Whereas the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid stays one of the vital in-demand new autos within the nation, you’d be shocked how few of its direct rivals provide hybrid powertrain choices in Australia.
The second-best vendor, the Mazda CX-5, gives no electrification at any degree – no mild-hybrid, no sequence or parallel hybrid, no plug-in hybrid – and nor do the fourth- and fifth-best sellers within the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. Kia plans to finally introduce the Sportage Hybrid early in 2024.
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Elsewhere, the third-best promoting Mitsubishi Outlander gives a plug-in hybrid, although it’s costly and requires common charging to get essentially the most out of it, whereas the Subaru Forester Hybrid lacks the refinement and effectivity of its Toyota rival.
Lastly, one other of the massive gamers is coming into the ring. Meet the 2023 Nissan X-Trail e-Power with e-4orce (breathes), the Japanese model’s reply to the top-selling RAV4.
Nissan takes a special strategy to Toyota. The e-Energy setup goals to supply a extra EV-like driving expertise, in a bid to spice up efficiency and driver satisfaction, in addition to refinement on the transfer.
How does it hope to attain that? The petrol engine on this sequence hybrid (not parallel), by no means straight drives the wheels. As an alternative, it’s always performing as a generator, recharging the battery by means of an inverter.
On paper it’s not fairly as environment friendly as its Toyota rival, however could possibly be extra enjoyable to drive.
Australia’s first electrified X-Path (the earlier mannequin had a hybrid abroad, nevertheless it by no means got here right here) arrives as a premium choice within the mid-size SUV section, approaching $60,000 drive-away for essentially the most inexpensive grade.
How a lot does the Nissan X-Path e-Energy price?
At launch, the X-Path e-Energy with e-4orce might be supplied in high-spec Ti and Ti-L trims solely, with beginning costs of $54,190 and $57,190 earlier than on-road prices respectively.
In comparison with the equal 2.5-litre petrol X-Path Ti and Ti-L, the e-Energy drivetrain instructions a $4200 premium. Toyota sometimes gives a 2WD Hybrid for round $2500 over a 2WD petrol, and a RAV4 AWD Hybrid instructions a $5500 premium on most grades, although the Edge AWD Hybrid is $2130 dearer than the AWD petrol.
For reference, the Toyota RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid lists for $51,200 earlier than on-roads, whereas the adventure-ready Edge AWD Hybrid is $55,150. Take note, chances are you’ll be ready over two years (!!) when you order right this moment.
Nissan’s resolution to herald high-spec grades at launch additionally positions the X-Path e-Energy fairly intently to a relative, within the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV (PHEV).
The Mitsubishi PHEV, which shares the identical bones because the X-Path, begins from $55,490 after a latest value adjustment. The Outlander PHEV gives as much as 84km (NEDC) of EV driving on a full cost, and a miserly gasoline declare of simply 1.5L per 100km – in comparison with the X-Path e-Energy’s 6.1L/100km.
2023 Nissan X-Path pricing:
- Nissan X-Path ST 2WD 5 seat: $36,750
- Nissan X-Path ST AWD 7 seat: $39,790
- Nissan X-Path ST-L 2WD 5 seat: $43,190
- Nissan X-Path ST-L AWD 7 seat: $46,290
- Nissan X-Path Ti AWD 5 seat: $49,990
- Nissan X-Path Ti-L AWD 5 seat: $52,990
- Nissan X-Path Ti e-Energy with e-4orce: $54,190
- Nissan X-Path Ti-L e-Energy with e-4orce: $57,190
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Nissan X-Path e-Energy like on the within?
Save for the e-Pedal button on the centre tunnel and an influence meter as a substitute of a rev counter, the cabin is identical as every other high-spec X-Path.
As with the petrol variations Ti and Ti-L grades get a really digitised cabin, incorporating twin 12.3-inch shows and a color head-up show with 10.Eight inches of actual property.
It’s an enormous enchancment over the previous-generation X-Path, however you’d know that already based mostly on our earlier protection.
Seat consolation is nice up entrance, with supportive driver and passenger chairs that profit from electrical adjustment and reminiscence settings within the Ti-L, or simply 10-way energy adjustment with lumbar within the Ti.
Leather-based is normal on the Ti however when you go for the Ti-L you get pretty quilted Nappa trim, which is accessible in each Black in addition to $NCO Tan – it’s actually good to see one thing totally different obtainable.
Nissan’s new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is an enchancment over the dated binnacles of its previous stuff, and whereas it’s enticing and gives just a few menus and layouts – together with a cool drivetrain show – it lacks the crispness of stuff from the VW Group, and can solely show mapping when utilizing turn-by-turn navigation.
