Nissan X-Trail e-POWER vs. the competition

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest car events and news, you’ll know that Nissan Philippines Incorporated has entered the electrified crossover game with the release of the X-Trail e-POWER. 

Notably, the said model’s entry into the market creates an interesting situation within the segment, as it now faces the latest hybrid versions of its age-old rivals. So, what are these models, and how do they compare to the X-Trail e-POWER? 

Let’s find out here by listing down the two key competitors of the all-new Nissan X-Trail e-POWER. 

Nissan X-Trail e-POWER

Before listing down its two key competitors, let us first have a summary of what the all-new Nissan X-Trail e-POWER has to offer. 

Under the hood of the X-Trail e-POWER is a single electric motor powered by a 1.85-kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery. This battery pack, meanwhile, is actively charged as you drive by a 1.5-liter inline-three gasoline engine. 

This powertrain is called the e-POWER system and can produce up to 204 horsepower (hp) and 330 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. The said output is sent to the vehicle’s front wheels by a single-speed electric drive transmission. 

With regard to its exterior, the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER wears a modern take on the crossover formula. It presents a good balance of sport and toughness, combined with an appropriate amount of sophisticated details. 

To be exact, the model comes with a large, gloss black grille, sharp LED lighting fixtures, and a tall side section. Altogether, these provides the ride with plenty of road presence. On the one hand, it has a subtle amount of chrome and a set of spoked 19-inch alloy wheels, which does much to make it look elegant. 

Some noteworthy exterior features present on the X-Trail e-POWER include automatic headlamp functionality, acoustic glass, rain-sensing wipers, a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable/folding side mirrors, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a kick-activated power tailgate. 

For reference, these are the dimensions of the all-new Nissan X-Trail e-POWER:

Length (in millimeters)	4,690
Width (in mm)	1,840
Height (in mm)	1,725
Wheelbase length (in mm)	2,705
Ground clearance (in mm)	204

 

Step inside the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER and you’ll be greeted by a spacious and well-arranged five-seater layout equipped with leather upholstery, a triple-zone automatic climate control system, a 40:20:40 split-fold second row, ambient lighting, and eight-way power-adjustable front seats.

Its array of driver-centric equipment, on the other hand, includes a front cabin armrest, a 12.3-inch full digital display, a D-shaped leather steering wheel, an electronic parking brake, a drive mode selector, a push-to-start button with smart entry, and the e-Pedal Step system. 

For those not in the know, the e-Pedal Step system was developed in-house by the Japanese manufacturer to provide a true one-pedal driving experience. It works via the car’s regenerative system and it enables the vehicle to come to a stop by simply letting go of the accelerator pedal. In doing so, the e-Pedal Step can stave off driver fatigue, especially in bumper-to-bumper traffic or on long road trips. 

In terms of safety, the X-Trail e-POWER’s passive kit is what you’d expect from modern crossovers. This, however, is supported by the Nissan Intelligent Mobility Suite, which includes:

• 3D intelligent around view monitor
• Intelligent forward collision warning
• Intelligent emergency braking
• Lane departure warning 
• Blind spot warning
• Rear-cross traffic alert
• Intelligent rear-view mirror
• High beam assist
• Driver attention assist

In the local market, the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER currently retails at P2.298 million. 

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Honda CR-V 

One of the most significant competitors of the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER in the Philippine market is the Honda CR-V. 

A few months ago, the CR-V received an update that expanded its variant lineup to include an all-wheel-drive top trim. So, to keep this comparison straightforward, we are only mentioning the specs of the mid-spec VX e:HEV, which is currently priced at P2.488 million. 

For its powertrain, the Honda CR-V VX e:HEV uses a 2.0-liter inline-four engine paired with two electric motors, a lithium-ion battery, and an electronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). And yes, the model, despite having a dual-motor setup, is a front-wheel-drive (FWD) ride. 

At maximum, this powertrain can produce up to 145 hp and 183 Nm of torque from its gasoline engine, and a further 181 hp and 335 Nm of torque from its two electric motors. 

