Since the launch of Magnite, Nissan has been quiet in the Indian car market for quite a long time. With an intent of expanding its portfolio and presence in India, Nissan showcased the all-new X-Trail as its next big offering for the Indian car market. The X-Trail was showcased alongside two other midsize SUVs, Juke and Qashqai, both of which were displayed to gauge response.
Currently, in its fourth-generation version, which is available overseas in both 5-seater and 7-seater versions, the Nissan X-Trail will come to India only as a petrol-powered seven-seater SUV. The new Nissan X-Trail is based on Renault-Nissan’s CMF-C platform, which is available with two engine options overseas – a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine and a hybrid powertrain including a 1.5-litre petrol engine. In all likelihood, the Indian car market will be getting the 1.5-litre full-hybrid powertrain, which features Nissan’s e-Power tech that uses the 1.5-litre petrol engine as a generator to charge the batteries, and does not drive the wheels.
Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500
Globally, the Nissan X-Trail full-hybrid is available with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive systems. While the front-wheel drive version develops 204 bhp of power and 330 Nm of torque, the all-wheel drive option claims 213 bhp of power and 500 Nm of torque. It is unclear which of these two versions will arrive in India, once it gets launched here.
Local manufacturing of X-Trail
Nissan is evaluating the local manufacturing of the X-Trail in India in limited numbers, which should help it to price it competitively against its chief rivals, the Toyota Fortuner and Skoda Kodiaq. However, considering the low-volume segment in which it will be entering in, Nissan might consider the option of bringing the X-Trail through the CBU route. Currently, the carmakers are allowed to import 2,500 units through the CBU route without the need for homologation, and it looks like a more feasible option for bringing the X-Trail to India.
Currently, Nissan’s India portfolio consists of only two models – Magnite sub-compact SUV and Kicks midsize SUV. Nissan pulled the plug from Datsun this year, while the Kicks is also losing its popularity owing to newer SUVs from other carmakers. With the X-Trail, Nissan is hopeful in making its mark in the premium SUV space, which is currently dominated by Toyota Fortuner. Along with the Fortuner, the new X-Trail will also compete with Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Tucson, Citroen C5 Aircross, Jeep Meridian and Volkswagen Tiguan.
Nissan was planning to bring Patrol to India
Nissan was considering bringing the all-new Patrol to the Indian market. The XXL-sized SUV was expected to reach the Indian market in 2020 through the non-homologation route. The massive 5.1 metres-long and 2 metres wide SUV was expected to come to the Indian market on the same spec as Australia and South Africa.
Nissan and Renault did not bring out any substantial products to the Indian market after the Magnite and the Kiger to the Indian market.
Also read: Mahindra Bolero beautifully modified to look like Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Since the launch of Magnite, Nissan has been quiet in the Indian car market for quite a long time. With an intent of expanding its portfolio and presence in India, Nissan showcased the all-new X-Trail as its next big offering for the Indian car market. The X-Trail was showcased alongside two other midsize SUVs, Juke and Qashqai, both of which were displayed to gauge response.
Currently, in its fourth-generation version, which is available overseas in both 5-seater and 7-seater versions, the Nissan X-Trail will come to India only as a petrol-powered seven-seater SUV. The new Nissan X-Trail is based on Renault-Nissan’s CMF-C platform, which is available with two engine options overseas – a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine and a hybrid powertrain including a 1.5-litre petrol engine. In all likelihood, the Indian car market will be getting the 1.5-litre full-hybrid powertrain, which features Nissan’s e-Power tech that uses the 1.5-litre petrol engine as a generator to charge the batteries, and does not drive the wheels.
Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500
Globally, the Nissan X-Trail full-hybrid is available with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive systems. While the front-wheel drive version develops 204 bhp of power and 330 Nm of torque, the all-wheel drive option claims 213 bhp of power and 500 Nm of torque. It is unclear which of these two versions will arrive in India, once it gets launched here.
Local manufacturing of X-Trail
Nissan is evaluating the local manufacturing of the X-Trail in India in limited numbers, which should help it to price it competitively against its chief rivals, the Toyota Fortuner and Skoda Kodiaq. However, considering the low-volume segment in which it will be entering in, Nissan might consider the option of bringing the X-Trail through the CBU route. Currently, the carmakers are allowed to import 2,500 units through the CBU route without the need for homologation, and it looks like a more feasible option for bringing the X-Trail to India.
Currently, Nissan’s India portfolio consists of only two models – Magnite sub-compact SUV and Kicks midsize SUV. Nissan pulled the plug from Datsun this year, while the Kicks is also losing its popularity owing to newer SUVs from other carmakers. With the X-Trail, Nissan is hopeful in making its mark in the premium SUV space, which is currently dominated by Toyota Fortuner. Along with the Fortuner, the new X-Trail will also compete with Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Tucson, Citroen C5 Aircross, Jeep Meridian and Volkswagen Tiguan.
Nissan was planning to bring Patrol to India
Nissan was considering bringing the all-new Patrol to the Indian market. The XXL-sized SUV was expected to reach the Indian market in 2020 through the non-homologation route. The massive 5.1 metres-long and 2 metres wide SUV was expected to come to the Indian market on the same spec as Australia and South Africa.
Nissan and Renault did not bring out any substantial products to the Indian market after the Magnite and the Kiger to the Indian market.
Also read: Mahindra Bolero beautifully modified to look like Jeep Wrangler Rubicon