It’s an analogous story to the 12.3-inch central touchscreen, which presents properly on first look and gives a superb suite of options, however lacks web connectivity. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay is a superb inclusion although, and it labored flawlessly throughout our time with the X-Path.
The native interface sometimes lags, nevertheless it’s in any other case wonderful for the category and undoubtedly is a considerable improve for somebody popping out of a earlier X-Path or Qashqai.
Storage and facilities are fairly good up entrance, with a deep rubberised wi-fi charging pad; USB-A, USB-C and 12V retailers; giant toothed cupholders, and a deep centre console bin beneath a padded leatherette armrest.
The centre tunnel additionally has a floating design, with a rubberised part beneath to retailer bigger gadgets which is helpful, and one thing pretty distinctive for the section.
You’ve additionally received a shift-by-wire gear selector which appears swish and is user-friendly method. You even have buttons for EV Mode and e-Pedal Mode, in addition to a rotary dial to shuffle by means of drive and terrain modes.
It’s additionally good that Nissan has caught with bodily switchgear for the local weather controls, that are all clearly labelled and inside straightforward attain.
Arguably one of many X-Path’s greatest promoting factors is rear passenger room and boot area, and the e-Energy drivetrain barely impacts the packaging.
There’s room for full-grown adults within the again, even behind taller drivers. I didn’t discover the panoramic sunroof to be a difficulty for headroom both behind my very own driving place, and I’m 6’1.
Rear air vents with a 3rd zone of local weather management are normal on all e-Energy variants, together with further USB-A and USB-C cost ports for retaining smartphones and tablets juiced.
In case you go for the Ti-L, you additionally get handbook sunshades for the rear home windows and heated outboard rear seats. The centre seat folds right down to make a centre armrest with cupholders, and the requisite ISOFIX anchors and top-tether factors are all fitted as normal.
There’s no third row choice on Australian fashions like there may be abroad, however the X-Path e-Energy’s 575L boot (to the roof) is simply 10L down on petrol-powered five-seat fashions.
Nissan doesn’t quote a boot quantity with the second row folded, however we are able to attest it’s one of many extra sensible baggage areas within the section, and fortunately the seats fold fairly flat as depicted above.
In contrast to the petrol vary, the X-Path e-Energy forgoes an area saver spare wheel and has a tyre restore equipment. For reference, all RAV4 Hybrid fashions function a brief area saver spare.
What’s below the bonnet?
In case you’re not conversant in e-Energy, allow us to break it down for you.
Underneath the bonnet is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with variable compression know-how – debuted by Infiniti just a few years in the past – which makes 105kW (4400rpm) and 250Nm (2400rpm). Nonetheless, this motor doesn’t straight drive the wheels.
As an alternative, the petrol engine is connected to a motor-generator and an inverter, related to a 2.1kWh lithium battery (1.8kWh usable). An electrical motors on every axle drives the wheels within the e-4orce (single-motor 2WD is obtainable abroad).
The entrance motor develops 150kW/330Nm and the rear makes 100kW/195Nm. As these e-motors hit their peaks at totally different instances, Nissan quotes a system energy output of 157kW, however no mixed torque determine.
Nissan says the X-Path e-Energy with e-4orce can speed up from 0-100km/h in 7.Zero seconds.
On the subject of effectivity – a key speaking level given the ‘hybrid’ tag – Nissan quotes a mixed gasoline consumption determine of 6.1 litres per 100km, with emissions rated at 139g/km.
In isolation, not unhealthy for a big-ish household SUV weighing in at as much as 1911kg, however not nice when you think about a RAV4 AWD Hybrid claims 4.8L/100km. The e-Energy with e-4orce drivetrain provides about 250kg over the petrol 2.5 4WD X-Path.
Like the remainder of the X-Path line-up, the e-Energy with e-4orce has a 55-litre gasoline tank. Nissan says the X-Path e-Energy can run on 91 RON common unleaded, though 95 RON is really useful.
Most braked towing capability for e-Energy fashions is rated at 1650kg, in comparison with 2000kg for petrol variations.
How does the Nissan X-Path e-Energy drive?
We received about 4 hours of driving time between Sunshine Coast Airport (Maroochydore) and Brisbane by way of the hinterlands.
The majority of the launch was high-speed B-roads by means of rolling hills, not essentially the place a hybrid household SUV ought to really feel most comfy, however Nissan says the roads had been designed to exhibit the e-4orce electrified AWD system.
We traversed nation highways, damaged again roads and even some sections of grime trails – considered one of these was even signed ‘Goat Observe’. Impressively, the e-Energy in each trim ranges ate all of it up with out a lot of a sweat.