For its exterior, the mid-spec CR-V gets a multitude of features, chief of which includes a full complement of LED lighting fixtures, automatic headlamps, active cornering lamps, a panoramic sunroof, roof rails, a power tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels, mudguards, a panoramic sunroof, as well as power-folding/adjustable side mirrors. 

Here are the dimensions of the Honda CR-V VX e:HEV:

Length (in millimeters)	4,691
Width (in mm)	1,866
Height (in mm)	1,681
Wheelbase length (in mm)	2,700
Ground clearance (in mm)	198

 

Just like its rivals on this list, the mid-spec Honda CR-V VX e:HEV comes with a five-seater interior layout. On the Honda, the cabin comes standard with automatic dual-zone air conditioning, black leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and a 60:40 split-fold second row. 

Its driver, on the other hand, has access to an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, a push-to-start button, smart entry, head-up display, and a tilt-and-telescopic steering column, among others. 

Handling on-board entertainment and navigation for the Honda model is a nine-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen also comes with a Google voice assistant and Google maps. 

For easy charging, the model comes with a 15-watt wireless smartphone charging pad, USB Type C and A ports, and a 12-volt accessory outlet. It also has an eight-piece speaker set. 

When it comes to safety, the Honda CR-V VX e:HEV, like its rivals, gets a robust passive safety kit. Its active suite, meanwhile, is called the Honda Sensing, which is comprised of the Honda Agile Handling Assist, driver attention monitor, blind spot monitor, cross traffic monitor, adaptive driving beams, adaptive cruise control with low speed follow, collision mitigation braking, lane-keep assist, road departure mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lead car departure notification, and adaptive high beams.

Toyota RAV4

Another big competitor of the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER is the Toyota RAV4, which is priced at P2.183 million for the entry-level Adventure and P2.514 million for the top-spec Limited. 

For its powertrain, the all-new Toyota RAV4 uses an inline-four gasoline-hybrid engine that produces 235 hp and 221 Nm of torque. Both RAV4 variants are all-wheel drive and come with an e-CVT. 

The aforementioned are supported by a 55-liter fuel tank and a lithium-ion battery pack. It also has several ride modes, such as economy, sport, normal, custom, snow, and trail. 

On the outside, the Adventure trim comes with a more adventurous appearance thanks to its abundance of black plastic claddings, large wheel arches, and its bridge-type roof rails. These go together with features such as 20-inch wheels, power-folding/adjustable side mirrors, LED lighting fixtures, a panoramic moonroof, and rain-sensing wipers. 

Here are the relevant measurements of the Toyota RAV4 Adventure variant: 

Length (in millimeters)	4,620
Width (in mm)	1,880
Height (in mm)	1,745
Wheelbase length (in mm)	2,690
Ground clearance (in mm)	201

Inside the Toyota RAV4 is a two-row arrangement with ample space for up to five occupants. On the Adventure trim, this section of the car comes with leather seats, power-adjust front seats with ventilation, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. 

Also present inside the Toyota-made crossover is a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said display is connected to a nine-piece JBL speaker set, while topping up devices is done via a wireless pad and USB ports. 

For the driver, the Toyota hybrid provides a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a tilt and telescopic steering column, head-up display (Limited), keyless entry and starting, and many others. 

Safety-wise, the Toyota RAV4’s main suite of features is the Toyota Safety Sense. This includes the following: 

• Pre-collision system
• Automatic and adaptive high beam
• Lane trace assist
• Lane departure warning
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control

Final thoughts

To sum it all up, the all-new Nissan X-Trail e-POWER appears to provide a lot of car for the money. It is one of the more affordable in its segment (barring the Toyota RAV4 Adventure), but it still has plenty of creature comforts that are more than a match for its rivals. 

So, if you like what you see in the X-Trail e-POWER, do visit your nearest Nissan dealership and ask for a test drive. 

Also read:

5 features we like on the all-new Nissan X-Trail e-POWER

3 reasons to like the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER

Van wars: Mitsubishi Versa vs Nissan Urvan

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