x4 diesel X-Trail (the best-selling diesel SUV year-to-date) delivers 84 kW and a generous 270 Nm of torque from its economical 2.2 common rail turbo-charged engine.
The new, improved X-Trail range is priced from R227 900 for the 2-litre 4x2 (the best-selling individual SUV model in South Africa year to date), R295 900 for the 2.5-litre 4x4 manual, R305 900 for the 2,2-litre 4x4 diesel and R307 900 for the 2.5-litre 4x4 automatic.
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