Whereas the ability output of 157kW is somewhat down on the RAV4 Hybrid’s 163kW on paper, the immediacy of response from the electrical motors pays dividends within the efficiency and refinement stakes.
There’s an EV-like linearity and smoothness to how the X-Path Hybrid places down its energy, and the 1.5-litre engine is properly muted and hums away within the background even at larger revs – one thing that may’t be mentioned for some petrol-electric rivals.
Nissan’s 0-100 declare of seven.Zero seconds appears correct by the seat of the pants, not that you just’re going to be participating in visitors mild drag races with this factor. There’s additionally no shift in energy supply as speeds rise as there’s no change in energy supply – you don’t really feel any loss in torque such as you do when rival hybrids shift from electrical to petrol energy.
Insulation from wind and highway noise is likewise refined for the section, particularly the Ti with its smaller 19-inch wheels and chubbier 235/55 tyres (versus 255/45 R20 for the Ti-L).
These variations in wheel and tyre package deal make the Ti the choose for journey consolation as effectively, though each variants are surprisingly effectively sorted on pockmarked backroads and pimpled inner-city streets.
There’s an added layer of compliance within the Ti, which is that contact softer and extra settled over sharper hits, although the Ti-L was impressively effectively sorted and grippy. By means of the twistier bits the Ti felt extra pure given the softer total tuning of the motive force controls, however the Ti-L had a keener, extra planted really feel due to its better footprint.
Whereas the Ti-L’s grippy wheel and tyre package deal and torque-vectoring electrical AWD would possibly recommend a extra dynamic focus, the sunshine steering – whereas correct – doesn’t encourage extra spirited driving.
That mentioned, the X-Path e-Energy with e-4orce is greater than able to stringing just a few bends collectively with out feeling misplaced. The place it does its greatest work, nevertheless, is on the town and on the open highway.
At a cruise the X-Path lopes alongside like its petrol counterpart, much more silently due to its electrified drivetrain. Even at freeway speeds you’ll see it sometimes dip into EV mode when there’s sufficient cost within the battery, although below more durable acceleration (up hills, for instance) the engine must work a bit more durable to feed the battery.
On the freeway you possibly can simply set the ProPILOT semi-autonomous help and let the automobile do the majority of the work. As we’ve beforehand mentioned, Nissan’s freeway driving suite is likely one of the extra refined programs on the market.
We tackled some gravel roads as effectively throughout our check route, and identical to the sealed sections the X-Path appeared fairly comfy. There was loads of grip and the all-wheel drive system did a fantastic job at ensuring it despatched torque to the wheel(s) with most traction.
Insulation from the rougher stuff was good too. Typically in these road-focused SUVs you get a whole lot of chassis vibrations and you’ll hear each stone hit the underbody – the X-Path’s cabin was fairly effectively insulated from all of it.
In case you ever must drive over some even rougher stuff – we doubt most clients will – there’s a devoted off-road mode, in addition to hill descent management. Paul tackled a gentle off-road course within the X-Path e-Energy on the worldwide launch drive, which you’ll watch in the video embedded up top.
Like I famous earlier, the X-Path Ti e-Energy’s chubbier tyres and smaller wheels appear higher suited to most situations by way of consolation and refinement, and it was an analogous story on unsealed roads. The journey was extra settled, and it appeared extra assured.
It’s additionally value noting the X-Path e-Energy is about 15mm decrease than petrol variants by way of floor clearance, although that didn’t actually come into play on our check route.
Following the launch I took an X-Path Ti e-Energy for a pair days whereas figuring out of the CarExpert Brisbane workplace, and spent somewhat extra time behind the wheel in inside metropolis and concrete areas.
It actually demonstrated its strengths right here, with easy and easy efficiency in metropolis visitors, a comfortable journey over the lumps and bumps of Brisbane’s busy streets, and a quiet, well-insulated cabin.
Given my commutes had been fairly brief (I used to be staying about 2.0km from the workplace), there wasn’t a large drop within the common gasoline economic system – although a few of my journeys would see averages of 4-5L per 100km.
On a few events I did attempt the e-Energy’s EV Mode button, which is far more helpful than Toyota’s. With out making an attempt I may handle 2-Three kilometres with out the petrol engine needing to fireplace, and I may use the throttle as regular versus retaining it below 20 per cent like its top-selling rival.
I stay up for getting one in Melbourne and utilizing it for my traditional commuting, to get a greater gauge of the X-Path’s driving traits and gasoline consumption in my day-to-day stuff.
What do you get?
X-Path Ti e-Energy with e-4orce highlights:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Lively noise cancellation
- Adaptive Driving Beam headlights (LED)
- Auto rain-sensing wipers
- Energy tailgate
- 10.8-inch head-up show
- 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Clever rear-view mirror
- Wi-fi smartphone charger
- Leather-based-accented upholstery
X-Path Ti-L e-Energy with e-4orce provides:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Auto-dipping aspect mirrors
- Quilted Nappa leather-based upholstery
- 10-speaker BOSE premium audio
- Guide rear door sunshades
- Distant engine begin
- Gesture management for energy tailgate
- Reminiscence perform for entrance seats, mirrors
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated 2nd row seats (outboard)
- Ambient inside lighting
MORE: 2023 Nissan X-Trail price and specs
Colors
- Ivory Pearl*
- Good Silver*
- Ceramic Gray*
- Gun Metallic*
- Diamond Black*
- Champagne Silver*
- Scarlet Ember
- Caspian Blue*
- Ivory Pearl with black roof**
- Ceramic Gray with black roof**
- Champagne Silver with black roof**
- Caspian Blue with black roof**
- Sundown Orange with black roof**
*Premium paint prices $700 additional**Two-tone finishes price $1200 additional
Is the Nissan X-Path e-Energy secure?
The brand new X-Path scores a five-star ANCAP safety rating – based mostly on crash testing of the associated Nissan Qashqai in 2021 – this now consists of e-Energy variations as effectively.
The X-Path scored 91 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 90 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 74 per cent for weak highway person, and a very good 97 per cent for security help.
Commonplace options on all grades:
- 7 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
- Three x prime tether factors, 2 x ISOFIX factors
- Adaptive cruise management
- Automated high-beam
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Blind-spot help
- Lane departure warning
- Lane preserve help
- Reversing digicam and sensors
- Visitors signal recognition
- Path sway management in ESP
ST-L and above add:
- 360-degree cameras incl. Shifting Object Detection
- ProPILOT (lane centring)
Ti and above add:
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Digital rear-view mirror
How a lot does the Nissan X-Path e-Energy price to run?
As with the broader Nissan vary, the X-Path e-Energy is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
Nissan additionally throws in 5 years of roadside help with buy. Scheduled upkeep for all X-Path fashions, in the meantime, is a disappointingly brief 12 months or 10,000 kilometres – whichever comes first.
The model gives six capped-price providers, which within the e-Energy price $365, $472, $534, $571, $411 and $698. That quantities to $3051 over six years or 60,000 kilometres, which is $5 cheaper than the two.5 4WD X-Path over the identical interval.
It’s a disgrace Nissan doesn’t prolong the servicing intervals to 15,000km to match the majority of its rivals, together with the associated Nissan Qashqai in addition to the X-Path’s different platform mate – the Mitsubishi Outlander.
Our check route wasn’t consultant of the sort of every day commuting an proprietor is more likely to undertake, however even at excessive pace the X-Path Ti-L e-Energy was returning an indicated 7.1L per 100km and the smaller-wheeled Ti confirmed 6.9L per 100km – the latter variant received some city time as effectively.
The producer declare is 6.1L/100km – so not far off, however not stellar both.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Nissan X-Path e-Energy
The e-Energy is the perfect X-Path presently on sale.
In comparison with the ageing 2.5-litre petrol that powers the core vary, Nissan’s sequence hybrid system provides the mid-size SUV a shot within the arm on the highway, bringing an easy, easy and linear drive that’s additionally luxuriously refined.
Certain, it’s not fairly at Toyota ranges of hybrid effectivity, however there’s a gasoline saving over the common petrol variants that can add up in the long term, and it even finally ends up being cheaper to service – although it’s nonetheless somewhat behind the pack by way of upkeep schedule and total operating prices.
The high-spec Ti and Ti-L launch grades carry over their plush and sensible cabins, however the lack of a 3rd row (regardless of being obtainable abroad) and $4200 premium over the two.5 4WD model could possibly be boundaries for the extra funds aware.
Providing the choice of the single-motor e-Energy mannequin, which can be much more environment friendly in keeping with world specs, would even be a clever transfer sooner or later to higher compete with key petrol-electric rivals. Hopefully we see some extra inexpensive e-Energy choices lob Down Underneath within the close to future.
MORE: Everything Nissan X-Trail
Professionals
- Electrical drive is easy and easy
- Upmarket cabin presentation
- Comfy and refined
Cons
- Cannot match RAV4 Hybrid effectivity
- Restricted to prime Ti and Ti-L trims for now
- No 7-seat choice, but…
High Line Specs
- Energy: 157kW
- Gas Sort: Electrical/Pulp
- Economic system: 6.1L/100km
- CO2 Emissions: 139g/km
- ANCAP Security Score: 5
